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Studying marketing degree guide

Marketing is all about how businesses speak to and build relationships with the people they’re trying to sell their product or service to. Because of this, marketing is seen as a vital part of a business’s plan for making money. Therefore, marketing graduates are valuable assets meaning there are great job opportunities after finishing a marketing degree at uni. 

Eleanor Foulds
by Eleanor Foulds
Last Updated:
03 Nov 2022

Of course, marketing is heavily related to business but other subjects, like psychology, are also explored when studying it at degree level. It's all about understanding consumer behaviour and buying patterns, so a business can communicate effectively with a target audience. If this sounds interesting to you, you may be suited to a career in marketing – read on to see if studying it at degree level is a good move for you.

Find marketing courses.

What do you need to get on a marketing degree?


Average entry requirements for marketing are:

  • UCAS points: 144–80

  • A-levels: AAA – CCC

  • BTEC Nationals: DDD – MMP

  • International Baccalaureate: 36–26

Please be aware that these are average entry requirements and may change depending on the course and institution you select. Always confirm this for the particular university/course you're interested in.

Often you won’t have had to study any specific subject in order to get onto a marketing degree as a lot of subjects can be applied to marketing.

What marketing degrees can you study?


Degrees in marketing include:

  • BSc Marketing
  • BA Business Management
  • BSc Consumer Behaviour and Marketing 
  • BA Business Economics with Marketing

What topics does a marketing degree cover?


Common modules for marketing include:

  • Global business environment
  • Principles of marketing
  • Consumer insights
  • Research principles
  • Brands and branding
  • Customer experience
  • Developing strategy
  • Advertising
  • Management skills
  • Marketing psychology
  • Business ethics and law
  • Campaign management

“The marketing modules I took in my first year included Marketing Principles and Informing Marketing, but I was also required to undertake three modules which weren’t marketing based. These were Finance for Managers, Managing Customer Service and Managing People and Organisations. I thought this was great as if you felt marketing wasn’t for you, you were able to swap onto another area of business, having some background through the completion of these modules.” – Bethany, marketing graduate

What do you learn studying a marketing degree?


Studying a marketing degree will help you gain industry-specific skills like:

  • Analysing consumer trends
  • Understanding consumer behaviours
  • Knowledge of business practice
  • Advertising techniques
  • Brand promotion
  • Relevant industry software usage

More general, transferable skills you’ll pick up include:

  • Decision making 
  • Critical thinking
  • Innovation
  • Project management
  • Team working
  • Communication
  • Research
  • Attention-to-detail
  • Confidence
  • Working in groups
  • Self-awareness
  • Data management and analysis 
  • Analysing trends
  • Creative thinking
  • Presentation
  • Data handling
  • Observation and analysis

What professional accreditations can you get with a marketing degree?


Most marketing courses will be accredited by a professional body like the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) or the Institute of Data & Marketing (IDM).

What can you do with a marketing degree?


Jobs that marketing graduates can apply for include:

  • Advertising planner
  • Copywriter
  • Market researcher
  • Media planner
  • Event manager
  • PR officer
  • Accountant
  • Business consultant 
  • SEO specialist 
  • Business analyst
  • Digital marketer 
  • Media buyer 
  • Social media manager 
  • Marketing executive

Where to study marketing?

How long is a marketing degree?


A marketing degree usually takes three years to study. However, many unis will give the option of a sandwich year (a placement in industry), which will increase the course to four years.

How will you be assessed?

Marketing courses usually involve assessment through:

  • Exams
  • Coursework
  • Presentations
  • Group projects
  • Dissertation

What are the postgraduate opportunities?
 

Your options for further study include:

  • MSc Marketing  
  • MA Public Relations 
  • MSc Marketing Management, Branding and Identity
  • MA Creative Advertising

What alternatives are there to a marketing degree?
 

Not sure if a marketing degree is right for you? Check out these related subjects: