MA International Marketing

1 Year On Campus Masters Program

University of Portsmouth

Program Overview

The MA International Marketing is designed to help you understand how global brands connect with customers across borders, cultures, and digital platforms. It’s a great fit if you want to build a career with an international outlook — you’ll learn how to analyse consumers, plan global campaigns and make marketing decisions that work in different parts of the world.

Curriculum Structure

You’ll start the year by building your core marketing skillset. In Consumer Insight and Analytics, you’ll learn how to turn raw data into meaningful customer understanding, and with Research Methods for Marketing, you’ll get the tools to design reliable, real-world marketing research. Together, these modules help you think like a strategist who understands both numbers and people.

Next, you’ll move into the heart of international marketing. Global Marketing Strategy guides you through how brands expand across borders — from adapting products and pricing to navigating cultural differences. At the same time, International Marketing Communications shows you how to craft campaigns that resonate with audiences around the world, even when their expectations and values differ.

You’ll also gain practical, hands-on experience throughout the course. In Social Media Marketing, you’ll work on creating and evaluating campaigns, exploring how different cultures engage online. The Marketing Agency module brings together everything you’ve learned — you’ll work as part of a small team on a real brief from an external organisation, giving you a genuine consultancy-style experience that employers really value.

To finish the course, you’ll take on a major research project. The 60-credit Dissertation gives you the freedom to explore a topic you care about, whether that's consumer behaviour, global branding, or digital strategy. You’ll also study Environmental, Social Governance (ESG) and Marketing, helping you understand how ethics, sustainability and responsibility shape modern marketing decisions.

Focus areas: “Global marketing strategy, international brand communications, consumer analytics, digital and social media marketing, ESG and ethical marketing.”

Learning outcomes: “Design global marketing strategies, analyse and interpret consumer data, develop cross-cultural communication campaigns, conduct independent marketing research, and apply ethical and sustainable principles in marketing practice.”

Professional alignment (accreditation): Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM); taught within an AACSB-accredited business school — a distinction held by fewer than 6% of business schools worldwide.

Reputation (employability rankings): Graduates progress into roles such as international marketing executive, digital marketer, communications officer and social media manager, supported by strong industry links and applied project work.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

On the MA International Marketing, you won’t just be sitting in lectures — you’ll be actively doing marketing. From day one, you’ll work on real business challenges, use professional tools, and collaborate with classmates just like you would in a real agency. You’ll also get access to modern, tech-enabled spaces, data analytics tools, and guidance from both academics and industry experts.

Here’s how this hands-on learning comes to life:

Live client projects: In The Marketing Agency module, you’ll work in small teams with real businesses, planning strategies, executing campaigns, and presenting recommendations just like a professional marketing consultancy.
Business Simulation Suite: Practise client meetings, presentations, and boardroom scenarios in a realistic environment equipped with podiums, screens, laptops, and even VR tools to simulate real-world situations.
TEAL room workshops: Interactive, flexible spaces let you brainstorm, debate, and develop ideas with your peers in a dynamic, collaborative setting.
Industry-standard digital tools: You’ll get hands-on experience with Google Analytics and other professional software, helping you analyse data and make informed marketing decisions.
Guest speakers and networking: Senior marketing professionals and digital agency experts regularly share insights, current trends, and real-life business challenges to enrich your learning.
Independent research support: The 24-hour library and academic tutors help you plan, research, and produce your dissertation, ensuring you can tackle real marketing problems confidently.
Careers and employability support: The university’s dedicated team guides you in finding internships, volunteer roles, and freelance opportunities, helping you gain practical experience alongside your studies.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from the MA International Marketing gives you a strong start in the global marketing world. Many alumni go on to roles like International Marketing Executive, Marketing Campaign Officer, Social Media Manager, or Marketing Consultant — stepping straight into positions that value creativity, strategic thinking, and data-driven insight. With the skills and experience you gain, you’ll be ready to tackle real-world marketing challenges across industries and borders.

Here’s how Portsmouth helps you get there:

Career support you can rely on: The University’s Careers & Employability Service is available while you study and for five years after graduation, helping with CVs, interview prep, job search guidance, and access to networking events and graduate fairs.
Real-world industry experience: Through live-client projects, you’ll work with companies such as IBM, Boeing, and Hampshire County Council, giving you first-hand experience of consulting, campaign planning, and strategy in real business settings.
Accredited and recognised: The course is CIM-accredited, and the Business School is AACSB-accredited, giving your CV international credibility and helping open doors with top employers.
Diverse career outcomes: Graduates go on to work in digital agencies, multinational corporations, brand consultancies, and even start their own ventures — the degree equips you with the flexibility to choose your path.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue learning, you could move on to research degrees like an MRes or PhD in marketing, business analytics, or consumer behaviour. The research and analytical skills you develop during the MA give you a strong foundation for more advanced study or a career in academic or consultancy roles.