MSc Digital Marketing

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Oxford Brookes University

Program Overview

The MSc Digital Marketing at Oxford Brookes is perfect for anyone who wants to combine smart marketing thinking with hands-on digital skills. You’ll learn how to run successful campaigns, understand customer behaviour using the latest data tools, and master everything from social media to AI-driven analytics — all while working on real business projects that give you practical experience.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Building a Strong Foundation:
You’ll start by exploring the fundamentals of modern marketing in the digital world. In Digital & Social Media Marketing Strategy, you’ll learn how to plan campaigns for platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn, using the latest tools and AI insights. Customer Insight & Engagement teaches you to analyse data, understand your audience, and craft strategies that truly connect with people. Modules like Responsible Marketing in a Global World and Sustainable Consumer Behaviour challenge you to think ethically and consider the long-term impact of your marketing decisions. Research Methods for Marketing equips you with practical skills to gather and analyse data for real-world marketing problems.

Year 2 – Specialisation and Real-World Application:
In your second year, you can tailor your learning to what excites you most. Digital Content Marketing Management lets you design campaigns, manage content, and work with influencer strategies. Digital Marketing Analytics dives into data-driven decision-making, helping you measure and optimise campaign performance. Your final project can be a dissertation, client project, group consultancy, or synoptic enquiry — giving you the chance to solve real business challenges. You also have the option to take a paid work placement year, applying your skills in a real marketing role before you graduate.

Focus Areas

Digital strategy · AI & analytics · Content management · Customer engagement · Ethical marketing

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this MSc, you’ll be ready to step into roles that require strategic thinking, data-driven decision-making, and creative digital marketing skills. You’ll know how to plan, execute, and measure campaigns, while keeping sustainability and ethics at the heart of your approach.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM), giving you professional recognition and credibility in the industry.

Reputation / Employability

Oxford Brookes focuses on making you career-ready through hands-on projects and its Social Media Lab, where you’ll use tools like Brandwatch, Sprout Social, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Google Analytics. Graduates have gone on to exciting roles such as digital marketing manager, social media strategist, marketing analyst, SEO/SEM specialist, and content manager at companies like LEGO, LinkedIn, Mediacom, Lidl, and Leo Burnett.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Oxford Brookes, the MSc Digital Marketing is designed so that you don’t just learn marketing — you do marketing. From day one, you’ll get hands-on experience using professional tools and tackling real business challenges. Our Social Media Marketing Lab gives you access to platforms like Brandwatch, Sprout Social, Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Analytics, and AI-powered tools, so you can create, monitor, and analyse campaigns just like a marketing professional. Along the way, you’ll work in teams, take part in live client projects, and even have the option to gain real-world experience through a paid placement year.

Here’s how your practical experience comes to life:

Social Media Marketing Lab – Work with industry-standard software to design, monitor, and evaluate campaigns, putting your ideas straight into practice.
Live Research Projects – Apply your skills to real marketing problems for actual organisations, gaining insights that go beyond the classroom.
Workshops & Role-plays – Participate in interactive workshops, case studies, and role-play exercises that simulate real-world marketing decisions.
Group Marketing Simulations – Collaborate with classmates on online simulations to plan and execute digital campaigns as a team.
Work Placement (Sandwich Year) – Take an optional 12-month paid placement to apply your skills in a professional marketing role, supported by Brookes’ WAVES placement team.
International Business Study Trip (Optional) – Visit companies abroad, meet business leaders, and gain a global perspective on digital marketing practices.
Professional Development Module – Build your self-development plan, attend practical events, and connect your academic learning with your future career.
Research Collaboration – Engage with faculty on topics like AI-driven consumer insights, influencer marketing, and digital behaviour analysis.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the MSc Digital Marketing at Oxford Brookes sets you up for a wide range of exciting careers. Many of our alumni step into roles such as Digital Marketing Manager, Social Media Strategist, Marketing Analyst, or Content/SEO Specialist, ready to make an impact in fast-paced digital environments. With the hands-on projects, live client challenges, and optional placement year, you’ll leave confident, experienced, and career-ready:

Career Services & WAVES Support – Get guidance on CVs, applications, interviews, and connecting with employers for placements or full-time roles.
Work Placement (Sandwich Year) – Take a paid, supervised marketing placement to apply what you’ve learned in a real-world setting while building your professional network.
Industry Exposure & Partnerships – Through live business challenges, guest lectures, and research projects, you’ll work alongside real companies and marketing professionals.
Accreditation & Professional Value – The MSc is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Institute of Direct & Digital Marketing (IDM), giving your qualification strong recognition in the industry.
Graduate Destinations – Alumni have gone on to work at global brands and agencies like LEGO, Mediacom, Lidl, LinkedIn, and Leo Burnett, taking on roles from social media executive to campaign strategist.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue your studies, you could pursue a PhD in areas such as AI-driven consumer behavior, digital marketing strategy, or influencer marketing. You could also explore executive education or specialized postgraduate certificates to deepen your expertise and expand your career options.