BA (Hons)

Business and Management (Creative Industries)

Develop your leadership and business skills specifically for entering the vibrant and fast-growing creative industry.

How to apply Apply through UCAS Book an Open Day Chat to Us

Key Course Details

  • UCAS Code

    N407

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,790*

  • International students

    £16,800*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.

  • UCAS Code

    N408

  • Start Date

    September

  • Location

    Pontypridd

  • Campus Code

    A

Fees

  • Home students

    £9,790*

  • International students

    £16,800*

  • Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits.
Make an Enquiry

This degree course blends core business skills with creative industry insight, preparing you for leadership or freelance careers in one of Wales’ fastest-growing sectors. 

DESIGNED FOR

Creative thinkers who want to build strong business skills. If you’re interested in leadership, freelancing or building a career in the creative industries, this course helps you gain the skills to get there. 

Career paths

  • Events Manager 
  • Creative Director 
  • Communications Manager 
  • Brand Leader 
  • Production Manager 

Skills taught

  • Leadership and People Management  
  • Branding and Strategy 
  • Understanding of the Creative Industries  
  • Project Management 
  • Digital Skills and use of AI 

The University of South Wales is an IOEE Academy. Students who complete the degree will receive an IOEE Professional Qualification in the Vocational Use of AI. The course is also dual accredited with CMI. Students will receive a Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership from CMI.

Course leader sat in front of a red backdrop smiling
An over the shoulder shot of two men in businesswear having a conversation in an office.
A close up of a student laughing at friends whilst sat on beanbags in the accommodation hub.
Two people studying together at a table, surrounded by books and papers.

Course Highlights

Flexible pathways

At the end of your first year, choose to either continue developing your knowledge of the creative industries, or switch to a focus on entrepreneurship or management. 

Informed by industry

Co-designed with local and international industry partners to reflect real workplace needs.

Led by professionals

You’ll be taught by staff with experience in a range of business and creative roles including freelance and events.

Real-world experience

Options to complete a sandwich year or a 5-week placement to gain real-world experience.

Career-ready skills 

Develop the specific branding, leadership and project management skills that are demanded by jobs in the creative industries.

Module Overview

Year One is about finding your feet and finding your voice. You’ll build confidence, explore how businesses work in practice, and develop the skills, curiosity and mindset of a future leader. At the end of year one, you can choose to either continue focussing on the creative industries or switch to a focus on entrepreneurship or management. 

Launch your Leadership Journey
Build confidence as a university student and future leader. Develop academic, teamwork and communication skills while exploring ethical leadership, sustainability and the realities of modern business.

Managing People: Harnessing HRM
Explore how workplaces really work. Examine ethics, fairness and wellbeing while learning how people management decisions shape organisations, communities and the future of work.

The Founder’s Playbook: Build Your First Business
Experience the start-up journey from idea to growth. Work with others to solve a challenge set by USW and an industry partner and build the mindset, confidence and skills of an entrepreneur.

The Marketing Mindset
Learn how to make ideas stand out. Apply marketing thinking to real scenarios while building planning skills, creativity and a strong personal brand to support your future career.

Develop your business skills within the creative industries. Begin specialising in creative leadership and practice, applying finance, sustainability and strategy through live projects, placements or immersive challenges with partners in the Creative Industries. 

The Hidden Engine: How Supply Chains Power Sustainable Business
Explore how procurement, logistics and operations drive modern business. Apply carbon literacy and sustainability thinking to optimise supply chains while balancing efficiency, value and global responsibility.

Applied Accounting
Develop financial confidence to interpret, manage and influence business outcomes. Analyse real-world scenarios, make strategic decisions, and understand how finance drives both organisational and societal impact.

The Creative Experience
Gain hands-on experience through a short placement in the creative industries. Build confidence, reflect on professional practice, and strengthen your CV while applying business skills in real working environments.

Build the Brand: Creative Leadership
Explore leadership, freelancing and creative business models while shaping your professional identity. Build a digital portfolio, develop career confidence, and prepare for flexible, creative careers in a fast-growing sector.

