Our Marketing Communications and Advertising MSc is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
This course can lead to a broad range of careers in marketing, particularly within marketing communications or advertising. You will gain a broad and deep knowledge of each marketing communications channel, with a focus on advertising.
You will develop communications plans that stand up to academic scrutiny and present your work to real world clients. You will pitch to clients, who will critique your technique and your response to a brief. Your work will build into a portfolio you can be proud to show recruiters.
Mode | Duration | Start date |
---|---|---|
Full time | 1 year |
September 2024 September 2025 |
Full time | 2 years including professional placement |
September 2024 September 2025 |
Main Location | Kingston Hill |
Find about more about the Marketing Communications and Advertising MSc:
The Department of Strategy, Marketing and Innovation comprises passionate and enterprising academics from a diverse range of backgrounds. Our undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications bring together research, practitioner insights and teaching expertise in the disciplines of marketing, international business, entrepreneurship, strategy and innovation.
Our courses are truly experiential, providing you with opportunities to undertake company visits, attend networking events and hear best practice from industry guest speakers.
This Marketing Communications and Advertising MSc is made up of seven modules worth a total of 180 credits.
15 credits
This module focuses on how people buy and use products, and how they react to marketing action. You will:
15 credits
Examine how marketing management theories and methods can be applied to ensure long-term success for a broad range of organisations, private or not-for-profit, with a global context.
Global Marketing Management is the discipline of planning, organising and managing marketing resources across international regions, to achieve an organisation's marketing objectives. This module is delivered through lectures, case study seminars and workshops and is supported by professional guest speakers.
30 credits
Understand the elements of effective market research. Collect primary data that is valid and reliable for management purposes. Develop practical skills in data analysis to transform this raw data into information that guides marketing decisions. This module can act as a launch pad for a career in market research within the wider marketing industry.
The skills you learn in this module also prepare you for your dissertation. Learn to critically evaluate commercial and academic published research, construct and execute a programme of research, and analyse and present the results.
The module is delivered through a combination of class sessions, workshops and computer mediated practical sessions covering both quantitative and quantitative aspects of data collection and analysis.
60 credits
You will research a specific area of marketing in depth by identifying a topical issue or problem using appropriate theory and research methods. You will put the knowledge you've developed during the course to the test by writing a research proposal and dissertation that combine academic rigour with practical marketing implications. You will then communicate these findings as you would do in the workplace – by writing a management report.
This module teaches you how to select appropriate research methods and leads to a theoretically-grounded research project which generates findings that inform management decisions. It will teach you to apply your research skills and gain experience managing a large-scale research project. These advanced research skills will prepare you for a highly adaptable career in marketing, and differentiate you as a future business leader.
15 credits
Discover new ways to engage with your audience and generate brand awareness, loyalty and sales. Combine theoretical perspectives and research with case studies and practical exercises to understand which interactive approaches work in which situations - from tried-and-tested direct marketing and sales promotion techniques to the latest advances in mobile and social media. This module will prepare you to determine the value of new tools available for contemporary marketing communications: social media, viral marketing, gamification, mobile marketing, brand advocacy, buzz and engagement.
You will become familiar with new rules and dynamics that have been generated through multiple brand touch-points, and learn to devise effective multi-platform campaigns. This module is delivered with a strong emphasis on student-centred learning through regular research projects, presentations and practical assignments.
30 credits
This module is relevant to all students who want to equip themselves for a career in marketing communications and advertising, either on the client or agency side. It focuses on the integration of the key components of the marketing communications mix; namely, advertising, sales promotion, public relations and interactive marketing, within the wider context of strategic marketing planning. The module incorporates theoretical and conceptual considerations with the operational aspects of marketing communications strategy and planning, required for those students considering a career in marketing communications. The module is delivered through a combination of lectures, guest speaker sessions, workshops, case study analysis and student presentations which support your learning experience
15 credits
In this module, you will examine the theory of public relations and investigate the tools and techniques used to build and maintain reputation. Careers in PR require a rigorous mind that can understand and react to complex situations as they develop, so the application of theory in practice is particularly important on this module. Delivery is through a combination of lectures, guest speakers, case study tutorials and group presentations, with a strong emphasis on student-centred learning such as regular research projects and practical assignments.
The professional placement year is optional. It takes place after the full time year. It enables students to do a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The work placement is an assessed part of the course and is therefore covered by a Student Route visa.
Find out more about the postgraduate work placement scheme.
120 credits
The Professional Placement module is a core module for those students following a masters programme that incorporates an extended professional placement that follows completion of the first 180 credits of taught modules and project or dissertation. It provides students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in an appropriate working environment, and to develop and enhance key employability skills and subject specific skills in their chosen subject.
It is the responsibility of individual students to locate and secure a suitable placement opportunity; this will normally involve one placement which must be completed over a minimum period of 10 months and within a maximum of 12 months. The placement must be approved by the module leader prior to commencement to ensure its suitability.
You will graduate ready for roles such as account manager, media planner, customer insight and analytics executive, digital marketer and marketing executive. Graduates from this course typically enter the workplace in a variety of communications, public relations and consultant roles, and have a strong foundation on which to progress their careers to the top.
Some graduates decide to continue their studies at Kingston University though doctoral research, and many decide to use the skills they have learned to set themselves up in business.
Kingston Business School holds the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business) in recognition of the excellence of its business education. This accreditation has been earned by just 5% of the world's business schools and recognises the high quality and standard of our business degree offerings.
This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). CIM qualifications are highly sought after by employers. Students on this course will have the opportunity to gain a CIM Certificate in Professional Digital Marketing through the CIM Accredited Degree Programme.
You will take part in an Assessment Centre Experience, providing the opportunity to experience the pathway to employment with tailored feedback to help develop your employability skills for the world of graduate employment.
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs not covered by tuition fees. Students will need to consider these costs when when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.