Marketing (Branding and Communications) MSc (PGCert PGDip)

International requirements and visas

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

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Course structure

The course is organised into three-hour blocks of teaching and seminar activities, which are based on specialist reading, research and case studies. Modules are assessed through essays, reports, group work, presentations and live projects.

All of our Marketing MSc courses share seven core modules. This specialist route includes one subject-specific module, Branding and Communications. 

In the final phase of the course, you will complete a 10,000-word dissertation on a marketing topic of your choice, which will require you to make recommendations for real-life marketing practice. If you choose the placement route, your business project will be in place of your dissertation. Throughout your dissertation or placement, you will receive support from a supervisor who will help to guide you in your research.

Syllabus 

All students will study seven core modules, plus one option module.

You will learn through a combination of structured teaching and independent study and research. Modules will be assessed with a mixture of essays, reports, group work, presentations and examinations.

Modules

Core modules

• Marketing Planning and Strategy

  In this module you will learn how to effectively employ the key analytical tools available to marketers, undertake market analysis and strategy formulation and incorporate your findings into coherent marketing strategies. You will develop the ability to produce clear and comprehensive marketing plans that link strategy to marketing tactics based on sound analysis of past performance and future opportunities.

• Buyer Behaviour

  This module provides theoretical and practical insights into the behaviour of buyers in both business-to-consumer and business-to-business markets. You will explore how key buyer behaviour concepts can be used in marketing to understand buyers and create strategies to influence their behaviour in beneficial ways.

• Responsible Marketing

  The pressure on organisations and managers to operate responsibly is a major issue in today’s society and making right, fair and just decisions concerning all stakeholders can be challenging. This module will examine responsible and irresponsible marketing behaviour and introduce you to the principal theories underpinning the subject area, focusing on practical applications and solutions.

• Branding and Communications

  An invaluable module if you want to pursue a career in marketing or business management, Branding and Communications introduces you to marketing communications – the various tools marketers use to communicate with key target markets in order to promote brands. You will examine how these tools can shape effective brand communications and reinforce branding strategies.

• Business Solutions in Action

  This module provides a multidisciplinary approach to learning and offers you the opportunity to work together with students from different Masters’ degrees to provide responsible enterprise solutions to live client challenges. You will explore contemporary marketing theories such as the service-dominant logic and the impact and implications of digital technology and platforms, interactivity and co-creation for managers and consumers.

• Research Methodologies and Methods

  This module will help build your knowledge of the theories used in marketing, management and supply chain research. Topics covered may include worldviews and research methodologies; exploratory and conclusive research; introduction to quantitative methods; measurement and scaling; quantitative and qualitative sampling methods; writing research proposals; reviewing literature; and presentation of research findings.

• MSc Marketing (Branding and Communications) Dissertation

  The dissertation gives you the opportunity to show your research, analytical and communication skills by producing an-in-depth project on an area of contemporary marketing. You will demonstrate that you are capable of advanced research based on a wide and extensive critical review of marketing and management literature.

• Work Placement Project (40)

  In this module you will complete a work placement report using your intellectual, research, analytical and communication skills to solve a real business problem in your chosen field. By undertaking a 9–12 month work placement you will have an opportunity to carry out ‘in company’ research, analyse data and prepare a business report that employs logical arguments and evidence to develop sound conclusions and practical recommendations.

Options*

• Digital Marketing

  The Internet, social media, digital platforms and AI have had a profound impact on marketing, providing opportunities for a more personalised means of reaching customers and the chance to analyse customer data, requirements and preferences. This module examines the choices and opportunities facing organisations that want to benefit from digital marketing.

• International Marketing

  Although customers worldwide share many common features and interests, cultural differences still present international marketers with a major challenge in whether to standardise or adapt their approaches. This module will explore topics including trends in global marketing; understanding culture; the globalisation of brands; international market ethics; and theories of internationalisation and international marketing strategy.

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placement year 

To further increase your employability and experience we offer full-time students starting in September only the opportunity to take a placement year. This means that your course will take two years, but you’ll be graduating with work experience.

The year on placement in a role related to your course will allow you to put all that you have learned on your masters into practice, enhancing your career opportunities and giving you practical experience in your area of expertise.

During your placement you will also complete a business project. This project is assessed as part of your masters and, depending on the topic that is agreed between you and your employer, could also provide a valuable piece of insight for your placement employer.

Our placement partners include Pepsi, Renault, Dior, Brandwatch, SEOMG, Silicon Brighton, New Look and the University of Brighton.

Work placements are optional, and you are responsible for arranging your placement with support from our dedicated Placements and Employability team.

We are now offering a two-year international study visa route to support applications for this course.

Find out more about how we can support you finding a placement.

Course leader

Course fees

Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

Our Marketing MSc courses, full-time and part-time, are eligible for the government’s postgraduate master’s loan scheme.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2025–26.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

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