Bournemouth University

What you'll study

This MA combines strategic and creative strands of marketing communications, emphasising applied practice and contemporary digital techniques. Core themes include brand strategy, integrated marketing communications, consumer behaviour, creative campaign planning, and the use of digital and social media channels. You will learn research methods for marketing, develop skills in data-informed decision making, and complete a major project or dissertation that applies theory to a real-world brief.

• Integrated Marketing Communications: planning and delivering coordinated campaigns across paid, owned and earned channels.
• Brand and Strategic Communications: brand positioning, identity, storytelling and stakeholder communications.
• Digital Marketing and Social Media: digital strategy, content planning, analytics and platform-specific approaches.
• Consumer Insight and Marketing Research: qualitative and quantitative techniques to inform communications strategy.
• Creative Campaign Development: concept generation, creative briefs, media planning and evaluation.
• Professional Practice / Live Projects: collaboration with industry briefs, client-facing work and portfolio development.
• Major Project or Dissertation: a substantive piece of research or a practice-based project addressing a marketing communications problem.

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold an undergraduate degree in marketing, business, media, communications or a related discipline at a UK second-class honours level or equivalent. Applicants with substantial professional experience in a relevant field may be considered on a case-by-case basis. International applicants whose first language is not English will need to demonstrate English language competence; evidence equivalent to mainstream UK postgraduate requirements is normally required.

Career prospects

Graduates leave prepared for strategic and operational roles across marketing communications. Typical job titles include marketing communications manager, brand manager, digital marketing executive, social media strategist, PR account executive, advertising account manager, content strategist and market researcher. The programme’s applied focus and live briefs help build a portfolio and professional network useful for roles in agencies, in-house marketing teams, media organisations and start-ups. It also provides a foundation for further study or for professional qualifications in marketing.

Why study at Bournemouth University

Bournemouth University places strong emphasis on professional practice and industry engagement, offering opportunities to work on real client briefs and to develop a practical portfolio. The university has well-equipped facilities for digital media and communications and a teaching team with both academic and industry experience. Students benefit from links with local and national creative industries, regular guest speakers and career support services aimed at helping graduates move quickly into marketing and communications roles.