Creative Industries BA (Hons)

A new type of creative course, for a new style of creative career, the BA (Hons) Creative Industries at Blackburn College is designed for people who want to build sustainable and flexible careers in the creative sector. It blends hands-on studio practice with cultural, academic, and business-focused learning. You’ll explore creativity in many forms – from visual arts to performance, design, and digital media – while also learning how to plan projects, manage budgets, and promote your work.

Alongside creative practice, the course introduces you to the wider industries you’ll be working in. You’ll explore how enterprise, entrepreneurship, and cultural engagement shape the sector, while also looking ahead to future-facing areas such as AI, bio-informed design, eco art, and smart materials.

The course is designed to meet local and national employer needs, producing industry-ready creative professionals. Through live briefs, collaborations, and opportunities to exhibit your work, you’ll build a portfolio that demonstrates both your creative talent and your professional skills. The course is rooted in the growing creative economy of the North West, giving you access to a range of opportunities to connect with artists, cultural partners, and audiences.

Graduates leave with the skills and confidence to work as independent creatives, join established organisations, or progress to postgraduate study.

The Art School experience

As part of Blackburn School of Art, you’ll join a supportive creative community where collaboration and experimentation are encouraged. Our specialist workshops and labs are open across disciplines, so you can share ideas, try new techniques, and learn alongside students and staff from art, design, games arts, photography, textiles, film production and more.

The course offers a blended model, combining specialist creative practice with cultural and industrial management skills. This unique approach ensures that you not only refine your artistic and technical skills but also gain the professional, entrepreneurial, and strategic abilities to operate within the creative sector successfully.

Year 1

From government to industry leaders, you will explore how creative strategy and policy is created and implemented to drive cultural reform and economy in the UK.

In your first year, you’ll be introduced to a wide range of creative skills, technologies, and ideas in your chosen discipline. Disciplines include core areas of fine art, graphic design, photography and game arts.

Year 2 and beyond

Taking the learning from year one, you will now develop your creative network by working with pioneers in the local creative community. Developing understanding of community opportunities, funding mechanisms, ethics and delivery.

This will be delivered through real life client projects, community collaborations, and industry simulations. These experiences help you refine your creative direction while also developing the professional skills needed to succeed in the creative sector.

Your practical development will be realised in an exciting community lead exhibitions, showcasing the skills gained so far and preparing you for your creative future.

A full module list will be available soon.

A minimum of 80 UCAS Tariff points in a relevant subject area (such as Art and Design, Photography, Graphic Design, Music and Audio, Film/Moving Image, Fashion and Textiles, or Performing and Visual Arts).

Applicants will attend an interview and present a portfolio of work showcasing their current practice.

We welcome applications from those who do not meet the standard entry requirements but have relevant work or life experience. These applicants will be considered individually at interview, where prior learning and experience will be discussed.

You may be asked to demonstrate basic ICT skills (e.g. using Word and email) at interview. Support is available throughout the course if needed.

English language requirements

GCSE English Language at grade 4 (C) or above, or equivalent Level 2 qualification.

If English is not your first language: IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent), with no more than two sub-scores below 5.5 (or equivalent).

Assessment on this course is designed to reflect the kinds of tasks you’ll face in professional creative practice. This includes:

• Creative portfolios and project work
• Exhibitions, performances, and public presentations
• Written work such as essays, reflective journals, and artist statements
• Project proposals, event plans, and business documents
• Pitches and oral presentations to peers, staff, and industry guests

We are also keen to provide you with ongoing feedback, both as a result of formal assessments, and as you develop during projects, giving you regular support as you progress.

Learning takes place through a mix of:

• Studio-based practice and workshops
• Lectures and seminars to explore the wider cultural and business context
• Small group tutorials for focused academic support
• Group critiques where you’ll discuss and reflect on your work
• Live briefs, site-based projects, and collaborations with regional partners

You will collaborate with award-winning and leading cultural and creative organisations:

• The National Festival of Making
• British Textile Biennial
• Super Slow Way
• Deco Publique
• Bureau Centre for the Arts
• Darwen Terracotta

You will also be involved in the curation of inspiring new art exhibitions with some of the regions most celebrated artists.

Through these partnerships, you’ll have the chance to take part in live projects, performances, exhibitions, and collaborations – building experience and connections to support your career after graduation.

Graduates of this programme can move into a wide range of creative careers, from self-employed artist and designer to project manager, producer, and cultural worker; curator, art director, character designer and games artist. You could work in areas such as visual arts, media and film, music and sound, fashion and textiles, community arts, or cultural event management – and across both private and public realm.

Through our balance of hands-on creative modules and industry focused learning, you will develop expertise in areas such as budgeting, project planning, marketing, social media strategy, and business management. This multidisciplinary approach will allow you to pursue a range of career pathways, whether as an independent practitioner, creative entrepreneur, or industry professional.

The degree also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate study (including MA and research degrees) and teacher training qualifications such as a PGCE.

Whichever employment route or blended/hybrid career options appeal to you, this is a future-focused degree that can empower you to engage successfully in the creative industries.

Going to University is not as expensive as you think. There are no upfront fees to pay if you take out a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance England. Don't forget to apply as early as possible to secure your fees before you start your course.