Marketing

About

Exceptional managers, ambitious undergraduates and budding business leaders from all over the world are drawn together for our MSc in Marketing. As well as grounding you in key academic theories, it offers you the opportunity to investigate all aspects of contemporary marketing and develop a critical awareness of current issues.

You’ll be supported in your learning by a vibrant and active faculty who work across all regions and sectors of business knowledge and marketing research. Studying at the leading edge means you’ll leave the course ideally positioned to shape a successful career in the marketing specialism of your choice. What’s more, our trained careers advisors and broad alumni network will ensure you’re connected with extensive business networks – up to and beyond graduation.

International opportunities

We’re proud of our strong international connections. Helping you get an inside perspective on global business is a key part of the programme. That’s why you’ll have the opportunity to go on the optional International Study Tour to a European destination in March/April. This self-funded, one-week programme is a great way to immerse yourself in the country’s business environment, providing the chance to make new contacts and helping you stand out in the competitive jobs market.

Career Support

Whatever your specialist management interests, you’ll find our careers team is one of the most useful resources to support you on your way to the top. Now more than ever, it’s the skills you’re able to demonstrate in addition to your academic abilities that will make you shine in a fiercely competitive jobs market.

That’s why our facilities and services are designed to complement your course and help you develop essential professional and practical skills – from CV writing and interview techniques to time management and communication.

Develop your career

We work in partnership with the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre to connect you with events, organisations or individuals to help kick-start your career. You can also take advantage of one-to-one appointments with a specialist Masters Careers Advisor to help you with specific issues, from finding a route into your career to applying for your dream role.

Sector specific presentations

These Career Insight sessions are delivered by specialists from within the industry. Subjects range from ‘Banking in Challenging Times’ to ‘Life in the Bio Pharmaceutical Industry’.

Leadership development

Our Leading Edge Programme has been designed alongside our core academic programme to help you develop the particular interpersonal skills employers in your chosen field are looking for. Focusing on the demands of global recruiters, and feedback from alumni, the programme has been developed in partnership with programme directors and leading training partners.

Throughout the year, you will be able to take advantage of a wide range of workshops and events, both internal and external, to further develop your skills and widen your networks. Some examples of previous workshops include ‘Workplace Survival Skills’, ‘Building Reputation’ and ‘Emotional Intelligence for Leadership Success.’ Business School events include the Durham Speaker Series and the Leading Edge conference.

International opportunities

We’re proud of our strong international connections. Helping you get an inside perspective on global business is a key part of the programme. That’s why you’ll have the opportunity to go on the optional International Study Tour to a European destination in March/April. This self-funded, one-week programme is a great way to immerse yourself in the country’s business environment, providing the chance to make new contacts and helping you stand out in the competitive jobs market.

If you are interested in carrying out research or a business project in an international location for your dissertation, we may also be able to connect you with our international partner institutions.

Business Projects and Placements

The business project or placement is a key part of the Masters learning experience and a great way to immerse yourself in the real world of business. We can help you choose from a range of regional, national and international organisations of different sizes in different sectors or you can source your own project – some target an organisation they’d like to work for. However you tailor the project, it will help you to put new skills into practice and influence real life business issues.

Online resources

Through the Leading Edge Programme you will have access to a huge range of resources. Our many online resources include global job boards and international recruiter databases, newsrooms, video library and an annual career webinar series.

Alumni career support

You can continue to make the most of our specialist career development advice after you graduate. From coaching with our Masters Careers Advisors, to workshops in London, India or China. You’ll also be able to attend online webinars and access the online career resources.

Support for International Students

If you’re an international student interested in working in the UK after your studies, the careers team works closely with Durham University's Student Immigration & Financial Support Office to provide you with information related to immigration. Their advisers are dedicated to helping our students understand the requirements and restrictions of their visas during their studies and can provide limited advice on post-study visa requirements.

As of April 2012, the UK government aimed to reduce overall numbers settling in the UK from outside the EEA/Switzerland, and closed the Tier 1: Post-Study Work (PSW) scheme to all new applications. However the UK Border Agency is committed to helping the 'brightest and the best' and its reforms are supportive of graduates of UK business schools and universities.

