Marketing (Branding and Communications) MSc (PGCert PGDip)

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.

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.

Staff profiles

International study exchange

Through our partnership with MIP Politecnico di Milano Graduate School of Business, you have the opportunity to gain an international perspective to your studies. On our study exchange programme you would join MIP's International Master in Multichannel Marketing Management course, which is taught in English. 

You will be able to choose from a range of modules including Design and Marketing: the Italian way in different sectors including for example Design, Fashion and Furniture, Automotive, Wine and Sports Marketing. 

The international study exchange is currently unavailable due to the global pandemic. This will be regularly reviewed by both universities and reinstated once it is considered safe to do so.

International requirements and visas

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

Visas and immigration advice

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.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2022–23.

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.

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

Maps

Support and wellbeing

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