Triangle

Course overview

Our Marketing MSc gives you all the key skills and knowledge you need to excel in high level marketing positions. There are countless marketing agencies and in-house corporate marketing teams across the world, so you will have far-reaching career opportunities.

The skills you will learn can be applied across all businesses, so your ambitions don't have to be limited to a particular sector. Our core modules cover all the essential elements required by professional marketers. You can select optional modules that reflect your personal career goals and interests, giving you specialist knowledge of areas including branding, digital marketing and b2b marketing.

You have the option to take industry-recognised digital qualifications by Microsoft and SAP alongside your course, which will develop your digital skills and help you stand out to future employers.

As our course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), it is mapped against their assessments of the industry’s needs. You can complete the CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing alongside your MSc studies at no extra cost, which means that you'll graduate with two internationally recognised professional qualifications.

This is a conversion course which is not designed for students with an extensive background in marketing. If your undergraduate degree contains modules with a marketing focus, please be aware that it is highly likely there will be overlap with your prior study. This should be considered carefully before applying.

Why choose this course?

Accredited

professional qualification recognised worldwide

Top 60

in the world and Top 20 in the UK

Gain digital skills

Business School students have the opportunity to gain digital skills with industry-recognised Microsoft and SAP certifications

Triple accredited

Part of an elite group of business schools worldwide to gain ‘triple crown’ accreditation

EQUIS, AMBA and AACSB accredited

More than 27,000

Business School alumni connect you to a powerful global network of business contacts

Course content

Across the autumn and spring semesters, you will take 120 credits of taught modules. Each module typically consists of 10 two to three hour sessions.

You will complete a 60-credit dissertation over the summer, and will be allocated an appropriate dissertation supervisor who will oversee your progress.

Modules

Core modules

Semester one

Consumer Behaviour and Analytics

The module interrogates the concept of 'the consumer' and 'consumption'. It examines behaviour across the consumption cycle (through production, acquisition, use and disposal) addressing individual and contextual factors that shape behaviour at micro and macro levels.

It reviews the roots of research into consumer behaviour and consumption, covers particular theories and bodies of literature (for example, decision making, learning, habits, socio-cultural processes). It provides opportunities to apply theory to consumer behaviour and consumption in a variety of context and to assess the implications for commercial and non-profit organisations, public policy and consumers themselves.

Marketing Management in the Digital Economy

The module covers operational perspective on:

  • nature of marketing in the global economy
  • managing products, services and brands
  • new product development
  • pricing
  • integrated marketing communications
  • internal marketing
  • managing distribution channels
  • experience marketing
  • sustainable marketing
Marketing Strategy

Lecture topics to include marketing strategy and business performance, strategic marketing planning, understanding the market environment, market segmentation, targeting and positioning, strategic choices, developing and analysing strategic options, implementing marketing strategies, strategic marketing thinking, marketing analytics, big data, behavioural data, marketing simulation game.

Semester two

Critical Marketing

The module discusses the marketing concept and the effects of marketing from different perspectives, using a macromarketing approach. It critically examines foundational and contemporary issues in the theory and practice of marketing and discusses the broadening domain of marketing. It introduces students to the notion and practice of critical thinking and the field of critical marketing.

Areas covered may include, for example, manipulation versus sovereignty of consumers, consumer vulnerability, and meanings and culture of consumption. Adopting a transformational agenda for marketing, this module also explores the role of sustainability and ethics in marketing.

Research Methods in Marketing

Possible topics include:

  • the research process in marketing contexts
  • interviews and focus groups
  • observation and ethnography
  • analysing qualitative data
  • evaluating and presenting data
  • designing and conducting survey research
  • experimental design
  • T tests and chi square
  • ANOVA and regression analysis
  • factor analysis
  • writing research proposals

Summer

Applied Marketing Project

Marketing project on a topic in the area of marketing, selected by the candidate, in consultation with the Course Director and a member of staff designated as Project Supervisor.

Examples of appropriate projects might include (but are not limited to): a marketing communications plan, a market entry analysis for a new (international) market, a launch plan for a new product or service, a consumer (business-to-consumer context) or buyer (business-to-business context) market analysis for a specific product, a strategic marketing plan for an SME or a new venture.

Marketing Dissertation

Dissertation on a topic in the area of marketing, selected by the candidate, in consultation with the Course Director and a member of staff designated as Dissertation Supervisor.

Optional modules

Two from:

Branding and Marketing Communications

The module provides an introduction and overview to branding and marketing communications research. It explores the nature of branding and marketing communications practice and theory.

