Retail Marketing BA(Hons)

Overview

Retail is critical to the future growth and development of the global economy, and effective marketing is considered a key factor in any organisation's future sustainability. This course combines key skills in marketing with the specialist sector knowledge required by retail employers.
The course is designed to enhance your ability to operate in this fast paced environment, whilst developing your capability as a forward thinking and creative marketer. You will benefit from a high level of industry contact through applied case studies and visiting guest speakers. Marketing tutors on the course are CIM chartered marketers who are able to offer you a real insight and perspective into the central role that marketing plays in many different organisations.

Course duration
Full-time: 3 years
With placement year 4 years

UCAS code N551
Course content

Course structure

Our teaching staff have practical, research and professional experience in retail and marketing. They employ a mix of lectures, seminars, workshops and group activities to ensure your learning experience is varied and stimulating.
You can opt to undertake a 48-week work placement after your second year. We offer a wide range of opportunities (including many overseas) enabling you to obtain valuable work experience and a hands-on understanding of the industry. You will also develop industry links and many of our students then go on to full-time employment with their placement company after graduation.

Areas of study

Year 1 focuses on operational issues within the retail industry and introduces you to marketing, branding and the changing consumer environment.
Year 2 focuses on applied marketing knowledge within a range of retail-based modules. You will develop expertise in merchandising, buying and advertising functions whilst gaining an increased awareness of the wider social issues relating to retail consumption.
In the final year, strategic marketing management, contemporary retail trends and international issues are examined.

Syllabus

Year 1
Retail Environment
Branding and Consumer Psychology
Retail Location and Operations
Media Studies
Marketing Principles
Professional Development
Year 2
Merchandising and Retail Consumption
Buying and Supply Chain Logistics
Finance for Marketing
Marketing Communication and Advertising
Retail Management in Action
Research Methods
Optional placement year
Final year
Contemporary Retail Trends
Strategic Marketing Management
Dissertation or placement project
Options may include:
Fashion Retailing
Change Management
Public Relations
Customer Relationship Marketing
Retail Consultancy
International Management
Service Quality
E-tailing
Wine Marketing
Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements
individual offers may vary
A-levels:
BBB (typically translates to 300 points in the UCAS tariff).
BTEC
DDM.
International Baccalaureate:
32 points.
Access to HE Diploma
pass (at least 45 credits at level 3), with 18 credits at merit or above. Must include level 3 units in business or marketing.
GCSE (minimum grade C) or Access Equivalent
at least three subjects including English language and mathematics.
Foundation degree/HND
/HNC may enable you to start the course in year 2 or 3. Contact the course team for specific requirements.
For non-native speakers of English:
IELTS 6.0 overall, with 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in the other elements.
Location

Location Eastbourne
Career opportunities

The combined focus and multidisciplinary nature of the course enables you to pursue a variety of marketing based career opportunities in service/business environments. Recent retail marketing graduates have taken up positions with companies including P&O, Jaeger, Harrods, Saatchi and Saatchi, MySpace, American Express and Tribal Fusion.

Visit the careers centre website.
Fees and costs

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2012-13. Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study.

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take. Different rules apply to research degrees - please contact the Doctoral College for advice.

To help you plan for your time here we will be providing further information about what is included in your tuition fee, and any optional costs you may need to budget for, later in the autumn.

Our website wwww.brighton.ac.uk/money provides advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee paying status.

BA(Hons) Retail Marketing [J2EA015]

UK/EU (Full Time) 9,000 GBP
Island Students (Full Time) 9,000 GBP
International (Full Time) 10,900 GBP
More details
Work placements

This course gives you the option of taking a 48 week work placement between your second and final year of study.

The placement is a great way to get valuable practical experience in a workplace relevant to your degree.

Where can I go on placement?

Our placement team has links with employers throughout the UK and overseas and can help you find the right placement to suit your course.

Students have been placed with such diverse and prestigious employers including:
- Tesco Logisitcs
- Harrods
- ToysRUs
- MIH Fashion, London
- Iconix Brand Group, New York
- Superdrug
We also have a longstanding placement partnership with Walt Disney World. Each year students have a chance to do their placement with them in the USA.

Why should I go on placement?

You will gain contacts and a competitive advantage for when you graduate. Many placements pay a salary, as well as providing valuable recruitment and workplace experience.

While on placement you can apply the knowledge of your degree subject in a real-life work situation. Furthermore the knowledge you gain from the placement will inform your final year project and academic study.

Successful completion of your placement will also help you stand out from the crowd when you seek work.

Find out more about placements
Click here to watch a retail graduate talk about their time at the university and their current role at Ted Baker.
Student views

Callum Kearney

Retail Marketing BA(Hons)

I think the best thing about studying at the University of Brighton is the relationship with the teaching staff, I would consider them as friends, and I am always discussing new ideas and thoughts with them over a tea.

Fantastic choice

Studying Retail Marketing was a fantastic choice; I have made some of the best friends, business contacts andan ever-expanding industry knowledge. It has ultimately made me more employable, with experiences like CIMs The Pitch, and the highly recommended option of a placement year.

Taking every opportunity

I want to go into e-commerce when I graduate, and this degree has given me the edge I need on other graduates. My greatest piece of advice is: Take every opportunity as it comes. Think big, achieve big.

Dominic Stark

Retail Marketing BA(Hons)

Expert guidance

The course is taught by lecturers with industry experience and also guest lecturers which makes the content engaging. The structure of teaching means there is always guidance and advice when needed.

Each module provides a detailed overview of the topic and you can develop an attachment to branding, advertising or management, which really helps when it comes to choosing a placement or career opportunity.

The university has excellent support staff and course leaders, which we’re always encouraged to call upon throughout your three or four years, and beyond.

Industry insight

The best thing about the course is that you’re given a real insight into the workings of advertising campaigns, merchandising plans and marketing agencies, along with other industry processes. It gives an opportunity for creativity and in your second year you’re given some real opportunities to display your creative spark.

Opportunities

The university really encourages extra-curricular activities, and I was fortunate enough to win a competition with the Chartered Institute of Marketing with two other marketing students. This gave us an excellent opportunity to really apply everything we’d learned on a live brief.

As a course representative, I feed back issues from students to the school board. It’s great to see that the university really cares for the welfare and concerns of students.

Daniel Gambell

Retail Marketing BA(Hons)

Studying at the Eastbourne campus of the University of Brighton has been a great decision. It has given me some fantastic opportunities and helped me achieve personal goals which have proved incredibly rewarding.

Resources

With a multitude of resources at my disposal, academic writing has become second nature. There is also the added bonus of having some of the best hands-on tutors ready and willing to assist in any way they can. Furthering my education has been really enjoyable.

Lifestyle

With various student club nights and formal events, such as the Holly Ball, an Eastbourne student lifestyle can only be described as ‘awesome’.