Ever wondered who’s behind those catchy ads, viral TikToks, and big brands? It’s probably a marketing manager using their creativity and love of data to stand out from the crowd. If you fancy a fast paced, idea fuelled career, read on.
Updated: 20 Oct 2026
Marketing managers do a bit of everything. One day you’re planning a product launch, writing a press release or coming up with social media ideas, the next you’re checking how well your latest campaign performed.
You’ll work with designers, agencies, and creatives to make ads, videos and brand assets. Most of the time it’s 9 to 5, but big campaigns or events might mean the occasional late night or weekend. If you want variety, creativity, and teamwork all rolled into one, this could be your perfect fit.
To excel as a marketing manager, you’ll want to build both your personal and practical skills. Here are some key ones:
Communication: it’s all about messaging and conveying ideas clearly
Creativity: can you come up with original ideas and be noticed for the right reasons?
Organisation: from planning budgets to scheduling social media posts, you’ll juggle multiple projects and will need to be responsive
Customer care skills: a genuine understanding of you customer and client needs
Analytical thinking: you’ll use maths and IT skills to analyse data and research
Teamwork and leadership: it’s likely you’ll manage a team, so leadership and collaboration skills are important
Most marketing degree courses will ask for at least five GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including English and Maths
You’ll usually need 2 or 3 A-levels or equivalent qualifications. English, Media Studies, Psychology or Economics could prove useful
Work experience is a bonus; you might volunteer to manage social media for a school club or help a local charity with an event. These opportunities are often advertised on DO IT. Alternatively, larger marketing companies offer internships if you check their individual websites.
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The most direct route is a BA or BSc in Marketing. Alternatively, you might pick a specific area like Digital Marketing or Brand and Advertising. You could also look at a joint honours degree such as Business and Marketing or Marketing with a foreign language.
When researching courses check which offer a placement year or industry project, these practical elements can boost your employability. Some degrees are accredited by professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). This could be a be a big advantage when you’re aiming for management roles.
Typically, entry to an undergraduate marketing degree requires between 96–168 UCAS points. Qualifications may include:
A-levels: AAA–CCD
BTECs: DDD–MMP
Scottish Highers: AAAAB–BBBC (Advanced Highers: AAA)
International Baccalaureate: 37–28
NEXT: Check out marketing degree courses on Whatuni to compare your options.
Marketing degrees mix classroom learning with real-world practice. You’ll study things like advertising, consumer behaviour, and digital tools but don’t worry, it’s not all textbooks. Expect group projects, mock campaigns, and even pitching ideas like you’re on The Apprentice.
Many courses offer placements or live projects with real companies, so you can build experience before you even graduate. Most degrees last three years, or four if you do a placement or study abroad. By the end, you’ll have a portfolio full of your best work from strategy plans to campaign designs.
According to the Complete University Guide 2027 subject league tables, these are the top three unis for marketing courses:
NEXT: See the full Complete University Guide 2027 subject league table
Yes, while an undergraduate degree is the most common way to get into marketing, there are a couple of alternative routes to consider:
Marketing degree apprenticeship
This is a degree level apprenticeship (Level 6) where you’re employed by a marketing organisation while studying part-time. It still leads to an undergraduate qualification, but you earn a salary and gain experience on the job as you learn. You apply to the company offering these opportunities rather than through UCAS. Entry requirements are set by the employer and competition is usually strong.
Vacancies can be found on Find an apprenticeship.
Postgraduate route
If you already have a degree in any subject, you can take a master's in marketing, Digital Marketing, Marketing Management, or a related area. These typically last a year full-time and give you advanced skills in strategy, branding, analytics, and more. An ideal option if you want to pivot into marketing or specialise in one area.
NEXT: Find options using our course search.
Most graduates start out in junior roles like Marketing Assistant, Marketing Executive or Social Media Executive, usually earning around £23,000. These roles give you hands-on experience with real campaigns, from writing posts to analysing results.
It’s common to spend a couple of years building your skills before moving up. With a solid track record and training you could step into a Marketing Manager role, where salaries average £40,000 to £45,000, and senior roles can pay £60,000 or more.
Marketing exists in every industry, so there’s loads of choice from fashion and tech to charities and finance. You might specialise in something like digital or branding, move into PR or sales, or even start your own agency. It’s a career with real variety, strong demand, and plenty of ways to grow.
To impress on your uni application, show why marketing excites you. Mention any real-world experience, running a school club’s social media or helping with a fundraiser all counts. Highlight skills like creativity, teamwork or problem-solving with quick examples.
Your personal statement should feel genuine, enthusiastic, and well thought out. Bonus points if you can show awareness of current trends like how brands use TikTok or influencer marketing. Basically, market yourself like a pro.
Marketing students often rave about the mix of creative projects and real-world learning. One Whatuni reviewer, Elena, doing a Digital Marketing MA at Portsmouth said: “Great uni! The facilities, support and student life are all 5-star.”
NEXT: Check out more marketing course ratings to see what students really think.
Is marketing a creative job?
Yes, especially if you enjoy coming up with ideas, writing, or design. But it also involves analysing what works, so it’s a nice blend of creative and strategic.
Can I work abroad in marketing?
Definitely. Marketing is global, and skills are transferable. Learning a language or studying international marketing can help too.
What’s the work/life balance like?
Mostly 9–5, but things can get busy during big campaigns or launches. It varies by company, but burnout isn’t the norm.
Do I need to be good at maths?
You’ll need basic confidence with numbers for budgets, stats and campaign data but it’s not advanced maths. Tools and training help with the rest.
Ready to find out more? Click below to explore marketing degree courses and find the best option for you.
NEXT: Check out marketing degree courses on Whatuni to compare your options.
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