Marketing BSc

Marketing plays a vital role in tackling some of the biggest challenges faced by organisations in today’s dynamic business environment, from retaining competitive advantage and capitalising on the rapidly-changing needs of customers, to the evolving strategies of an organisation.

Our BSc Marketing degree will develop your understanding of the core concepts of marketing theory, providing you with the skills and real-world experience to apply them in new and interesting ways.

What you’ll learn

Whether you’re interested in a career in international marketing, within social media strategy or as a market analyst, our BSc (Hons) Marketing course will develop problem-solving and transferable skills that will support a breadth of career paths.

Your first year is designed to equip you with a broad knowledge of marketing, giving you a strong foundation from which you can identify the areas aligned to marketing that interest you most. Throughout your studies, you’ll have opportunities to work with local companies and specialists on ‘live’ marketing projects, as well as undertaking an integrated placement year.

You will have more freedom and take ownership of your marketing degree in the final year, having experienced both theoretical, applied and practical aspects of the subject, with more module choice to tailor your studies to your interests and specialist areas.

Professional accreditations

With our BSc Marketing degree accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), Aston University gives students the opportunity to gain marketing professional qualifications highly sought after by employers alongside their academic studies, thus ensuring that we are equipping students with the best opportunities for a successful marketing career.

Accreditation is a stamp of quality and prestige for a business school and its programmes. Aston is proud to be among 1% of business schools worldwide with triple accreditation.

Two undergraduate degrees

This course offers an Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway, meaning you could study overseas at Audencia Business School during your placement year and graduate with two undergraduate degrees for the price of one. Find out more about our Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway here.

International students

Information for international applicants

International students

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year. Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and, as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability. Our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.

For more information on applying as an international student, visit our webpage: www.aston.ac.uk/international/students-applying

 

Post-study work visa

Graduate Immigration Route

Aston University welcomed the creation of a new Graduate Immigration Route which enables international students to remain in the UK for two years after you complete your studies to find work. This new post-study work visa applies to international students completing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Find out more information about the Graduate Immigration Route.

Foundation programme

Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation programme in business will help you develop specialist knowledge to ensure that you are fully prepared to study your chosen undergraduate course. During your foundation year, you’ll have excellent support from academics while group projects will give you the chance to meet new people, make new friends and build a network of peers who will share your university journey. We also have a Learning Development Centre that can provide additional support and offer pre-sessional English language programmes.

For International Students intending to do a foundation year, visit ONCAMPUS

Modules

Incorporated into the teaching of both your second year and final year are computerised market simulations, on site visits and specialist lectures from UK and overseas marketers and academics.

There is flexibility to change your degree course after Year 1 if you wish.

Year 1

You will study a range of core modules, designed to give you a solid foundation for your marketing degree:

• Marketing Principles
• Essential Skills for Marketers
• Law, Economics and Accounting for Marketers
• Introduction to Organisational Behaviour
• Content Marketing
• Consumer Behaviour
• Marketing Communications
• Principles of Operations Management

Year 2

You will study essential marketing theories and concepts in-depth, with options available to specialise your skills:

Core modules:

• Market Research
• Digital and Social Media Marketing
• Stakeholder Relations Management
• Digital Analytics
• Services Marketing  and Management

Optional modules:

• Event Management
• Influencer Marketing
• Doing e-Business
• Sports Marketing
• B2B Marketing and Sales
   

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Year 3

You will spend this year in a professional placement or you may choose to take up an international study opportunity at one of our partner institutions. This year is compulsory for all UK students.

See placement year section or find out more about the Aston placement year.

Final Year 

During your final year, you will continue to develop the core marketing skills but with greater emphasis on specialisation:

Core modules:

• Ethical and sustainable marketing
• Marketing Strategy
• Digital Innovation for Marketing
• Strategic Brand Management                        
• Strategic Management

Optional modules:

• International Marketing
• Strategic Sales Management
• Enterprise and Entrepreneurship for Marketing
• Retail Management
• Leadership and Management Communications

*Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.

