Overview
Marketing influences organizational success, from business growth to behavioral change. Understand the core concepts of marketing theory and develop the skills and experience to apply them.
Course outline and modules
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 highly ranked BSc Marketing course (15th in the UK, Complete University Guide, 2020) 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
Aston University has joined forces with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) to give students the opportunity to gain professional qualifications through the CIM Graduate Gateway. CIM qualifications are highly sought after by employers, and their content is reflected in our own degrees which ensure we are equipping students with the best opportunities for a successful marketing career.
International students
Aston University is a diverse, close community and welcomes international students on many of our undergraduate programs. Students from over 120 different countries chose to study with us every year. And Aston is not only a great place to study; based in the center of Birmingham, 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.
Foundation program
Choosing to start your Aston journey with our foundation program 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, and 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 programs.
Modules
Incorporated into the teaching of both your second year and final year are computerized market simulations, on site visits, and specialist lectures from the 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 topics, designed to give you a solid foundation for your business degree.
- Introductory Accounting for Business
- Introduction to Organisational Behaviour
- Law for Business
- Contemporary Marketing Principles
- Marketing Psychology
- Principles of Operations Management
- Digital and Social Media Marketing
- Introduction to Business Economics
Learning, teaching, and assessment
Our close links to industry and our focus on delivering practical business experiences provide 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 teamwork 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.
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 organizations and advertise vacancies to students through an online platform exclusively for Aston students and graduates.
Career prospects
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.
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