Intro

Our Marketing (Branding and Communications) MSc degree will develop your understanding of marketing from a strategic perspective. This degree allows you to specialise and deepen your knowledge as you develop competitive brand management strategies.

This masters degree is ideal for those seeking to launch a career in marketing and communications, as well as those looking to further progress their knowledge.

On the course, you will learn both theory and practice of marketing at an advanced level, providing you with an in-depth, critical understanding of research methodologies, and marketing communications planning and strategy.

Full-time students also have the option to add work experience to their masters through a year’s paid placement in industry.

This course is part of our Marketing MSc programme. All students complete the same core modules, then from the end of your first term you can tailor your course with specialisms and option modules. Other courses include:

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year / 2 years with placement
Part-time 2 years

January and September start dates, depending on route chosen

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Course content

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 examinations.

All of our Marketing MSc courses share seven core modules. This specialist route includes one subject-specific module (Branding and Communications), plus an optional module in International Management Integration which enables you to add a further international dimension to the course. 

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.

Two students delivering a talk

Syllabus 

All students will study seven core modules. You can also choose to take the optional module in International Management Integration.

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

  • Business Solutions in Action
  • Marketing Planning and Strategy
  • Branding and Communication
  • Research Methodologies and Methods for Marketing
  • Buyer Behaviour
  • Responsible Marketing
  • Dissertation or Work Placement Project

Optional

  • International Management Integration
  • Digital Marketing
  • Social Marketing

Module in focus

Branding and Marketing Communications

Marketing communications refers to the various tools that marketers use to communicate with key target markets. It covers the use of advertising, sales promotion and PR amongst others. This is therefore an invaluable module for any student who wishes to pursue a career in marketing.

Contents

  • The marketing communications (marcoms) mix
  • Personal and environmental influences on marcoms
  • Ethics in marcoms
  • Consumer and organisational buyer behaviour
  • Communications theories
  • Segmenting, targeting and positioning for marcoms
  • Marcoms planning models and integrated marcoms strategy
  • The creative approach
  • Present and future media selection alternatives
  • Measuring effectiveness
  • Product and corporate branding

Placement year 

To further increase your employability and international experience we offer full-time students starting in September 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 BMW, Bosch, Deloitte, Disney, Hewlett Packard, HSBC, IBM, Ipsos Mori, L’Oréal, Nike, Panasonic, PwC, Renault and Warner Brothers.

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

Dr Rodrigo Lucena

Dr Rodrigo Lucena is the course leader for our postgraduate marketing degrees. 

He has a PhD in Tourism Marketing from the University of Brighton and an MSc in International Hospitality Management from Manchester Metropolitan University. 

He combines a solid academic background with a wide expertise in service management. He made a career at the InterContinental Hotels Group, and brings deep knowledge of marketing strategies and operations.

Rodrigo has been a lecturer at the University of Brighton since 2013 and has taught on several modules including Consumer Behaviour, Branding and Communications, Customer Relationship Marketing, Competitive Marketing Strategies, Marketing Planning and Research Methods.

His research interests include consumer behaviour, service marketing, customer relationship marketing, tourism and hospitality marketing, marketing for families, gender and sexuality in marketing, and qualitative research methods. 

Find out more about your course leader.

Rodrigo Lucena De Mello

Our latest news

Marketing MSc grad joins the Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme

Marketing MSc grad joins the Knowledge Transfer Partnership programme

Richard is one of our Marketing (Digital Marketing) MSc graduates.
Expert tourism, travel and events panel event join us next month

Expert tourism, travel and events panel event join us next month

Join us for a panel discussion on global challenges facing the travel, tourism and events sector.
Principal lecturer interviewed on BBC’s The Secret Genius of Modern Life

Principal lecturer interviewed on BBC’s The Secret Genius of Modern Life

Principal lecturer in the School of Business and Law, Asher Rospigliosi, appeared on BBC Two’s The Secret Genius of Modern Life last night.
Women in Leadership: Finance Director at Ministry of Defence inspires students and staff

Women in Leadership: Finance Director at Ministry of Defence inspires students and staff

On Wednesday 29 June our students and staff were joined by Veronica Povey, Finance Director (Head Office and Strategic Programmes) at the Ministry of Defence, as part of our Women in Leadership Series.

Read more from our blog

Careers

Career prospects 

A Marketing (Branding and Communications) MSc from School of Business and Law will help you to specialise and stand out in today's competitive job market. It will equip you with both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary for a successful career.

The course has been designed for people wanting a successful and rewarding career in sectors including advertising, branding, communications, digital marketing, direct marketing, event management, public relations and sales.

The course is also ideal preparation for continuing your study at MPhil or PhD level or working as a professional researcher in marketing.

Previous graduates have started successful careers with the following companies: Product Manager for Astra Zeneca, Milan; Brand manager for Campari, Switzerland; Account Executive for Blaze Communications, UK; Marketing Manager for Mitchells and Butlers, UK; Marketing Manager for Cartier, Taiwan; Brand Manager for L'Oreal, Greece.

