MSc Marketing and Brand Management

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

Oxford Brookes University

Program Overview

The MSc Marketing & Brand Management at Oxford Brookes is designed for anyone who wants to understand how iconic brands are created, communicated, and grown. You’ll gain hands-on experience in both traditional and digital marketing, working on real client projects while learning how to think strategically and creatively — the kind of skills that make you industry-ready from day one.

Curriculum Structure

Year 1 – Foundations & Strategy:
You’ll start by exploring the core principles of modern marketing. In Responsible Marketing in a Global World, you’ll examine how brands make ethical decisions in a fast-changing marketplace. Sustainable Customer Behaviour shows you how consumer choices are shaped by culture, technology, and trends, while Research Methods for Marketers equips you with the skills to gather and analyse data effectively. Alongside this, Professional & Academic Development supports your growth as a confident, career-ready marketer.

Next, you’ll focus on building and managing strong brands. In Strategic & Sustainable Brand Management, you’ll learn how to create brands that resonate globally while considering social and environmental impact. Brand & Marketing Communications covers everything from advertising and PR to social media campaigns, giving you the tools to communicate a brand’s story effectively. Digital & Social Media Marketing Strategy teaches you how to harness the latest digital platforms to engage audiences, and Sustainable Global Marketing Strategy helps you plan ethical, long-term campaigns for international markets.

Year 2 – Real-World Application:
For your final project, you can choose between a dissertation, a client-focused project, a synoptic enquiry, or a group consultancy challenge — all designed to let you put your marketing knowledge into practice. If you opt for the sandwich route, you’ll spend a full year in a paid marketing placement, applying what you’ve learned in a real business setting, building your network, and gaining invaluable experience.

Focus Areas

Brand building · Digital & social media marketing · Ethical global marketing · Consumer behaviour · Strategic communications

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, you’ll be ready to think like a brand leader. You’ll know how to plan and execute marketing campaigns, analyse consumer data, and create strategies that work in both traditional and digital channels. You’ll also have experience solving real-world business challenges and a strong foundation to grow into roles like brand manager, marketing strategist, or communications specialist.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation)

This MSc is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM), ensuring your qualification meets the highest industry standards.

Reputation / Employability

Oxford Brookes graduates have gone on to exciting roles in companies like Amazon, Unilever, Mercedes‑Benz, McCann, Ogilvy, and more. The course’s live client projects and strong industry links give you practical experience and valuable networking opportunities, making you highly employable in the competitive marketing world.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At Oxford Brookes, learning goes far beyond lectures — this program is all about putting theory into practice. From the moment you start, you’ll be working on real-world marketing challenges, using professional tools, and developing skills that employers value. The Marketing & Social Media Lab gives you access to software like Brandwatch, Sprout Social, and Adobe Creative Cloud, so you can create, monitor, and analyse campaigns just like a marketing pro. Plus, if you choose the sandwich route, you’ll spend a full year in a paid, supervised marketing placement, gaining real industry experience.

Here’s how you’ll get hands-on:

Live client projects – Collaborate with well-known brands such as Rolls‑Royce, L’Oréal, and Red Bull, solving genuine business challenges.
Marketing & Social Media Lab – Use industry-standard software to design campaigns, track engagement, and measure success.
Work Placement (Sandwich Year) – Apply what you’ve learned in a full-time marketing role, building experience and professional networks.
Interactive Workshops & Role-plays – Engage in discussions, case studies, and role-play exercises that bring marketing concepts to life.
Group Consultancy / Client Project / Synoptic Enquiry – Work in teams on a final project for a real client, turning strategy into action.
International Business Study Trip – Visit companies and agencies abroad, meet executives, and gain a global perspective on brand management.
Research Opportunities – Collaborate with faculty in the Business School’s research centres on topics like sustainable marketing and digital strategy.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the MSc Marketing & Brand Management at Oxford Brookes opens doors to exciting marketing careers. Many of our alumni go on to become brand managers, marketing executives, brand strategists, or account planners, stepping confidently into roles where they can make a real impact. Thanks to the hands-on experience, live client projects, and industry connections you gain during the course, you’ll leave with the skills and confidence to hit the ground running:

Career Support & Services – Brookes’ Careers Service and WAVES placement team help you polish your CV, prepare for interviews, and connect with top employers.
Work Placements – The optional sandwich year gives you a paid, supervised placement, letting you apply your skills in a real marketing environment before you graduate.
Industry Partnerships – Work alongside major brands and agencies like Rolls‑Royce, L’Oréal, Red Bull, McCann Worldgroup, VCCP, WPP, and Anomaly, gaining insights and experience that employers value.
Employment Outcomes – Around 93% of Brookes graduates are in work or further study within six months, giving you excellent prospects straight after your MSc.
Accreditation & Recognition – The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and the Institute of Direct & Digital Marketing (IDM), enhancing your credibility with employers.
Graduate Destinations – Alumni have joined global companies such as Amazon, Unilever, Mercedes-Benz, McCann, Ogilvy, and Walt Disney.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue studying, you could move into a PhD in marketing, branding, or consumer behaviour, or explore specialized postgraduate certificates and executive programs. The strong research culture at Oxford Brookes — including centres like the Centre for Business, Society & Global Challenges and the International Centre for Coaching & Mentoring Studies — offers plenty of opportunities to deepen your expertise and expand your career options.