Marketing and Design BSc Hons

This unique programme is delivered jointly by Lancaster University Management School and Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts, giving you access to expert teaching, design studios, and hands-on projects that reflect real industry practice.

So here’s what experiential learning looks like in this programme:

• Creative studios and design workshops: Work in dedicated spaces to develop visual communication skills using professional equipment and tools.

• Live design and branding projects: Collaborate on real-world briefs that integrate marketing strategy with design thinking, often in small teams.

• Use of industry-standard software: Gain experience with tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), digital prototyping platforms, and marketing analytics software.

• Guest speakers and design/marketing professionals: Attend workshops and talks from industry experts across both fields to understand trends and expectations.

• Integrated dissertation or creative project: In your final year, you’ll undertake a major independent project combining strategic marketing insights with design innovation.

• Cross-disciplinary learning: Take modules across two departments, enhancing your ability to work at the intersection of business and creative industries.

• Supportive careers guidance: Access Lancaster’s Careers Service for placement advice, portfolio support, and creative industry networking.

• Modern facilities: Learn in fully equipped studios, Mac labs, and collaboration zones within both the Management School and the Institute for the Contemporary Arts.

Graduates often enter roles such as design manager, advertising or media planner, marketing communications specialist, or research and brand consultant. Starting salaries typically fall between £25,000 and £29,000, rising to around £29,000–£34,500 after a few years.

Now, here’s what makes this programme stand out:

• University Services to Support Employment
  Lancaster provides a dedicated Marketing Careers Coach and offers CV clinics, interview preparation, mentorship, career fairs, and access to internships and graduate schemes. The broader Lancaster Award recognises extracurricular and employability development.

• Employment Statistics & Salary Figures
  Approximately 88% of Lancaster graduates are in employment or further study within six months. By 15 months post-graduation, marketing graduates typically earn a median salary of £25,000, increasing to £27,500 at 3 years and £31,500 by year five.

• University–Industry Partnerships
  Graduates have worked with employers such as Asda, BBC, Unilever, IBM, Sainsbury’s, BT, Disney, EY, and Renault. Real-world consultancy projects and live briefs—such as those with Tesco or Saatchi & Saatchi—enhance industry exposure.

• Long-term Accreditation Value
  This degree is fully CIM-accredited, enabling graduates to claim exemptions from professional CIM qualifications for up to five years after graduating.

• Graduation Outcomes
  You’ll graduate with expertise in marketing strategy, consumer behaviour, sustainability, and digital innovation, alongside strong visual communication and design thinking skills. Final-year consultancy projects let you apply your knowledge in real-world business settings.

Further Academic Progression:
Graduates are well prepared for postgraduate study in fields such as marketing communications, design management, digital marketing analytics, or brand and consumer research. The blend of business and creative disciplines also supports further professional development in design or marketing certifications.