Student on placement at IBM

Accreditation 

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) is the largest professional marketing body in the world. This course is accredited by and has been developed with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), so that you can gain CIM qualifications whilst you study. We’ve structured our courses to help you complete your CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing before you graduate.

Exemptions from Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

You can study for the following CIM qualifications during your course:

  • CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing – you can obtain an exemption from the CIM's Marketing and Integrated Communications module. You will then need to pass one CIM optional module to obtain this certificate.
  • CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing – you will be exempt from the CIM's Strategic Marketing module. To obtain the diploma you will need to pass the CIM’s Marketing Metrics module and one optional module.
  • CAM Diploma in Digital Marketing - to obtain this diploma you will need to pass the CIM's Digital Marketing Essentials module plus one specialist unit.
CIM logo

Skills development 

Alongside traditional lectures you will gain practical experience by working on live client projects, case studies from visiting alumni and industry experts, preparing you for a career in marketing. By working with real clients, you will work on projects advising them on their marketing approach, from launching new products to expansion strategies.

Lecture in progress

Marketing MSc Students presenting marketing strategy plans to client, Caterina Kostoula.

Work-related experience 

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team provide a huge portfolio of employers offering business-related placement opportunities. They support all students find a placement.

They offer several services to improve your employability including CV and cover letter reviews, mock assessment centres, fast-track interviews and interview practice sessions.

They will also support you throughout your placement and act as referees.

JobTeaser
We are one of the first UK universities to use JobTeaser, a new online placements system presenting placement options in the UK and Europe. It gathers together all the job opportunities, events and resources you need to help you with your professional development.

Placement and recruitment events
Placement fairs are held twice a year involving companies from well-known names such as Enterprise-Rent-a-Car, Nike, BMW and IBM, through to smaller and more local businesses.

Our regular Employability Weeks offer activities designed to enhance your employability, including LinkedIn workshops, sessions on working abroad, advice from the university’s volunteering service and support from the Careers team.

Careers advice 

Our dedicated Placements and Employability team provide a huge portfolio of employers offering business-related placement opportunities. They support all students find a placement.

They offer several services to improve your employability including CV and cover letter reviews, mock assessment centres, fast-track interviews and interview practice sessions.

They will also support you throughout your placement and act as referees if you are offered a permanent role.

JobTeaser
We are one of the first UK universities to use JobTeaser, a new online placements system presenting placement options in the UK and Europe. It gathers together all the job opportunities, events and resources you need to help you with your professional development.

Placement and recruitment events
Placement fairs are held twice a year involving companies from well-known names such as Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Enterprise-Rent-a-Car and IBM, through to smaller and more local businesses.

Our regular Employability Weeks offer activities designed to enhance your employability, including LinkedIn workshops, sessions on working abroad, advice from the university’s volunteering service and support from the Careers team.

Starting your own business 

Beepurple is the university’s entrepreneurship support network. They offer free support for any student or graduate with their business ideas, freelance plan or social enterprise project. 

Beepurple run events throughout the academic year, designed to equip you with skills that will improve your employability and help you grow a successful business. 

By taking part in beepurple activities, you will meet like-minded people, hear how other recent graduates have set up their own businesses and gain key enterprise skills that will help you stand out from the crowd.

For more information visit beepurple.

beepurple logo

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience
Normally a good honours degree or equivalent is required. Work experience is useful but not essential. Applicants with non-standard entry qualifications will be considered. If you are unsure whether you meet the entry requirements then please contact us.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through our Extended Masters programme.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 10,100 GBP

International (full-time)15,800 GBP

Placement year

Home 1,410 GBP

International 2,180 GBP

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.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, while studying a course in the School of Business and Law in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

  • Students who choose to take an optional placement will have travel and living expenses. The cost of this depends on where and how long your placement is.
  • Textbooks are available from the university library (many as e-books) but you may wish to budget up to £200 to buy your own copies.
  • For the International Tourism Management BSc, International Tourism Management with Marketing BSc, International Event Management BSc, and International Event Management with Marketing BSc, field trips are an optional activity, but we do strongly advise participation as they contribute to the overall experience of studying this degree. The cost for field trips is not included in the tuition fee and must be paid for by students, however please be assured we do try to keep field trip costs to a minimum and don't anticipate the total cost of a few field trips each year to exceed £30. If you would struggle to meet this cost, there is a hardship fund that you may be able to access.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2023–24.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

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-time 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.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Over the last four years Moulsecoomb has undergone a major transformation, planned with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability in mind.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

On campus you’ll find professional-standard facilities and learning resources for all of our subjects and a brand new academic building Elm House, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and the Students’ Union.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Two people walking past Mithras halls

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
  • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Students eating at the Hub

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Students talking in a social area

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Find out more about what students do at our School of Business and Law by subscribing to our blog.

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