In today’s fast-paced global business environment, strategic marketing influences every aspect of business, informing decisions about how to create and maintain consumer demand, increase profit, build reputation and stay ahead of the competition. Incorporating the latest digital and analytic marketing practices, our Master’s reflects the ever-changing nature of this exciting profession.
Internationalisation and digitisation have fundamentally shifted marketing contexts: types of businesses, products and services, channels and communication media, and consumer behaviour are changing rapidly. Businesses of all shapes and sizes – large or small, global or local, innovative or traditional, public or private – now compete for the same market. Marketing professionals can steer a company toward success through innovative product development, savvy pricing strategies, creative communications and timely market insight.
The aim of both the MA and MSc is to improve your managerial effectiveness in the increasingly digitised, automated and globalised field of marketing. It will deepen your understanding of the relationship between marketing and the wider organisation, as well as the organisation and its customers, enabling you to adopt a holistic forward-looking approach to marketing to achieve long-term sustainable competitive advantage.
Suitable for existing marketers keen to adopt a strategic approach to marketing management or those from a non-marketing background, our balanced portfolio has been designed to deliver the breadth and depth of knowledge required to excel in marketing strategy, market research, digital and global marketing, product and brand management.
Both courses provide a comprehensive curriculum. The MA places more emphasis on developing the creative skills needed for innovative decision-making, while the MSc stresses the marketing metrics, analytics and data handling skills which underpin evidence-based problem-solving. On the MA and MSc, you’ll work to apply your marketing theories, conduct marketing analysis and planning on real-life projects. The Marketing Planning Study Trip, for example, offers a great opportunity for personal and professional development. Developing a marketing plan for a real client, you’ll gain sought-after soft skills, such as creativity, critical thinking, personal agility, adaptability and resilience. In 2019, students worked on a live case study provided by Cole Haan, the global men's and women's footwear and accessories brand, to achieve a seven-fold increase in UK turnover in three years.
On graduation, you’ll be prepared for marketing consultancy or marketing management in a wide range of industries and international markets, typically in roles such as product development, brand management, digital marketing, marketing communications, marketing research, customer service management, e-marketing or sales.
The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) with Graduate Gateway programme status. It was designed with input from a range of industry professionals working in brand and marketing consultancy, digital technology, creative and social media.
Incorporating the latest digital and analytic marketing practices, the broad curriculum of our Master’s degree reflects the rapidly changing global marketing environment. Whilst at Westminster, you can also secure two internationally-recognised professional qualifications – the Institute of Data and Marketing (IDM) Certificate in Digital Marketing and the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) Global Foundation Certificate, as well as joining the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).
Here at Westminster, we’ve been teaching postgraduate degrees in marketing communications for over 20 years. Our goal is to prepare you for professional life in the increasingly complex and dynamic marketing communications industry, incorporating the growing content of digital marketing and new innovations.
The learning required for professional membership of the CIPR and the IDM Certificate in Digital Marketing has been embedded into the curriculum, meaning you automatically qualify for both on successful completion of this degree. With some additional study and after passing an exam, you can also achieve the IPA Global Foundation Certificate.
Our multidisciplinary degree integrates the various specialisms and practices within marketing communications, while considering some of the current issues affecting marketing communications – anything from how to develop an authentic brand voice to hands-on practice on a social media dashboard and programmatic media planning.
We offer a practical learning experience with interactive employer-based projects that mirror industry practice and give you the opportunity to work as a marketing communications agency in a ‘real-life’ scenario, pitching for work with a client. In the past, our excellent industry contacts have facilitated projects with high profile clients such as IKEA, Trainline and Percol Coffee, as well as small start-up companies like MatchaNow and Boundless. Throughout your studies, you’ll also work on your individual project, based on a brand you select with help from your supervisor to bring together brand strategy, consumer psychology, research and the range of communications tools and channels.
Our BA (Hons) in Marketing and Business prepares students for the challenges of the modern business world and strengthens and develops their broader personal and professional skills.
Key course features
The Diploma in Professional Marketing gives you the required knowledge, skills and understanding at management level to take a strategic approach to marketing planning. By understanding key marketing metrics and measurement techniques you will be able to interpret relevant insight and make informed strategic decisions.
This is a one year provision but you can start in September, January or April.
