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    Marketing - MSc

    Blending the creative and analytical aspects of marketing theory and practice, our professionally-focused degree will equip you with the knowledge, skills and techniques to succeed in marketing. Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), successful completion of this course provides maximum exemption towards its professional qualifications. 

    Month of entry

    • September, January

    Mode of study

    • Full time, Part time

    Location

    Subject area

    • Business and Management

    Fees for 2023/24 academic year

    • UK - Full time £11,500 per year. Part time £6,400 per year.
      International - £19,900 per year.

    Duration of study

    • 1 year full time or up to 20 months with entrepreneurship or placement pathway. 2 years part-time or up to 24 to 36 months depending on pathway.
    Apply now

    Please note: this course is no longer accepting applications from international students for September 2023 entry

    Why study Marketing at Keele University?

    Professionally accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
    Taught by leading experts in marketing, branding and strategic management, whose specialist knowledge spans topics such as consumer behaviour, culture, branding and nostalgia marketing
    Unique opportunity to study and interact with entrepreneurs and business owners based in the Smart Innovation Hub, the first to be located directly in a Business School
    Expand your professional network at the university’s Grand Challenges lecture series, where key speakers provide fresh perspectives on the political, ethical and intellectual problems we face as a world today
    Accredited prior learning (APL) provides maximum exemptions towards CIM qualifications – with just one module required for the Certificates in Professional Marketing or Professional Digital Marketing and two modules to receive the Diplomas

    Course summary

    In today’s globalised, highly competitive world, experts have predicted marketers will be among the most in-demand jobs of the next decade – with skills in content creation and curation, social media strategy, digital marketing and analytics the most sought-after.

    What you’ll learn

    Marketing as a discipline is predicated on the idea that in order to survive and thrive organisations need to identify and continue to satisfy the needs of existing and prospective customers. In today’s ever changing and highly competitive world, this is as true as it ever was.

    That’s why we start by taking an in-depth look at customers and their buying behaviour, to help you and your future employers pre-empt or predict how the market will buy or consume their products or services. At the same time, we’ll familiarise you with the research tools and techniques most likely to give the greatest insight into the market, so you can thoroughly investigate spending habits of your customers, identify existing and potential competitors, and develop the most appropriate solutions for branding and promotion.

    A wide variety of knowledge and skills are required to be a successful marketer and our course content covers the full spectrum, from analytical to creative, with digital impact and the relationship between marketing and business embedded throughout.

    In addition to your final project, you will study seven core modules, which cover core topics such as marketing research, marketing strategy, consumer behaviour and international marketing communications. You’ll choose one option module in Semester 1 and one option module in Semester 2.

    A large range of optional modules give you the choice to retain your focus on aspects of marketing, such as mediated communications or branding, or broaden your scope of study to include accounting for decision making or entrepreneurship. 

    OTHER COURSES YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN:

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    Professional Accreditation

    Chartered Institute of Marketing Accredited Degree logo

    Professionally-accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the leading professional body for marketers worldwide, our master’s degree has a key aim: to prepare you to make an impact in the real world of work. That’s why, unlike some other courses, the move to digital first and the society-driven demand for increased sustainability and ethical behaviour are embedded into our programme. For those new to marketing, we’ll quickly bring you up to speed with basic and then advanced marketing theory.

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    Course structure

    You will study a variety of core and optional taught modules in Semesters 1 and 2. You will then undertake a large project to further develop your knowledge in a specific area of marketing.

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    "I felt a great sense of belonging that stemmed from the supportive network that the University provides for all of its students. During my studies, I found that my lecturers' were always willing to offer additional help and guidance when asked which helped me, and many others, to flourish and achieve our academic potential. "

    Mairi, MA Marketing Graduate

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    Entry requirements

    Academic entry requirements

    This degree is designed for those individuals with at least a second class honours degree or overseas equivalent qualification in order to apply to study the programmes. If you have appropriate professional qualifications or relevant work experience you may also be considered.

    English Language Entry Requirement for International Students

    IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component. The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests.

    If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes.

    During your degree programme you can study additional English language courses. This means you can continue to improve your English language skills and gain a higher level of English.

    PRE-MASTER'S IN BUSINESS 

    The Keele University International College offer a one semester Pre-Master's in Business programme for international students who do not meet the traditional entry requirements for a postgraduate business degree at Keele University.

    Please visit the Keele University International College for more information on how to apply, entry requirements and course details.

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    Funding

    Some travel costs may be incurred if an external project or placement is undertaken; any such costs will be discussed with you before a project is confirmed. It will be possible for you to select an internal project and that would not incur any additional travel costs. There may be additional costs for textbooks and inter-library loans.

    Living Costs

    Keele University is located on a beautiful, extensive and secure campus and has all the facilities of a small town. Student accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance of the teaching buildings. This is a very cost effective way to live and to reduce your living costs.

    Scholarships and Funding

    We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our bursaries and scholarships webpages for more information.

    Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2023 start date falls in the 2022/23 academic year. Please see the 2022/23 academic year fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2023.

    Planning your funding

    It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.