Typical offers:

A Levels

BBB (standard offer)

BBC (with EPQ or Core Maths minimum grade B)

BBC (contextual offer*)

IB

31 points overall in the IB diploma with 5, 5, 5 in 3 higher level subjects.

BTEC, Access & other

BTEC Extended Diploma - DDD (standard offer)

BTEC Extended Diploma - DDM (contextual offer*)

We accept the QAA-recognised Access Diploma which must consist of 45 credits at Level 3. You must obtain a minimum of 30 distinction and the rest must be at merit or distinction. Please note that we do not accept the English and Maths components within the Access qualification and you must meet the GCSE entry requirement.

The University also accepts the BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate/BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma and BTEC Level 3 National Diploma/BTEC Level 3 Diploma for entry onto degree programmes, provided that they are studied in combination with other qualifications that are equivalent to three full A2 Levels.

T Levels

The following T levels are accepted qualifications for this course:

• T-Level - Design, Surveying and Planning for Construction Grade D
• T-Level - Digital Production, Design and Production Grade D
• T-Level – Education and Childcare Grade D
• T-Level – Onsite Construction Grade D
• T-Level – Building Services Engineering for Construction Grade D
• T-Level – Digital Business Services Grade D
• T-Level – Digital Support Services Grade D
• T-Level – Health Grade D
• T-Level – Healthcare Science Grade D
• T-Level – Science Grade D

GCSEs

5 GCSE grades A*/9 – C/4 to include:

• GCSE Maths – grade C/4
• GCSE English Language or English Literature – grade C/4

Learn more about admission to this course

View our Admissions Policy.

Whilst the grades listed here are our entry requirements, we understand that predicted grades are only an estimate. We will therefore consider applicants with predicted grades that fall below these entry requirements if the application is of a high standard (however, initial offers will not be lower than stated above).

Entry onto our Foundation Programme may be offered as an alternative to the degree course if lower entry grades are achieved. Aston University welcomes applications from students with a wide range of qualifications from the UK and overseas, including combinations of qualifications. If your qualifications are not listed here and you wish to check whether they meet the entry requirements for this course, please contact the university.

Please note that General Studies does not contribute towards the UCAS points requirement but is welcomed as an additional qualification.

International students

Applicants whose first language is not English will be required to provide evidence of an English language qualification. Find out more about our English language requirements.

For more information about qualifications view our Aston in your country webpage. 

Aston University provides a range of opportunities for international students to join our community and study on our campus. A key part of our strategy is our relationships with teaching partners, providing multiple pathways to Aston. Find out more.

*For details on our Aston Ready contextual offer scheme, please see here.

Our close links to industry and our focus on delivering practical business experiences provides a blend of learning and teaching experience to equip you for your future career.

Learning and teaching

As a marketing student at Aston, you will experience our innovative approach to teaching, which combines a range of teaching methods including lectures, seminars, tutorials, group working, case studies and both individual and group presentations.

You’ll also engage with guest speakers from successful companies and have the opportunity to work with them on live projects, as well as hearing from students on placements and alumni.

Traditional teaching is enhanced by our virtual learning environment that is used to host a range of electronic supporting materials. For example, all business students undertake the Business Game module and compete in teams as part of a computer simulation exercise that culminates in a presentation to a panel of internal employers.

Aston University has subscriptions to both the Financial Times and The Economist, which you can benefit from whilst studying here.

Assessment

Assessment is undertaken through a mix of coursework and examinations.

Personal development

Our Marketing BSc degree is designed to give you a range of transferable and practical skills to succeed within your chosen career. We make extensive use of group working and presentations to prepare you for the reality of working life. This experience will develop your teamworking and negotiating skills.

The integrated placement year gives you genuine, practical work experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of issues such as office politics, which cannot be replicated in the lecture room.

Placement year

The Aston placement year forms an integral part of your educational journey and is compulsory for all home students. International/EU students can request permission to opt out of the placement year, but we strongly recommend that it is completed where possible. 

Find out more about the Aston placement year.

