Program Overview
This degree blends cutting-edge marketing insight with essential management practices. Drawing from psychology, sociology, economics, and more, it helps you understand how consumers behave and how businesses apply that knowledge strategically—preparing you for roles ranging from brand management to consultancy or data-driven marketing.
Curriculum structure
Year 1
You begin by developing foundational skills in marketing and management. Core modules cover advertising and persuasion theory (often through real-world live briefs), marketing principles including consumer behaviour and branding, organisational behaviour, financial literacy for managers, and digital marketing technologies such as AI and analytics.
Year 2
The second year deepens your strategic and analytical capabilities. You’ll study brand strategy, socio-cultural branding, consumer behavioural science, marketing research design, and integrated marketing communications. The year also offers optional modules like entrepreneurship, innovation management, and operations to tailor your path.
Year 3
In your final year, you focus on a major research or practice-based project—either a dissertation or behavioural science marketing project—as well as options like retail marketing, global marketing, social marketing, influencer strategy, sustainability, leadership, or consumer power. This year culminates in applying your learning to real-world marketing challenges.
Focus areas:
Consumer behavioural science, brand management, marketing research, digital and ethical marketing, strategic communications, and management fundamentals.
Learning outcomes:
Graduates leave with strong analytical reasoning, strategic insight, creative marketing skills, and experience working on real campaigns and research projects.
Professional alignment (accreditation):
Offered by Durham University Business School—one of the UK’s top triple-accredited business schools (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS)—ensuring academic rigour and industry value.
Reputation (employability rankings):
From the very first year, you bridge the gap between theory and industry through group simulations, live marketing briefs, and behavioural science projects. Steeped in an interdisciplinary approach, the course combines marketing, management, economics, psychology, and more—taught at Durham University Business School’s modern Waterside facility in the innovation hub of Durham city.
So here’s what experiential learning looks like in this degree:
Marketing Strategy in Practice (Year 1 simulation): Teams compete in an online brand-building simulation, crafting mission statements, marketing plans, and retail strategies within a class-wide competition.
Digital Marketing: Tools & Techniques (Year 2): Practical assignments using platforms like Canva to build digital content and analytics skills.
Behavioural Science Marketing Project (Final year option): An alternative to a dissertation, where you conduct original research and present findings at a mini-conference attended by industry professionals.
Software & digital tools: Training in Excel, PowerPoint, Sway, SPSS, and CRM platforms is embedded across modules, with an emphasis on teamwork, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
Year-long placement option: Although the standard degree is three years, you may opt for a four-year version with a full-time marketing placement at companies such as Accenture, Unilever, EE, PwC, or Goldman Sachs.
Guest lectures, workshops & live briefs: Regular industry insights and marketing challenges based on real business problems enhance strategic thinking and problem-solving.
Modern teaching & learning facilities: The Waterside Building features a 300-seat lecture theatre, Harvard-style seminar rooms, study pods, and integrated spaces within the Durham Innovation District.
Careers & employability support: Benefit from mock interviews, employer networking events, and internships, with many graduates going on to roles at major global firms like ASOS, Pepsi, and Mars.
Final-year dissertation or applied project: Choose between a traditional dissertation or a practical project, both with access to research supervision and industry-aligned topics.
Graduates often secure roles such as brand manager, marketing analyst, management consultant, or digital marketing executive. Within 15 months of graduation, most students are employed in skilled roles or pursuing further study, with average starting salaries around £33,500, rising to over £54,000 within five years.
Here’s how Durham prepares you for long-term success:
University Services to Support Employment
Durham’s Careers & Enterprise Centre offers personalised support from day one—including CV and cover letter feedback, one-on-one coaching, career fairs, employer presentations, and access to global job listings. Students can also take part in the Marketing Society, networking with professionals and alumni.
Employment Statistics & Salary Figures
Over 90% of graduates are in employment or further study within 15 months. The course ranks highly for graduate outcomes in marketing and business, with many entering fast-track graduate schemes in top firms.
University–Industry Partnerships
Students benefit from connections with employers like Unilever, PwC, Accenture, Deloitte, Amazon, and Coca-Cola. Guest lectures, case study projects, and industry competitions give you exposure to real-world marketing and management challenges.
Long-term Accreditation Value
Offered through Durham University Business School, this degree is backed by triple accreditation (AACSB, EQUIS, AMBA)—a mark of global excellence held by less than 1% of business schools worldwide.
Graduation Outcomes
You’ll leave with a blend of strategic thinking, data literacy, leadership, and marketing insight—equipped to work across diverse industries such as retail, tech, finance, and consulting.
Further Academic Progression:
After completing this degree, you could pursue a master’s in Marketing, Management, Business Analytics, Digital Strategy, or even an MBA. Durham graduates are well-prepared for competitive postgraduate programmes worldwide due to the university’s strong academic reputation.
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