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    Your career

    This programme is designed to give you an in-depth understanding of contemporary marketing management, with optional modules allowing you to tailor your studies towards the more creative aspects of communications or to marketing research and data analysis, depending on your interests. Key transferrable skills, such as high-level communication, critical thinking and problem-solving, are embedded within the programme to maximise your career opportunities.

    Marketing graduates can be found in a wide variety of roles, working for bespoke marketing and creative agencies or within a wide range of organisations in the private, public and non-for-profit sectors. Past graduates on similar courses have secured positions in a range of industries, including digital marketing agencies, media, retail and financial services.

    On completion, you’ll be ideally placed to pursue further postgraduate studies at MPhil or PhD level.

    Examples of the roles you might progress to during the course of your career include:

    • Advertising Manager 
    • Brand Manager 
    • Content Designer 
    • Creative Director 
    • Data and Analytics Manager 
    • Market Analyst/Researcher 
    • Marketing Manager/Consultant 
    • Social Media Manager 

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    Postgraduate Study at Keele Business School

    As a postgraduate student at Keele Business School you will benefit from being taught in small groups by lecturers who are recognised experts in their fields.

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    Teaching, learning and assessment

    How you'll be taught

    Our teaching and learning strategy is wide-ranging and innovative, seeking to give you a rich learning environment that draws actively upon leading-edge research, as well as current professional practice.

    A key strength of our programme is our commitment to developing your critical thinking skills, which will not only set you apart from other marketing graduates, but will benefit you for the rest of your working life. Encouraging you to question, apply and evaluate different theories, creative approaches and techniques, you’ll build confidence, develop sound judgment and become adept at generating ideas and alternative solutions. Whether questioning the rationale of traditional marketing spend, for instance, or providing the evidence to challenge corporate strategy, your insight will prove one of your most valuable assets.

    You’ll learn from leading researchers and external practitioners, gaining industry insights through guest lectures. The Smart Innovation Hub, for example, plays host to various external events to which students are welcomed, such as the Breaking the Mould celebration featuring local Staffordshire business award winners and TV presenters.

    Taught by experienced marketers and studying alongside some part-time students who are already current marketing professionals, you’ll be exposed to marketing experience at every stage, whether designing and conducting market research or preparing recommendations for a brand extension using a contemporary brand. You’ll also hear direct from industry practitioners about what a day in their life is actually like or particular challenges they’ve faced, with one recent School talk focused on morality, social values and marketing.

    Teaching schedule

    Teaching takes place over the first two semesters. There are no formal group classes during Semester 3, but you consult with supervisors and access the University’s learning and teaching facilities and support services.

    • Semester 1 runs from the end of September to the end of January, with an assessment period in January.
    • Semester 2 runs from the last week of January to the middle of June, with the assessment period in June.
    • Semester 3 runs from June to the end of September
    How you'll be assessed

    Assessment is varied and includes the use of essays, skills portfolios, reflective diaries, exams, workbooks, presentations, marketing plans, reports, and practical projects. Most modules combine several forms of assessment.

    Where possible, assessment is designed to reflect skills and practices in the workplace, including team working, idea generation, meeting deadlines and so on. In marketing communications, you’ll be tasked with designing a promotional campaign or, when studying brands, you may be asked to develop ideas for sub-brands and brand extensions of well-known brands, such as Apple, Innocent or Virgin. Generally, assessment will involve the consideration of the marketing activities of actual businesses and brands.

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    Keele Postgraduate Association

    Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.

    KPA interior

    Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.

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    Our expertise

    Teaching staff

    You will be taught by a range of leading experts in marketing, branding and strategic management, who will share their own professional experiences, which helps to put marketing in the broader context of the business environment. Their specialist expertise spans topics such as consumer behaviour, culture, branding and nostalgia marketing. As well as publishing in leading academic journals, their work has appeared in The Conversation, Metro and the Manchester Evening News.  

    Teaching team

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    Facilities

    The course is run from Keele Business School’s new home – the Denise Coates Foundation Building – a state-of-the-art facility complete with 220-seat lecture theatre, a ‘think lab’ study space, data laboratory, cafe and business lounge.

    Home to our accounting, business management, economics, finance, HRM, international business, management and marketing programmes, our Business School is the first to be located on a Science Park. As well as new teaching spaces, our building is unique in that it is also home to the Smart Innovation Hub, a project part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), which includes space and support programmes for innovation-led businesses, providing opportunities for students and staff to work collaboratively with entrepreneurs and business owners, gaining invaluable networks and experience.

    If you choose to study business and management modules available, you’ll have access to the Bloomberg Suite with all its economic, financial and business real-time data, world news, analyses and reports from the world’s biggest financial organisations. You can choose to complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) certificate free of charge, an eight-hour e-learning, self-paced course which covers economic Indicators, currencies, fixed income and equities.

    Based in the heart of England, Keele University is easily accessible by motorway and public transport. You’ll find everything’s on your doorstep, with the most important facilities gathered together at the centre of campus, which, at 600 acres, is one of the biggest in the UK.

    80% of our research is deemed world-leading or internationally excellent (REF, 2021). In the global top 20 for campus sustainability, environmental and corporate responsibility underpin the running of our own business and these themes are embedded into our teaching of future professionals and leaders.

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