The integrated placement year gives you the genuine, practical work experience that is invaluable in developing an appreciation of issues such as office politics, which cannot be replicated in the lecture room.

We have a dedicated Employer Team within our Careers and Placements department who have links with local, national and international organisations and advertise vacancies to students through an online platform exclusively for Aston students and graduates. 

Aston University was recognised as the 'Best University Placement Service'.

The Careers and Placements team at Aston University won the 'Best University Placement Service' category at the National Undergraduate Employability (NUE) Awards 2022. This was achieved by launching Virtual Employability Festivals and recognising the power of peer-to-peer communication by pairing 500 students looking for placements with 500 students who had completed placements.

The United Kingdom government has confirmed that European Union (EU), other European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals commencing academic courses in England from August 2021 will no longer be charged the same tuition rates as home students. Further information can be found here.

Tuition fees for students are reviewed annually and may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering the Programme. Any such increase shall always be in accordance with the law. When undertaking a placement year, a placement year fee applies.

More information on fees and funding

Scholarships

At Aston University we are committed to supporting the most talented and hardworking students to achieve their potential by providing a range of scholarships to help lower tuition and living costs. Find out more about our scholarships here.

Our graduates have an excellent track record over many years of finding marketing, market research and management positions, reflecting our reputation as a leading centre for marketing teaching and research.

You can graduate with a BSc Marketing degree, a professional diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, plus a year’s worth of industry experience.

Recent graduates

Recent graduates are now working both in the UK and overseas in roles such as:

• Associate Product Manager
• Marketing Graduate Scheme
• Brand, Buying and Marketing Graduate Scheme
• Marketing Product Management Trainee
• Graduate Business Analyst
• Junior SEO Executive
• Marketing and Communications Coordinator
• Social Media Executive.

Graduates have gone on to work at organisations such as BMW, Renault Group, Boots, Ford Motor Company, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Thomson Holidays, Amazon web services, Lloyds Bank and Capgemini.

Why study Marketing at Aston University?

Not only will you gain theoretical knowledge and a good foundation of marketing from a strategic business perspective, you will also deepen your learning in specialisms through the modules you choose as you progress your degree.

• CIM accredited.
• More strategically focused, from creative strategy through to understanding of the subject from both client and agency side.
• Deeper strategic understanding of marketing.
• You can shape your own career path with greater ownership and module choice in the final year.
• Breadth of practical and applied experiences.
• Gain degree and professional marketing diploma plus a year’s worth of industry experience.

Is a placement useful for careers in marketing?

The placement year helps demonstrate to employers that you are able to transfer your knowledge to a real-world environment. A placement also helps you understand the type of career you may want to establish once you graduate. It helps put the learning from lectures into practice and develop skills that you can’t replicate by studying alone.

What kind of jobs does a degree in marketing lead to?

Studying marketing and gaining both theoretical and practical experience means you can progress a career in a broad range of settings, from large corporations to start-ups, consultancies and agencies, as well as charitable, public sector and not-for-profit organisations.

Our graduates have found success in roles such as Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Social Media Executive, Associate Product Manager, Brand Manager and Buyer in companies such as Amazon, Capgemini, Lloyds Bank, Jaguar Land Rover, BMW and Boots.

What is the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway at Aston Business School?

You can deepen your learning and stand out from other graduates whilst gaining a fantastic learning experience overseas. The Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway is similar to an exchange programme. During your placement year, you’ll follow a curriculum that sets you on track for our partner institution’s degree award. This means, if successful, you will graduate with two undergraduate degrees.

Find out more about the Exchange Partnership Second Degree Pathway here.

Why should international students choose Aston University?

Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programmes. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year.  Based in the centre of Birmingham, Aston is not only a great place to study, it’s also a great place to live.

Aston’s professional work placements can improve your chance of securing a graduate job. Placements give you experience, confidence and opportunities and as an Aston student, you’ll be better prepared for your future career. One of the great things about Aston is our focus on employability, and our close links with businesses, industries and professions make this possible.