This four-year degree is tailored for students who may not meet direct entry requirements for the standard marketing degree. The Foundation Year provides essential academic and business skills to prepare you for the full undergraduate Marketing program. Throughout the course, you’ll develop a strong understanding of consumer behaviour, digital marketing, brand management, and marketing research.
Curriculum structure
Foundation Year (Year 0)
You will focus on building key academic skills including academic writing, research methods, quantitative techniques, and digital literacy. This year introduces you to fundamental business concepts that set the stage for your marketing studies.
Year 1
You will study core marketing principles and foundational business subjects such as Introduction to Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, and Digital Skills. This year is designed to establish your marketing knowledge and business awareness.
Year 2
This year covers specialist marketing modules including Digital Marketing, Brand Management, Marketing Research, and Integrated Marketing Communications. You’ll gain practical skills and analytical tools to approach real marketing challenges.
Year 3
The final year focuses on strategic marketing topics such as Strategic Marketing Planning, Marketing Communications, and a Marketing Dissertation or Project, allowing you to apply your knowledge and complete an independent research study.
Focus areas:
Consumer behaviour, digital marketing, brand management, marketing research, strategic marketing, marketing communications.
Learning outcomes:
You will graduate able to analyse consumer data, design and implement marketing strategies, manage brands effectively, and communicate marketing ideas with confidence.
Professional alignment (accreditation):
The program is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), giving students exemptions towards CIM professional qualifications.
Reputation (Employability & Rankings):
This four-year programme begins with a Foundation Year designed to build your academic skills and confidence before progressing to the core three-year marketing degree delivered at Swansea’s Bay Campus.
So here’s what experiential learning looks like in this programme:
Foundation Year academic skills development: Focus on study techniques, research methods, and business fundamentals to prepare you for degree-level work.
Hands-on marketing projects from Year 2 onwards: Engage with real marketing briefs and group challenges that develop teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Training in digital marketing tools: Gain experience with Excel, CRM systems, Google Analytics, and other industry-standard software to analyze and deliver marketing campaigns.
Final-year project: Conduct a detailed research or consultancy project, often in partnership with businesses, applying your marketing knowledge practically.
Guest lectures and industry workshops: Learn from marketing practitioners through regular talks and masterclasses that connect theory with practice.
Professional accreditation: Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), supporting your progression towards professional qualifications.
Modern learning facilities: Study at Swansea’s Bay Campus with access to digital labs, collaborative spaces, and extensive resources.
Career and employability support: Receive guidance through workshops, employer networking events, and CV/interview preparation services.
Graduates typically secure roles such as marketing executive, digital marketing specialist, brand manager, or market analyst. The foundation year provides essential skills to support academic success and career readiness. Starting salaries usually begin around £24,000, with steady growth as experience develops.
University Services to Support Employment
Swansea’s Employability Academy and the School of Management careers team offer comprehensive support including CV workshops, interview coaching, employer networking, mentoring, and placement assistance. Support is available through and beyond the foundation year.
Employment Statistics & Salary Figures
About 96–99% of Business & Management graduates are employed or in further study within 15 months. Median starting salaries are near £24,000, increasing to approximately £25,500–£26,500 by five years after graduation.
University–Industry Partnerships
Students engage with industry through live briefs, consultancy projects, and placements with companies like Shell UK, Marks & Spencer, Bloomberg, Tata, Ogilvy, and IBM, gaining practical experience and building networks.
Long-term Accreditation Value
The programme carries CIM accreditation, enabling graduates to obtain exemptions for professional marketing qualifications. The School of Management also holds AACSB accreditation, enhancing the degree’s international standing.
Graduation Outcomes
Graduates develop solid knowledge in consumer behaviour, marketing strategy, digital marketing, and analytics, supported by the foundation year and practical experience, preparing them for skilled marketing careers.
Further Academic Progression:
Graduates can pursue postgraduate study in areas such as digital marketing, brand management, marketing analytics, or consumer behaviour research. The CIM accreditation and foundation year help pave the way for professional qualifications and advanced MSc programmes.
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