MSc Psychology, Digital Marketing and Business

12 Months On Campus Masters Program

Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge Campus

Program Overview

If you’re curious about why people make the choices they do and want to use that insight to drive business success, this MSc is perfect for you. It blends consumer psychology with digital marketing and business strategy, giving you the skills to understand behaviour, create effective campaigns, and make a real impact in today’s fast‑moving business world.

Curriculum Structure

Year / Term 1
You’ll start by building a strong foundation in psychology, business, and research methods. Modules like Research Methods, Consumer Behaviour, and Business and Marketing Principles help you understand the science behind decision‑making and the fundamentals of running successful marketing strategies. This first stage sets you up to think like both a psychologist and a business professional.

Year / Term 2
Next, you’ll dive into applied marketing and business skills. Units such as Digital Marketing, Behavioural Economics, and Leadership and Management show you how to turn insights into action — designing campaigns, analysing consumer data, and leading teams with confidence. By now, you’ll be ready to make psychological insights work in real marketing and business scenarios.

Final Phase / Dissertation / Project Work
In your final project, you’ll put everything you’ve learned into practice. Whether it’s a research dissertation or a practical marketing strategy project, you’ll tackle real‑world challenges, gaining hands-on experience that makes you highly employable. This is your chance to shine as someone who can merge psychology, marketing, and business to create results.

Focus areas: "Consumer behaviour, digital marketing strategy, business leadership, research methods, behavioural economics."

Learning outcomes: "Understand and predict consumer behaviour using psychology; plan and deliver digital marketing campaigns; analyse data to inform business strategy; develop leadership and management skills; carry out high-quality research."

Professional alignment (accreditation): This programme offers a unique interdisciplinary approach. While not BPS-accredited as a pure psychology degree, it’s designed to prepare you for marketing, consumer insights, and business roles.

Reputation (employability & research strength): ARU’s research is internationally recognised, giving you the chance to learn from experts whose work influences the field globally. Graduates leave ready for roles in marketing, PR, consumer insights, and more.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

At ARU, you won’t just study marketing and psychology from textbooks — you’ll actually get to put your skills into practice. The programme gives you hands-on experience with real-world tools and resources, letting you explore consumer behaviour, test marketing strategies, and run research projects in a supportive, professional environment. You’ll benefit from modern labs, digital tools, and expert guidance, all designed to help you build confidence and practical expertise before you graduate.

Here’s how you’ll gain that hands-on experience:

Work in dedicated psychology labs at the Cambridge Science Centre, including facilities for neuroscience, perception, EEG, and biomarker analysis, giving you real data to explore how people make decisions.
Use ARU’s libraries and IT resources, accessing academic journals, business databases, and digital marketing tools that help you analyse data and create effective campaigns.
Collaborate with experienced academics and mentors who guide you through research or marketing projects, ensuring your work is both insightful and applied.
Benefit from employability support, connecting with industry contacts, building professional skills, and preparing for careers in marketing, business, or research.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduating from this MSc opens the door to a wide range of exciting careers where psychology meets business. You’ll be equipped to step straight into roles that influence how people think, make choices, and engage with brands — whether that’s in marketing, consumer research, or business strategy. Many alumni find themselves thriving in roles like:

Marketing Executive or Digital Marketing Specialist
Consumer Insights Analyst or Market Researcher
Brand or Product Manager
Business Development or Strategy Officer

At ARU, you’re never on your own when it comes to building your career:

Dedicated Careers Support: The Careers and Employability Service helps you polish your CV, prepare for interviews, and connect with employers through events and networking opportunities.
Strong Graduate Outcomes: ARU graduates rank among the top in the UK for entering professional and managerial roles within 15 months of graduation.
Long-term Alumni Support: Even after finishing your degree, you’ll have access to ARU’s Alumni Career Centre for advice and guidance throughout your career.
Entrepreneurial Opportunities: If starting your own business or consultancy appeals to you, ARU’s enterprise programmes provide mentorship, coaching, and resources to help you launch successfully.
Transferable Skills: With a blend of psychology, marketing, and business, your skills are versatile — opening doors across marketing, advertising, research, consultancy, and beyond.

Further Academic Progression:
If you want to continue your studies, the MSc also provides an excellent springboard to a research-level degree, such as a PhD, at ARU or other institutions. You’ll be fully prepared for academic or research-focused careers, with a strong foundation in consumer psychology and business insights.