Marketing (Social Marketing) 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 six core modules. This specialist route includes one subject-specific module (Social Marketing), but you can also select from a range of option modules which enable you to tailor the course to your interests and career aspirations.

In the final phase of the course, you will complete a 15,000-word dissertation on a marketing topic of your choice, where you will make recommendations for real-life marketing practice. Throughout your dissertation, 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 will also select one option module, which will allow you to specialise in an additional strand of marketing.

Modules

• Moving to Masters
• Critical Developments in Marketing Theory and Practice
• Marketing Planning and Strategy
• Marketing Research I: quantitative methods
• Marketing Research II: qualitative methods
• Social Marketing
• Dissertation

Options
One from:

• International Marketing
• Branding and Communications
• Behavioural Economics
• Digital Marketing
• New Product Development

Modules in focus

Social Marketing

Social marketing concerns the use of marketing techniques to improve individual or societal wellbeing, for example promoting improved diets, healthier lifestyles, road safety and environmental responsibility. This module aims to provide students with a greater understanding of the application of marketing concepts and techniques to the promotion of behavioural change for the benefit of individuals and society.

Contents:

• Marketing mix applied to social marketing issues and problems
• Segmentation and targeting in the context of social marketing
• Qualitative research techniques to develop consumer insight
• Behavioural change models
• Social marketing campaigns and marketing communications
• Social marketing and health promotion
• Marketing to promote improved nutrition and healthy eating
• Exercise and lifestyle change
• Anti-smoking/alcohol/drugs campaigns
• The role of social marketing in climate change, recycling and the environment
• Ethical and political issues in social marketing.

Behavioural Economics

Behavioural economics is an emerging subfield of economics that incorporates insights from psychology and other social sciences into economics. It considers how the processes underlying decision-making influence our actual decisions – rather than assuming away these processes to arrive at a flawed model of rational decision-making. Behavioural economics is increasingly being used to inform practice in both the public and private sectors – it is now being applied to commercial, policy and behavioural challenges. This module sets out the key elements and gives students the opportunity to apply behavioural economics to decision making, both their own and their clients.

The module covers core concepts and techniques associated with behavioural economics, as well as considering how these theoretical constructs are being applied in the public and private sectors. Content includes:

• Overview; homo economicus or homo sapiens? Rational economics and irrational behaviour.
• Judgement, heuristics and bias; bounded rationality; bounded self interest; bounded willpower; risk.
• Now or later? Inter-temporal choice and hyperbolic discounts.
• Too much information, too many choices: the curse of knowledge.
• Boom, bust and bubbles: From the Joint Stock Company via the Wall Street Crash to the Credit Crunch; bulls and bears, greed and fear; irrational exuberance vs manic depression; herds and heuristics: are markets efficient or emotional?
• Altruism and fairness: reciprocity, punishment and just desserts.
• Implications for the enterprise: sophistication, naivety and disciplined consumers; behavioural strategy.
• Implications for public policy (public health, environment and climate change, transport): libertarian paternalism; nudges; framing; choice architecture; choice editing; defaults; heuristics.
• Controversies: validity – lab rats and empirical actors; using data.

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 & Marketing: the Italian way, in different sectors including for example design, fashion and furniture, automotive, wine and sports marketing.

Staff profiles

Teaching excellence

Most of our tutors worked in industry before joining the university and continue to consult for corporate firms, which allows them to integrate the latest commercial developments into our courses. They are also active researchers at the forefront of marketing theory.

Industry representatives advise on the content and development of our courses and contribute to teaching as guest lecturers. Their talks help to bring classroom theory to life by sharing real-world case studies, results and pitfalls.

You will learn transferable skills in research, presentations, group work and conflict resolution, all of which are highly sought after in today's highly competitive job market.

Class sizes are small enough for there to be a personal and friendly atmosphere where staff know students by name and can closely monitor their progress.

International requirements

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

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 2019–20.

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/EU 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.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. 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. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Moulsecoomb campus map