MSc Marketing Management (with project/placement year)

2 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Chester

Program Overview

The MSc Marketing Management (with project/placement year) equips you with the skills to thrive in today’s digital-first marketing world, blending strategy, data analysis, creativity, and digital tools to design and lead impactful campaigns. It’s perfect for students looking to start or advance a career in digital marketing, social media, online communications, or brand management — whether you already have marketing experience or are transitioning from another field.

Curriculum Structure

This one-year full-time master’s (with an optional two-year route including a placement or professional project) combines core digital marketing knowledge, practical application, and research skills to prepare you for professional success.

Year 1 (Core & Digital Marketing Fundamentals)
You’ll begin with modules such as Digital Marketing Strategy & Planning, Digital Marketing Acquisition, Conversion & Retention, Social Media Strategy, Understanding the Digital Customer, and Digital Disruption. These courses teach you how to plan and execute campaigns across SEO, content, email, and social platforms, understand online consumer behaviour, design effective customer journeys, and keep ahead of emerging digital trends and technologies.

Year 1 (Research & Project or Placement Option)
Alongside the core modules, you’ll take Marketing Research Methods, giving you the skills to design research, analyse data, and draw actionable insights. Then, you’ll either complete a Marketing Project or take a Professional Placement / Project Year, providing hands-on experience in real-world settings and helping you build a practical portfolio to showcase to employers.

Focus Areas:
Digital marketing strategy and planning; customer acquisition, conversion, and retention; social media strategy; understanding digital customers and online behaviour; digital disruption and emerging technologies; research methods; applied marketing projects or professional placement.

Learning Outcomes:
You will graduate able to design and implement data-driven digital marketing campaigns, manage digital customer journeys and communications, analyse consumer behaviour and market data, adapt to evolving digital trends, and deliver professional-standard marketing projects or placement-based work.

Professional Alignment (Accreditation):
The programme is developed with input from digital marketing professionals and aligned with standards from the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDDM), ensuring your learning meets current industry expectations.

Reputation (Employability & Career Prospects):
Graduates often move into roles such as digital marketing manager, social media strategist, online marketing analyst, content marketing specialist, or digital campaign manager. The university’s Careers and Employability services provide support with CVs, interview preparation, and networking opportunities, helping you confidently secure a strong graduate role.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

This MSc is designed to ensure you graduate not only with theoretical knowledge but also with practical skills that employers value. Throughout the programme, you’ll engage in hands-on projects, use industry-standard digital tools, and work on assignments that reflect real marketing challenges. These experiences help you apply your learning in practice, build confidence, and create a portfolio of work to show future employers.

Here’s how experiential learning is integrated into the course:

Practical workshops and applied projects: Modules like Digital Marketing Strategy & Planning, Social Media Strategy, and Digital Marketing Acquisition, Conversion & Retention include exercises and case studies where you plan campaigns, manage social media, and analyse consumer behaviour in realistic scenarios.
Marketing Project or Professional Placement: Depending on your route, you’ll either complete a research-based Marketing Project or a real-world Professional Placement, providing hands-on experience and the chance to apply digital marketing skills in a live business context.
Digital tools and analytics: You’ll work with analytics platforms and other digital tools to track campaign performance, interpret customer data, and make informed, data-driven marketing decisions.
Portfolio development: Coursework is designed to produce tangible outputs — from campaign plans to digital content — giving you concrete examples of your skills to show employers.
Industry engagement and networking: Guest lectures, seminars, and networking events give you insight into current marketing trends, emerging technologies, and connections with marketing professionals.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from this MSc are well-prepared to enter the dynamic world of digital marketing. Typical roles include digital marketing manager, social media strategist, online marketing analyst, content marketing specialist, or digital campaign manager. The programme equips you with both practical skills and strategic thinking, enabling you to manage campaigns, analyse customer behaviour, and contribute effectively in professional marketing teams.

Here’s how the University of Chester supports your career journey:

Career guidance and employability services: Dedicated advisors help with CV writing, interview preparation, networking, and connecting you with potential employers for placements or graduate roles.
Industry-aligned skills: The curriculum ensures your knowledge and capabilities meet current digital marketing industry standards, covering areas such as data analytics, social media management, and digital strategy.
Portfolio-ready projects: Your Marketing Project or Professional Placement provides real-world experience and tangible outputs to showcase to employers.
Flexible career pathways: Graduates pursue roles across sectors, including digital agencies, e-commerce, retail, and consultancy, both in the UK and internationally.
Strong employability: The practical focus, professional projects, and career support help graduates move quickly into skilled marketing roles.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing the MSc, you could continue your studies with research-focused degrees, such as a PhD in marketing, digital business, or consumer behaviour. You could also pursue specialised master’s programmes in areas like strategic communications, digital marketing analytics, or brand management, opening doors to advanced career opportunities or academic research roles.