Digital Marketing Degree Apprenticeship

Empowering the next generation of digital marketing professionals, the Digital Marketing Degree Apprenticeship will give apprentices the know-how to plan, execute and evaluate successful digital campaigns.

Covering marketing, communications and strategy, apprentices will gain core knowledge, skills and behaviours required to thread innovation and insight through every project. With digital technologies constantly transforming the marketing landscape, this programme will support marketing professionals to take advantage of new opportunities for delivering creative campaigns with measurable impact.

Who is this apprenticeship for?

This Level 6 degree apprenticeship will provide the practical and theoretical training for developing digital marketers who want to gain new skills and a formal degree qualification. This includes those early in their career and school leavers applying for degree apprenticeship roles. Apprentices should work in a digital marketing role in a marketing agency or in-house marketing team.

Course outline

The apprenticeship is taught at undergraduate level (Levels 4-6) over three years, starting with a foundation of business and management topics that will underpin a specialism in digital media for marketing.

Stage 1

• Digital Advertising
• Marketing
• Strategic Management
• Developing Digital Marketing Skills

Stage 2

• Marketing Communications
• Services and Events Marketing
• Excellence in Business Project Management
• The Professional Marketer

Stage 3

• Big Data and Analytics
• Digital Marketing
• Project Proposal
• Project

You will need to apply for a degree apprenticeship role or already be employed in a job in England with responsibilities aligned with the degree content. Please see the how to apply section below for more information.

Entry requirements are set by the hiring business and not Aston University so they vary between organisations. Apprentices are selected based on their applications, an interview and an assessment process which is tailored to your apprenticeship position.

You will need:

To be considered for this programme, Aston University expects that applicants will have/are predicted to achieve three A Levels at CCC or above, or equivalent BTECs.* Other qualifications may be considered on a case by case basis.

Apprentices must also meet the following criteria set by the government:

• Be employed in a job in England with responsibilities aligned with the apprenticeship.
• Have a minimum of five GCSEs at Grade C/4 or above including Mathematics and English.
• Be a UK/EU/EAA resident for at least three years prior to starting the course.
• Have left full-time education when the apprenticeship starts.
• Be at least 16 years old.

*Please note:

• Employers may specify their own entry criteria that can exceed this. 
• Candidates who do not have three A Levels at CCC may be considered on a case by case basis with aptitude and experience taken into consideration.

Learning and teaching

The course is delivered through blended learning. Most teaching is delivered through our virtual learning environment, Blackboard. This platform allows apprentices access to a comprehensive range of study materials, recorded lectures, online tutorials, e-journals and much more. Online teaching gives apprentices the flexibility to study from any location without the need to frequently travel to the Aston University campus. 

Apprentices will also attend a two day session on campus once per term in the middle of each module where they will network with other apprentices, have one-to-one sessions with their apprenticeship coach and learn from their subject specialists.

Assessment

You will be assessed through two applied assignments per module that relate directly to your role in the organisation, adding immediate value for both you and your employer. While there are no traditional examinations, assessments will give you the opportunity to demonstrate how you have implemented your learning and had a positive impact in their organisation. 

In the final year, you will complete a large work-based project requiring you to apply all of the theory and skills gained throughout the apprenticeship. For example, this could take the form of a creative digital campaign brief for a marketing agency, an evaluation of a digital marketing campaign or a case study covering the development of a new customer engagement campaign. 

The portfolio

Throughout the programme, you will complete a learning journal that will create a portfolio showcasing the application of skills, knowledge and behaviours learned through the programme in your day to day role. 

You will be supported by a dedicated degree apprenticeship skills coach to support your learning and skills development. They help you to translate your theoretical learning into practical application in the workplace. 

The end point assessment 

The apprenticeship concludes with the end point assessment (EPA). The EPA gives you the opportunity to showcase your academic, personal and professional development achievements throughout the apprenticeship. You will present your work-based project to an interview panel explaining what was delivered, how you implemented the skills, knowledge and behaviours gained through the apprenticeship and the impact your work has had for the organisation. You will then take part in a professional discussion to demonstrate your competencies and how you have applied your learning in the workplace. After the EPA, the assessors consider what grade should be awarded for the apprenticeship – fail, pass, merit or distinction.

You will not have to pay tuition fees as a degree apprentice as the costs are met by the UK government and your employer*. In addition to your fees being paid, you will also earn a salary while you study, so there is no need to apply for student finance.

The funding band for this degree apprenticeship is £21,000. This is the full cost of your apprenticeship which will be paid for using your employer's apprenticeship levy.

*Employers may require students to pay the fees for resits.

I am not employed in the industry

The first step in joining our degree apprenticeship programme is to find and apply for a relevant job vacancy. All our current degree apprenticeship vacancies are listed below and are updated frequently. Please check back regularly for new vacancies.

Find out more about applying for degree apprenticeships

I am already employed in the industry

If you are already employed in this industry, you should discuss with your manager if your organisation is working in partnership with Aston University. If they are, you will make an application through your employer. 

If your employer is not yet an Aston partner, they can get in touch with our Apprenticeships Team to find out more information about working with us.

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Information for employers

If you are an employer or you want to send information about this degree apprenticeship to your manager, take a look at the course page dedicated to employers.

Learn more about this programme and our other Level 6 business degree apprenticeship programmes by watching this webinar hosted by the Programme Directors.