IIE Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership

Overview

Bordeaux and Cape Town campuses only

This is an entirely research-based qualification where the completion of a dissertation is the outcome, along with the preparation of an article for publication in a peer reviewed scientific journal. Candidates engage with research, critical thinking, argument development and academic writing at an advanced level. Candidates will thus gain the knowledge, skills and competencies identified by industry as critical for senior brand management and business leaders. Graduates will be well-prepared to direct and contribute to the innovation of brands to establish a purposeful and sustainable position for an organisation in the marketplace.

*Admission to the two-year Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership requires a preparatory year devoted to the successful completion and acceptance of a Research Proposal. (See Admission Requirements and Procedures: Research Proposal Development Programme.)

Aim

The Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership aims to graduate a new class of leaders and innovators who are:

• Visionary designers who build brands of substance that are unique and add genuine value to people's lives.
• Holistic and systemic practitioners who understand that delivering on the brand's promise is dependent on the performance of every single link in the value chain.
• Creators of innovative and collaborative internal cultures who respect that the quality of performance and ideas is absolutely dependent on how inspired and driven staff are.
• Scholars who can make a unique contribution at the interface of brand building and transdisciplinary research.

Structure of Pre-Masters: Research Proposal Development Programme

• All applicants who are eligible for admission to the Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership degree are required to register for the Research Proposal Development Programme, successfully complete a research proposal and receive provisional ethics clearance for the proposed study in order to be formally registered for the Master's qualification.

Structure of the Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership
A series of academic seminars will be held to support the development of the dissertation. These seminars fulfil a dual role:

• to explore and guide research design and practice;
• to investigate key challenges, with expert industry input, in the field of creative brand leadership, which may cover topics such as leading brand innovation, building sustainable brands and building brands in developing markets.

The final six months of the programme are focused entirely on the final development, execution and submission of the dissertation. Participation in the seminars is beneficial and will demonstrate an ability to apply one's mind and express meaningful opinions on key creative brand leadership challenges.

Admission Procedures

• Applicants need to contact the Postgraduate Relationship Navigator Janey Nixon (jnixon@vegaschool.com ) who will provide an outline of the admission requirements and application process.
• As part of the application process, candidates will need to submit a brief CV, full academic record of completed undergraduate and postgraduate NQF level 8 qualifications. Master’s applications will be reviewed and assessed by the Head of Postgraduate Research & Studies, the Office of the Registrar and the Dean of Research and Postgraduate Studies.
• Candidates who meet the admission criteria will be requested to complete a research Statement of Intent to be submitted within 4 weeks.
• The Statement of Intent will enable candidates to put forward thoughts and ideas of their chosen field of research as well as assess the feasibility of the candidate’s research idea.
• Candidates who are provisionally admitted, will register for the Research Proposal Development Programme.
• The proposal development programme involves a research proposal writing workshop after which candidates are assigned a preliminary supervisor who will serve as a guide and mentor in the proposal development process. This programme also includes an academic eSeminar in which candidates present their research proposals. Upon further crafting of the proposal, candidates submit the final proposal to The IIE Higher Degrees Committee, which meets 4 times per year (April, June, August, and October).
• Upon approval of the research proposal by The IIE Higher Degrees Committee, candidates can formally register for the Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership. Candidates are then in a position to implement their research proposals, guided by their appointed supervisors. The community of Master’s candidates and supervisors participate monthly in a dedicated discussion session and annually in an eSeminar to ensure continuous academic engagement and progress tracking.

Tuition Fees

Pre-Master’s registration: Research Proposal Writing Short Course – 1 year (compulsory)
R15 500 Full Settlement Total Fee
R16 500 Instalment Total Fee (10 Monthly Instalments)
*Deposit of R4 950 is included in the Total Fee.

Pre-Master’s registration: Brand and Marketing Management Short Course – 1 year (non-compulsory)
R14 000 Full Settlement Total Fee
R14 300 Instalment Total Fee (2 Monthly Instalments)
*Deposit of R4 290 is included in the Total Fee.

Master of Arts in Creative Brand Leadership - per year (subject to an annual fee increase)
R39 000 Full Settlement Total Fee
R41 600 Instalment Total Fee (10 Monthly Instalments)
A *Pre-Registration Fee of R2 000 and *Deposit of R4 240 are included in the Total Fee.
*Refundable if admission criteria for the qualification is not met.

Please note:

• Applications for the 2024 intake are subject to a non-refundable application fee of R700.
• You will be required to complete a new contract annually which will include fees for that year.
• Should a Master’s qualification not be completed within the minimum completion time, the new annual fee structure at that point in time will be applicable for any subsequent years of registration that are allowed.
• Returning students can obtain the 2023 fees from their Relationship Navigator.

Entry Requirements

• An appropriate NQF level 8 Honours degree; OR
• A relevant Postgraduate Diploma or appropriate equivalent; OR
• An appropriate Level 8 Bachelor's Degree (480 credits) may also be recognised as meeting the minimum entry requirements to a cognate Master's Degree programme
• All applicants who are eligible for admission to the Master's in Creative Brand Leadership degree are required to register for the Research Proposal Development Programme (SRPW0001). Successful completion of the Research Proposal Development Programme requires of applicants to complete and present a Research Proposal for approval at the Higher Degrees Committee. In order to register for the Research Proposal Development Programme, applicants develop and submit a relevant Statement of Intent for review and acceptance into the programme.
• Applicants who do not hold an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in the fields of Marketing, Branding or Communication but have graduated from the broader fields of Commerce and Arts may be considered. In these instances, the Statement of Intent must clearly reflect a research problem related to Creative Brand Leadership. These applicants will be required to attend a SLP in Brand and Marketing Management. This SLP will be completed concurrently with the Research Proposal Development Programme in order to be registered on the Master’s in Creative Brand Leadership degree.
• An overall qualification average of at least 65%.

Please note:

• If an applicant meets the above requirements, registration is subject to faculty supervisory capacity. 
• The applicant has the right to request a written reason for any refused admission and may appeal to the Research and Postgraduate Committee in writing.
  • If the Research and Postgraduate Committee upholds the refusal, the decision is final. The candidate may re-apply in the following academic year if they have been able to address the issues concerned and The IIE may invite the candidate to reapply if a suitable supervisor is employed.

International Admission

• A SAQA NQF L8 Evaluation Certificate in an appropriate field and meeting the additional admission requirements.

Senate Discretionary Admission

• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – Where candidates do not satisfy the formal admission requirements for this qualification, The IIE may consider an admission application in terms of the Credit Accumulation and Transfer, Recognition of Prior Learning and Qualification Completion Policy (IIE010).