Experience Year (Optional)
Spend a full year in the UK or abroad gaining workplace or international experience. Build global perspective, develop professional networks, and reflect on your growth as a future leader.

Tackle real creative industry challenges, lead projects from concept to delivery, apply ethical and sustainable strategy, and graduate ready to turn creative ideas into impactful careers.

The Impact Ecosystem: Business for Social Good
Tackle complex societal and environmental challenges. Apply business knowledge to ethical, sustainable solutions, engage with stakeholders, and explore how decisions can positively impact people, planet and profit.

The Blueprint: Concept to Creation
Learn how to lead creative projects from idea to delivery. Develop planning, leadership and digital skills while managing budgets, risks and stakeholders in real creative project scenarios.

Bringing Strategy to Creativity
Discover how creative ideas become successful businesses. Build strategic, financial and leadership skills to turn artistic vision into sustainable, high-value creative ventures.

The Consultancy Challenge
Step into the shoes of a business consultant. Analyse client briefs, solve complex problems, present recommendations, and merge theory with practice to build consultancy and leadership skills.

Course Highlights

How you’ll learn

Teaching is industry-informed and student-led, helping you build confidence, independence and professionalism. You’ll learn through interactive sessions led by staff with both business and creative industries experience, including freelancers, event organisers and former creative professionals. Through collaboration, live briefs and applied projects, you’ll develop practical skills and creative confidence.

How you'll be assessed

Assessments are practical and creative, helping you learn by doing. You’ll work on real-world tasks such as pitching ideas, developing business plans and producing professional reports, alongside more creative formats like podcasts, websites, magazine articles and live events.

The course recognises how creative businesses are evolving due to AI, and so as part of your learning and assessment, you’ll develop skills to use AI tools responsibly and effectively, supporting creativity, decision-making and problem-solving.

Placements and work experience

You’ll have opportunities to gain real-world experience through an optional sandwich year (in the UK or internationally) or a five-week placement in your second year at a creative industries partner. These options help you apply what you’ve learned in a professional setting, build confidence, and strengthen your employability.

Facilities

Studying Business and Management at USW means learning beyond the classroom. Through the South Wales Business School, you’ll have opportunities to engage with industry partners, including visits to professional workplaces and occasional teaching in real workplaces in Wales. Alongside this, you’ll be supported by expert staff and have access to laptops, on-campus IT facilities and library resources to support your studies. Students also benefit from access to creative facilities at our Cardiff campus including a podcast studio and our Media Loans service, allowing you to borrow audio, filming and recording equipment to support creative, digital and applied business work.

Student Stories

Student Sumaya Khan sits at a table and smiles at the postgraduate centre in Treforest
Discovering my passion for marketing, refining my skills, and building an international network.

Sumaya Khan

Business student

Chidinma sits in front of red backdrop smiling at camera
Building Expertise in Sustainable Procurement.

Chidinma Fofah

Procurement student

Student Nadifa Saleh sits with their legs crossed on a chair against a red backdrop
Stepping out of my comfort zone and finding my passion.

Nadifa Saleh

Business graduate

Graduate and business owner Shane poses for a photo in his shop
Graduate Shane now runs his own comic book business.

Shane Richard Jordan

Business graduate

profile-ug-marketing-humand-resource-management-hassan-raza-50110.jpg
Connections with industry through guest lectures and seminars were a huge benefit.

Hassan Raza

Human Resource Management student

Business graduate Alicia Smith (right) with her partner Mathew Hunt
Taking inspiration from my course to start a business.

Alicia Smith

Business Graduate

A smiling business student in a green blazer stands in front of a computer in a classroom setting.
Exploring every avenue in Business Management

Daljeet Choda

Business student

Careers and Employability

Graduate careers

This course prepares you for a wide range of careers across business, management and the creative industries. Through strong consultancy links, you’ll work with both large and small organisations and collaborate with other creative students across our courses, on projects including our annual Immersed! Festival, building confidence, professional skills and valuable networks.

