Study Marketing, why & how to study

CONTENTS

1. What’s Marketing?

2. What Marketing degrees can you study?

3. What do you need to get onto a Marketing degree?

4. What topics does a Marketing degree cover?

5. How will you be assessed?

6. Why study Marketing?

7. Are scholarships and bursaries available to students studying a Marketing degree?

8. What do Marketing graduates earn?

9. What jobs can you get as a Marketing graduate?

10. What are the postgraduate opportunities?

11. Similar subjects to Marketing

12. Have any questions?

What’s Marketing?

Marketing is about understanding the needs of customers and communicating to them how the product or service your business offers will meet that need. Build a relationship with them, and you’ll build brand loyalty.

Study for a Marketing degree, and you’ll learn about the business and economic context of marketing, how to analyse consumers and competitors, and how to develop a marketing strategy. Or you could specialise in a particular area such as digital marketing or fashion branding.

What Marketing degrees can you study?

Undergraduate degrees in Marketing include combinations with business or specialisms in particular areas, such as:

Options may include an integrated foundation year, professional placement year or year abroad.

What do you need to get onto a Marketing degree?

Must have

Typically, entry to an undergraduate Marketing degree requires between 96–168 UCAS points. Qualifications may include: 

• A Levels: AAA–CCD
• BTECs: DDD–MMP
• Scottish Highers: AAAAB–BBBC (Advanced Highers: AAA)
• International Baccalaureate: 37–28
• Interviews may be held by some universities 

Good to have

• Studied maths – if not studied at A Level, then good GCSE grades (or equivalent)  
• Work experience or shadowed in a marketing department of a large company, or a marketing agency 
• Volunteered with a charity to help with their communications or events 
• Tried online courses or MOOCs to gain insights about areas you’d like to specialise in 
• Researched marketing through books, industry magazines, websites like the Chartered Institute of Marketing, podcasts or other media

What topics does a Marketing degree cover?

Typical modules for courses in this subject include:

• Consumer brand relationship
• Consumer psychology
• Data insight for business decisions
• Digital marketing
• Global marketing
• Marketing communications
• Principles of management
• Social marketing
• Understanding the business and economic environment

How will you be assessed?

Courses are assessed in a variety of ways, depending on the module, and may include:

• Case studies
• Essays
• Exams
• Group presentations
• Podcasts
• Posters
• Reports
• Videos

Why study Marketing?

Career-specific skills:

• Understanding customer behaviour, business management and the wider business environment
• Specific skills such as customer segmentation, competitor analysis, developing a marketing or branding strategy, and how to use digital marketing, social media and print advertising
• Ability to develop creative content and coherent communication

Transferable skills:

• Communication
• Creative problem solving
• Critical and entrepreneurial thinking
• Interpersonal and teamwork skills
• Leadership
• Organisation and strategic planning
• Presentation

Professional accreditation:

• Degrees may be accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) offering a pathway towards professional qualifications
• Degrees may also be accredited by the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) and Institute of Direct Marketing (IDM)

What do Marketing graduates earn?

Marketing graduates can expect an entry-level salary of between £18,000–£23,000.

Mid-career, a brand manager could earn £45,000 on average, while specialists such as a digital marketer could earn up to £50,000. Managerial responsibility will boost your income, with salaries of £100,000–£144,000 reported for roles such as marketing director or chief marketing officer in major companies.

What jobs can you get as a Marketing graduate?

Marketing is a role found in every sector you can think of – and specialisms can lead to a wide range of careers. If you prefer to diversify, your skills and knowledge will also prove useful in other areas of business. Some roles will require further qualifications. Careers could include:

• Accountant
• Advertising copywriter
• Brand manager
• Business development manager
• Channel marketing specialist
• Charity fundraising consultant
• Customer experience analyst
• eCRM manager
• Event manager
• Market researcher
• Marketing director
• Media buyer
• Media planner
• PR officer
• Solicitor

What are the postgraduate opportunities?

Postgraduate study in Marketing offers the chance to specialise. Examples of taught master’s and research degrees at postgraduate level include:

• Business with Marketing MSc
• Digital Marketing MSc
• International Marketing MSc
• Strategic Marketing MSc
• User Experience and Service Design MA

Similar subjects to Marketing

If you’re interested in consumer behaviour or business practices, you could also consider:

• Business & Management Studies
• Communication & Media Studies
• Economics
• Psychology
• Sociology
• Social Policy

Have any questions?

Ask our experts! You can email ask@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk with your question about studying Marketing – we’ll be happy to hear from you.