Business to Business Marketing

The content of this module will serve as an introduction to the main theoretical and managerial concepts and issues in the area of business-to-business marketing and will focus on aspects of strategic marketing relationships between companies and other stakeholders. Possible topics may include:

  • What is a market? A service ecosystem approach to understanding markets
  • Organisational buying behaviour and market structures
  • How do markets work? Creating and shaping new markets and maintaining market dynamics
  • Market relations and sustainable competitive advantage
  • Forming business networks: business network partnership attraction
  • Business-to-Business marketing strategies
  • Innovation in business networks
  • Managing business networks: communication, coordination and learning in business networks
  • Strategic market relations in the digital world 
  • Branding and building loyalty: value co-creation in network partnerships
Digital Marketing

Lecture topics may include digital marketing definition and concept, digital marketing media, digital marketing communication strategy, digital advertising, social media marketing, email marketing, mobile marketing, content marketing, e-commerce vs digital vs internet marketing.

Sustainable Tourism Management

This module is concerned with providing an understanding of the theoretical and practical issues relating to environmental, economic and socio-cultural sustainability in tourism. A day-long compulsory field trip forms an integral part of the teaching of this module.

Topics covered may include:

  • tourism management for natural resources
  • ecotourism and nature-based tourism
  • ethics
  • socio-cultural sustainability
  • stakeholder engagement
  • community wellbeing
  • economics of sustainable tourism
  • social impact of tourism
Sales Management and Negotiations

The purpose of this course is to help you better understand the theory and processes of entrepreneurial sales and negotiation to develop the skills to sell and negotiate successfully in a variety of business settings.

Readings, exercises, and examples relate to the broad spectrum of negotiations that business professionals face with colleagues, employers, employees, clients, competitors, and others. These include a range of substantive issues such as purchase and sale transactions, contract negotiations, salary negotiations, workplace disputes, inter-organisational relationships, multiparty private/public negotiations, and negotiations regarding organizational change.  Sales theory and exercises build the basic understanding required to plan and successfully execute a sales revenue stream for entrepreneurial organisations.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Thursday 13 June 2024.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Workshops

Digital professional skills certifications

We offer the opportunity for you to take industry-recognised Microsoft and SAP certifications alongside your degree programme. This will enhance your digital capability, differentiate your CV and help you stand out to future employers. Find out more on our digital professional skills website.

How you will be assessed

  • Dissertation
  • Examinations
  • Essay

Modules are assessed by a combination of exams and coursework at the end of the relevant semester.

Contact time and study hours

10-credit taught modules will consist of 100 student learning hours, of which around 22 hours are associated with lectures and seminars. The rest of the time will consist of assessment preparation, class preparation, and private study.

20-credit taught modules will consist of double this time.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:1 (or international equivalent) in any discipline, excluding degrees with a substantial amount of marketing

Applying

You are required to submit a personal statement and a list of modules being studied in the final year (for applicants who have not yet completed their undergraduate degree).

This is a conversion course which is not designed for students with an extensive background in marketing. If your undergraduate degree contains modules with a marketing focus, please be aware that it is highly likely there will be overlap with your prior study. This should be considered carefully before applying.

Please note: this is a highly competitive course and there are a limited number of places available. The School reserves the right to close applications when capacity is reached – this may be ahead of the advertised application windows. Early applications are encouraged to avoid disappointment.

If you have not yet completed your undergraduate degree, please provide a list of modules to be studied in your final year.

Our step-by-step guide covers everything you need to know about applying.

How to apply

Fees

Qualification MSc
Home / UK £15,800
International £32,400

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses.

You should be able to access most of the books you'll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles.

Funding

Business School MSc scholarships

There are many ways to fund your postgraduate course, from scholarships to government loans.

We also offer a range of international masters scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Postgraduate funding

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

Career destinations for our postgraduates include:

  • accountants
  • finance and investment analysts and advisers
  • marketing associate professionals
  • human resources managers
  • management consultants
  • business analysts
  • business development managers
  • financial managers
  • data analysts

Some MSc graduates have gone on to doctoral studies, others have become entrepreneurs. Our Ingenuity Lab has supported a number of our MSc graduates in starting their own company.

Career progression

86.2% of all postgraduates from Nottingham University Business School secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £31,419.*

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Chartered Institute of Marketing

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing and you will receive a degree and a professional qualification.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates
" When I reviewed the course outline on the university’s website, it sat very well with my academic and personal goals. Modules like Consumer Behaviour and Digital Marketing ensured that I was entering a field I was interested in. Simultaneously, modules like Critical Marketing and Sustainable Tourism Management showed me that at the University of Nottingham, I will be trained to be not just a regular marketer, but a responsible one. "
Simran Harichand, MSc Marketing

This content was last updated on Thursday 13 June 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.