Graduates have gone on to roles with organisations such as Network Rail, Velindre, Monmouthshire Building Society and Deloitte, with some securing employment directly through placement opportunities. Careers support is embedded throughout the course, with guidance from our dedicated careers team available from day one and beyond graduation to help you plan your next steps. 

Industry partners

Strong industry connections sit at the heart of the course.  We partner with large businesses such as Barclays, HOOP recruitment, and Street Football Wales, as well as creative companies right here in Cardiff.  On this course focussing on the creative industries, students will also have a chance to get experience with the Immersed Festival, partnering with students studying on our creative degrees.  These connections all offer real insight into professional practice specific to the creative industries in Wales - helping you build your confidence and grow your network.

Careers support

Careers support is embedded throughout your degree, helping you prepare for life after university. Through your assessments, you’ll build a professional creative portfolio you can use when applying for roles after graduation. Alongside interview practice, assessment centre activities and employer-focused tasks, you’ll have access to one-to-one careers advice, digital tools and employer networks, with continued support from the USW Careers and Employability service beyond graduation.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

UCAS points: 96 (or above)

The course is also available with an integrated foundation year for students who have not quite met the entry requirements.

Typical qualification requirements:

  • A Level: CCC
  • Welsh BACC: Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales Grade C and CC at A Level
  • BTEC: BTEC Extended Diploma Merit Merit Merit
  • Access to HE: Pass the Access to HE Diploma and obtain a minimum of 96 UCAS tariff points
  • T Level: Pass (C and above)

Additional Requirements:

The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances.

International applications welcomed:

We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.

English language requirements

International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component/TOEFL 4 overall and a minimum of 4 in each component or equivalent.

Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.

If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.

If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.

Contextual offers

We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.

USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.

 

We're here to help

Whether you a have a question about your course, fees and funding, the application process or anything else, there are plenty of ways you can get in touch, and we'd love to talk to you. You can contact our friendly admissions team by phone, email or chat to us online.

 

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Fee

£9,790

per year*
UK Full-time Fee

£9,790

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,800

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,800

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,800

per year*
International Full-time Fee

£16,800

per year*

Further Information

Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).

*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.

Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy.  We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.

 

Fees and Funding Scholarships and Bursaries Cost of Living Support

ADDITIONAL COSTS

As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment. 

*Obligatory.

The University has computers available on campus and laptops for loan. However, it is highly recommended that you have your own personal laptop.  As a student you will be able to download a free copy of any software relevant to the course.

Cost: £250

Textbooks are provided via the USW library but students may wish to purchase their own private copies.

Cost: £300

Students are offered the opportunity to complete an internship during their second year of study. Students undertaking an internship may incur costs associated with travel and expected workplace attire and this will vary according to the placement.

Cost: £250

Students have opportunities to take part in international placements or travel throughout the degree.  These are optional and funding is available, however there may be costs associated with visas and travel beyond the funding received.

Cost: £250+

student sat on campus in treforest

Future Ready Fund

We are offering eligible full-time students £1,000 paid directly to them in their first year of studies. Check the details today!

Future Ready Fund

Life at USW

Halls are a big part of your student experience and there’s accommodation at all three of our locations. If you don’t want to live near the campus, there are great transport links to keep you connected.

A student sat smiling and talking to friends off camera in Treforest Student's Union
Student Life
The University's Ty Crawshays building at Treforest, Pontypridd.
Pontypridd Campus, Treforest
A double room at our Pontypridd accommodation featuring a large window.
Accommodation

How to apply

All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS. You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).

Advanced entry

If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.

Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.

International admissions

International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
 

University Quality Assurance

At USW, we regularly review our courses in response to changing patterns of employment and skills demand to ensure we offer learning designed to reflect today’s student needs and tomorrow’s employer demands.

If during a review process course content is significantly changed, we’ll write to inform you and talk you through the changes for the coming year. But whatever the outcome, we aim to equip our students with the skillset and the mindset to succeed whatever tomorrow may bring. Your future, future-proofed.

Next Steps

How to apply
Apply Through UCAS
Book an Open Day
Chat to Us