Content

If you’re considering a career in the commercial sector, the MSc Marketing programme equips you with the essential skills and knowledge you need.

You’ll learn how to apply a reasoned framework to tactical positioning and the optimisation of marketing decisions. You’ll gain advanced-level training in contemporary marketing and develop a critical awareness of current issues in marketing. Perhaps most important of all, you’ll get to work alongside other future leaders at the leading-edge of research and practice in the field.

As well as collaborating with your peers from across the School, you’ll have the opportunity to work closely with the Durham faculty, visiting lecturers and practitioners from corporate and enterprise partners. To achieve your qualification you’ll be required to successfully complete both core and elective modules and a dissertation or business project.

Core and elective modules

The course is designed around core modules that provide a foundation of knowledge and understanding. You’ll then choose two from a wide range of elective modules, so you can tailor your degree to your particular interests or intended career – or broaden your experiences in preparation for continuing your career.

You will study the following core modules:

• Marketing Theory
• Marketing and Consumer Psychology
• Integrated Marketing Communications
• Marketing Management and Strategy
• Research Methods for Marketing

You’ll then choose three modules from a wide range available. Those currently on offer within Marketing include:

• Arts, Heritage and Tourism Marketing
• Global Marketing
• Marketing and Society
• Retail Marketing Management
• Social Marketing
• Services Marketing
• Strategic Brand Management
• Advanced Marketing Strategy

*Optional modules will depend on staff availability, so will vary from year to year.

You will also be able to select modules from the MSc Management programme:

• Competitive Strategies & Organisational Fitness
• Consulting
• Ethical Leadership
• Innovation and Technology Management
• New Venture Creation
• Reward Management

Dissertation

In the summer, you will complete a 12,000-word dissertation on a business topic of your choice. This can be based on independent academic research or a business project (i.e. a real commercial challenge sourced by you or the Business School). Supervised by a faculty member with relevant experience, you’ll investigate in greater detail a subject that you’ve already studied as part of your programme.

The dissertation is an opportunity for you to develop your business insight and present your analysis and ideas in a scholarly way. It should also show your ability to combine critical discrimination and a sense of proportion in evaluating evidence and the opinions of others.

Subject requirements, level and grade

In addition to satisfying the University’s general entry requirements, please note:

• You will need the equivalent of a UK first or upper second class honours degree. 
• You will need to complete an online application form.
• To support your online application form, you will need to provide the following documents.
• Two academic references using our standard form Official transcript of marksCopy of degree certificate (if available)
• Copy of English test results (if available).

You can either upload your supporting documents with your online application or email or fax them to the Postgraduate Admissions Office using the contact details below.

Preferred Tests:

a. IELTS: 6.5 (no component under 6.0)

b. TOEFL iBT (internet based test): 92 (no component under 23)

c. Cambridge Proficiency (CPE): Grade C

d. Cambridge Advanced (CAE): Grade A

e. Cambridge IGCSE First Language English at Grade C or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

f. Cambridge IGCSE English as a Second Language at Grade B or above [not normally acceptable for students who require a Tier 4 student visa]

g. GCSE English Language at grade C or above

h. Pearson Test of English (overall score 62 (with no score less than 56 in each component))

Alternative accepted tests when those listed in a.-h. above are unavailable to the applicant (if the applicant requires a Tier 4 visa to study, advice on the suitability of these alternatives must be sought from the Student Recruitment and Admissions Office):

i. Certificate of Attainment (Edexcel)

j. GCE A-levels (AQA, CIE, Edexcel, CCEA, OCR, WJEC) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

k. International Baccalaureate with a minimum of grade 5 in Standard Level English or a minimum of grade 5 if taken at Higher Level.

l. NEAB (JMB) Test in English (Overseas)

m. Singapore Integrated Programme (SIPCAL) at grade C or above in an essay based, humanities or social science subject from the following list: History, Philosophy, Government and Politics, English Language, English Literature, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Law and Sociology. Modern or Classical Languages are not acceptable in meeting this requirement.

n. Singapore Polytechnic Diploma and Advanced Diplomas at GPA 3.0 or above

o. WAEC and NECO Grade B3 or above from Nigeria and Ghana

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course