Marketing

Take your interest in marketing to the next level. Learn how to integrate digital approaches into the design of campaigns and how to market sustainable and ethical brands. Gain an understanding of the wider global environment that supports the digital expansion of brands today.

You’ll develop your academic understanding of the theories that underpin marketing planning, the societal implications of marketing activities, and the practical skills needed to effectively prepare for a career within the industry.

In addition, you'll have the opportunity to grow as a creative thinker, and develop crucial skills employers look for when recruiting graduates. We also support you to create your own business opportunities, if you’d like to develop as an entrepreneur.

Year one
Gain key knowledge of the business environment, organisational structures and business cultures. You’ll begin to build your marketing toolkit from the start of your degree, learning about the process of marketing, building campaigns and using digital technology. You’ll also hone the data management skills that will support later learning on data analytics and use online simulations to explore various business scenarios.

Year two
In the second year you'll start to develop your digital marketing skills and learn more about all aspects of promotional media. On successful completion of the Digital Marketing Essentials module in semester one, you’ll immediately obtain DMI certification that shows you've learned the fundamental skills of digital marketing and is recognised by the world’s leading employers including Google, Facebook and Twitter.

You also get the chance to customise your own study journey by choosing modules that support your specific career goals. For example, you could take a deeper dive into social media marketing by studying digital storytelling, influencers and contemporary celebrities in marketing.

You can also choose modules that’ll give you the tools to support your career goals, whether these are to become an entrepreneur, work in a start-up or crowdfund to enable you to be your own boss.

Year three
In your final year you’ll focus on sustainable and societal marketing – a major trend in business today – and learn to create a future-ready brand strategy.

You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about emerging digital and immersive marketing technologies and the role of AI in marketing initiatives, and you’ll get to join The Studio, our innovation hub for creative media technology.

Your final dissertation and module choices are flexible, allowing you to explore topics and make business connections related to the sector of marketing that you'd like to explore.

You might decide to lean more towards developing your mastery of digital marketing and content development, hone your expertise in the application of emerging marketing technologies (VR/AR/AI), or focus more on becoming an international marketing expert and how to manage cross-cultural teams. It’s up to you!

We offer variety in the way we teach: sometimes we’ll set problems so that you can find the answers for yourself; sometimes learning is via lectures and small group seminars. Some modules will require you to work in teams to solve business and marketing challenges.

All of our teaching methods facilitate your development as a self directed learner. You'll learn traditional marketing skills alongside emerging digital marketing techniques.

You'll develop digital and teamworking skills, working with your peers to solve problems and overcome challenges using online business simulations and games.

You'll benefit from:

• Regular industry events: attend guest talks and masterclasses from industry thought leaders, and network with recruiting businesses.
• Access to marketing experts: You’ll be taught by a team of experienced researchers, business leaders and creative marketing and media practitioners. Our teaching staff provide unique insights into marketing, advertising, digital media and PR and are leading the way in how VR and AR experiences are marketed to new audiences.
• In-person and online support: we support you in various ways, including drop-in sessions and online access to recorded lectures and other resources.

Learning resources and teaching materials are delivered via our Virtual Learning Environment and e-textbooks at a touch, to your mobile devices.

You’ll be taught by a friendly team of academics, all of whom are committed to helping students achieve their goals. Our class sizes allow tutors to devote attention to you as an individual, to your learning style and needs.

To find out more about how we teach and how you'll learn, please read our Learning and Teaching Delivery Statement.

You'll be assessed in ways that test your marketing abilities, business knowledge and management skills in practical and applicable ways.

These could include presentations, group work, computer-based simulations, podcasts, exams, essays, videos, business reports and opportunities to work on projects set by real companies.

As part of your degree, you could study abroad on a placement at one of Bath Spa’s partner universities.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn from international companies on topics such as international marketing strategies and doing business overseas.

Past Business School students have travelled to Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, the USA, Mexico and Singapore.

There are three types of work placements:

1. A second year Work Placement module comprising one or more short periods of work experience;
2. A Business Placement: a ten-week summer placement between your second and third year;
3. A Professional Placement Year (Sandwich Year) which gives you the option to take a year-long work placement between the second and final year of your degree.

You’re fully supported throughout your degree to gain access to local and national contacts in the marketing business and we support and encourage you to approach your dream organisation to gain work experience.

All students can join our MentorMe scheme to get the opportunity to be mentored by marketing professionals and to make those valuable industry connections right from the start of your degree. All final-year students will also join The Studio, Bath Spa University’s brand-new city-centre hub for creative media technology.

Beyond these opportunities, we also give you the chance to work on live project briefs with regional and national businesses, including community groups, charities and arts organisations, to help them find creative solutions to their business needs.

Business School Marketing students have previously worked with local and international companies such as Volvo, THG Beauty Brands, L’Occitane, L’Oréal, Burberry Beauty Brands, Penhaligon’s, Ugg, Pantofola d’Oro, Manchester City FC Fan Club, Bath Rugby, Bath City Farm, and marketing agencies including McCann, and consultancy firms such as Oracle.

Depending on your pathway and the modules you study, you can gain accreditation by professional bodies and get exemption from professional exams.

Enhance your employability – develop sought-after practical skills and knowledge through activities such as working on live projects for companies, internships and volunteering.

Participate in workshops to hone your communication, pitching and negotiation skills.

This degree in Marketing is designed to inspire , expand your networks and broaden your horizons to the types of roles available in the sector.

The hands-on nature of this course will open career opportunities in roles and fields such as:

• Brand Account Manager
• Marketing Coordinator
• Digital marketing
• Social media management
• Marketing innovation
• E-comms
• Media buying
• UX/UI design.

If you’re a full-time undergraduate student starting your first year at Bath Spa University, you can apply for the Certificate in Global Citizenship, which you’ll study alongside your degree.

You’ll gain global awareness and add an international dimension to your student experience, and funding is available. On successful completion of the programme, you’ll be awarded a Certificate in Global Citizenship. This is in addition to your degree; it doesn’t change your degree title or results.

The Professional Placement Year (PPY) provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of 'with Professional Placement Year' to your degree title.

Before your PPY, you'll work to identify roles of interest and secure a placement. The Placements Team will support through timetabled sessions and 1:1 appointments.

As well as completing a minimum of 900 placement hours, you will complete two assessments demonstrating your skill development, growth in professional behaviours and how the PPY has impacted your future career aspirations.

You'll have access to excellent facilities at our Newton Park campus and city centre studios as well as online resources. These include:

• Commons building
• Newton Park library
• Academic Skills support (ASk)
• Specialist resources and subject librarian
• Our Virtual Learning Environment
• Free access to courses via LinkedIn Learning
• Support from the English Language Unit if English isn't your first language
• The Studio in Bath

Our libraries offer a wide range of business resources, including a wealth of online material that can be accessed on- and off-campus, enabling you to work at times that suit you.