Marketing at Durham University - UCAS

Course options

Course summary

The MSc in Marketing enables you to explore the exciting world of modern marketing and its pivotal role in helping to shape and steer corporate strategies in business and other professional sectors. This one-year full-time course gives you an in-depth understanding of key academic marketing theories, current marketing industry issues and the opportunity to gain practical experience abroad. We work with the leading UK professional body, the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), to offer you the opportunity to gain professional qualifications by taking advantage of the exemptions CIM Accredited Degree provides. You will study core modules that include marketing management and strategy, behavioural science for marketing, marketing theory, contemporary marketing communication and business-to-business marketing. You will also select optional modules, ranging from digital marketing to the global sports business and complete a dissertation or business project. The option also exists to take a module on the theory and practice of influencer and content marketing, which replaces the dissertation or business project and consolidates your knowledge gained from the course. Away from taught learning, you will be able to take part in extracurricular activities such as the London marketing visit, which will give you valuable business insight and develop those vital networking opportunities. You will also be able to enjoy marketing presentations by guest speakers, including expert academics and senior representatives from major multinationals. Durham University Business School is one of the longest established in the UK and is also one of an elite group accredited by all three major business accreditation bodies – the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the Association of MBAs and the European Quality Improvement System.

Modules

Core modules: Marketing Management and Strategy provides a comprehensive introduction to issues in marketing management and gives you the skills and ability to develop a professional strategic marketing plan. Buyer Behaviour and Marketing Innovation provides you with insights into consumer behaviour’s role in modern marketing, including historical perspectives, neuroscience, purchase decisions, perception, memory, emotions, and more. You'll also explore how to apply these insights in product design, branding, advertising, retail, and ethical marketing. Marketing Theory develops your understanding of marketing theory and the key debates within the field by considering the theoretical, managerial, social, economic, and political dimensions of marketing. You will look at the role of marketing within markets, organisations, and society and the assumptions underpinning marketing thinking. Contemporary Marketing Communication will develop your understanding of contemporary marketing communication by looking at recent research studies and first-hand accounts of strategy development from leading marketing agencies. You will contribute your own experience of advertising and promotion to the module and examine ethical, critical and social issues that arise in the field of promotional and contemporary communication. Business to Business Marketing tackles the over-emphasis found on academic courses on the study of business-to-consumer marketing and provides a comprehensive introduction to the main theoretical and managerial issues in business-to-business marketing. Either Research Methods and Dissertation in Marketing (International study route and business project routes available) provides you with training for advanced-level research and requires you to conduct an in-depth investigation into a relevant subject, for which you will have the opportunity to undertake research abroad at a partner university.  Alternatively, instead of a dissertation, you will produce a business project in partnership with an external host organisation or through an issue-led investigation across a range of organisations on a specific management issue. Or  Influencer and Content Marketing: Theory and Practice consolidates your course learning and requires you to carry out a critical analysis of the influencer marketing and content creation sectors and their impact on the traditional marketing industry. You will identify a viable business concept, carry out detailed market and customer analysis and then complete a major digital project based on your own specialist interests within influencer and content marketing. Examples of optional modules: Arts, Heritage and Tourism Marketing; Digital Marketing; Global Marketing; Global Sport Business; Retail Marketing Management; Social Marketing; Designing and Marketing Services; Advanced Marketing Strategy; Consulting; Innovation and Technology Management; Science of Leadership; Society and Sustainability; A language module such as those offered by the University’s Centre for Foreign Language Study.

Assessment method

The course is mainly delivered through a mixture of lectures and seminar-style sessions that enable work to take place in small groups. Lectures provide key contents of a particular topic and may be given by guest speakers who are internationally recognised academic experts or practitioners in their field.  Outside of timetabled contact hours, you are expected to undertake a significant number of hours of independent study to prepare for teaching sessions, assignments and other assessments. Independent study also provides an opportunity for you to broaden your general knowledge of subject matters and to be able to contribute in small-group sessions. You will complete a dissertation or a business project, which boosts your research skills through the application of the appropriate theoretical frameworks. If you choose the influencer and content marketing module instead of a dissertation, you will attend a further 20 hours of workshops and six hours of research field visits.  Assessment is rigorous and applied through written assignments and exams. In addition, you will also complete either a dissertation or a business project, or for the module of influencer and content marketing, the assessment includes a scoping report, a 20-minute presentation and a digital channel prototype.


How to apply

International applicants

If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.

Entry requirements

You will need the equivalent of a UK first or upper second class honours degree. If you are an international student who does not meet the requirements for direct entry to this degree, you may be eligible to take a pre-Masters pathway programme at the Durham University International Study Centre.


English language requirements

Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses. It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course. Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.

English language requirements

https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/international/entry-requirements/english-language-requirements/


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £14500 Year 1
Northern Ireland £14500 Year 1
Scotland £14500 Year 1
Wales £14500 Year 1
Channel Islands £14500 Year 1
EU £31500 Year 1
International £31500 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £31500 Year 1

Additional fee information

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

Sponsorship information

For further information see the course listing.

Marketing at Durham University - UCAS