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Marketing and Communication (with a Placement Year) BSc (Hons)

Start date

September

UCAS code

N603

Duration

4 years

UCAS points

96 - 112

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023: Top 10 for Student ExperienceThe Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023: Top 5 for Teaching Quality

Develop critical insights, learn cutting-edge digital skills, and understand what it takes to succeed in the sector with our hands-on marketing degree 

Build critical, strategic, and creative skills to become an ethical and global professional. You'll impact audiences across platforms and complete exciting practical projects. Our marketing degree covers:

  • branding and marketing strategy
  • AI, data analytics, and emerging technologies
  • digital communications and ethics
  • journalism and public relations
  • digital content creation and design
  • consumer behaviour and customer insight
  • media industries and platforms.

We have worked with industry professionals to design our Marketing and Communication degree. You'll develop analytical, research, communication, personal, and professional skills to help you navigate future challenges and opportunities.

We empower you, ensuring you're work-ready as soon as you graduate. 96% of St Mary's (SMU) students are in employment, vocation, or further study within 15 months of graduation (HESA, 2024).

Hands-on, dynamic, inclusive

You'll attend special events, workshops, and lectures led by industry professionals and leading academics from diverse backgrounds. We also foster a welcoming and inclusive environment. These opportunities will allow you to understand the sector’s latest developments, grow your network, and learn both inside and outside the classroom.  

Cutting-edge facilities

With our communication and marketing course, you'll access our cutting-edge facilities and equipment, including:

  • our Media Production Suite: equipped to teach all aspects of content creation, short and long video, TV production, radio, and online broadcasting
  • multi-camera HD shoots with a flexible lighting grid, full range of audio inputs, and teleprompter facilities
  • a radio and podcasting studio: dedicated vocal booth, 70-inch TV, studio quality sound-system
  • a Mac suite equipped with top of the range, 27-inch iMacs with secondary touch screens - available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Learn in the capital

We are only 30 minutes from central London, so you’ll access an epicentre for marketing, communications, and culture.

Specialist teaching and support

You will learn from industry professionals and leading academics who are here to aid your personal and professional growth. Our student, Aikaterini, tells us they were “always encouraged and fully supported”.

It's no wonder we're:

  •  1st in London for Academic Support (National Student Survey (NSS), 2024)
  •  Top 10 for Teaching Quality (The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).

Find out how our Student Success Team ensures you reach your goals while prioritising your wellbeing.

Work placements: build professional experience

You can complete a work placement to build your skills and industry contacts. Past students have worked as:

  • head of marketing
  • digital content manager
  • market researcher
  • media planner
  • fashion marketer
  • public relations manager.

About the Placement Year

A placement year enables you to undertake a year of experience in an organisation between your second and final year.

It will enable you to:

  • apply the knowledge and skills you gain from your course in a work setting
  • build your commercial awareness and insights into organisations and industries you might want to work in
  • develop your professional skills through company training, networking skills and confidence in the workplace
  • get some great experience for future job applications or even land a graduate job.

Support from St Mary’s every step of the way

Securing a placement can really help you develop your job search skills and the Employability Service placement and Careers Teams can support you to find and apply for available opportunities.

Please note: in the event that you cannot secure a placement you will be able to transfer onto the three year version of your degree programme.

Dr Jacob Johanssen

Associate Professor in Communications

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Course content

Modules

You will take a range of core and optional modules throughout the communication and marketing degree which allow you to customise it according to your specialism and choices.

Please note: it is possible that a module listed on the website will not be able to run due to reasons beyond our control. For more information please refer to our course information disclaimer.

Consumer Insight, Behaviour, and Engagement

Entry requirements

We will make you an offer if you are within the tariff band range of 96-112 UCAS points and you meet subject-specific requirements (where applicable).

We understand that sometimes barriers you can't control get in the way of academic achievement. You are more than just your grades. We'll consider your application as a whole, taking into account things like:

  • subjects studied at Level 3
  • your GCSEs (or equivalent) profile
  • non-academic achievements you mention in your personal statement
  • your references and motivation.

96 - 112

UCAS Personal statement support

Create your UCAS personal statement through our online builder and we'll email you a copy of your completed version at the end.

Further Information

For more information about entry requirements please email apply@stmarys.ac.uk.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees

Home

£9,250

International

£17,100

1200 during placement year)

*Please note: these fees are annual and may increase in line with inflation each year subject to the Government's review of Higher Education Funding.

Information about tuition fees, student loans, and funding your studies can be found within our fees and funding section.

Additional costs

Your tuition fees will cover the cost of all mandatory elements of your programme.

Additional costs could be incurred depending on optional modules chosen and other projects undertaken.

For further information about additional costs please see our additional costs webpage

Scholarships

Find out more about our range of scholarships and bursaries available to undergraduate students .

Living costs

A guide to your living costs has been created by our Student Funding Team.

Accommodation costs vary depending on whether you opt for an en suite room and on-site catering. Take a look at our accommodation options and the prices you can expect to pay.

How the degree is taught

Contact time - 61%

Independent study - 44%

*Contact time includes 38% of guided learning

Teaching methods

You'll be taught on our beautiful and historic campus located in Twickenham, London.

We apply a range of teaching methods across all our courses. Most frequently on this degree, a one-hour lecture will be followed up by smaller seminar discussion groups. These allow for further in-depth study and practical media production workshops that develop essential skills.

Other commonly used teaching methods include film screenings, student presentations and guest talks by industry experts. Field trips to external organisations are also offered when appropriate.

As well as regular one-to-one tutorials (particularly when planning essays, projects and dissertations), you will be assigned dedicated project supervisors who you can use as a reference and resource for your media production work.

Most classes range from around 15 to 40 students. Seminars will have a maximum of around 30  students, but will usually be 20 or fewer. For some modules there will be large lecture cohorts of up to 190 students, with smaller seminar groups.

Assessment methods

Assessment is a combination of one written assignment and one practical assignment for most modules. You will also design and produce media campaigns, as well as undertake your own research and deliver presentations.

For your final project can opt to complete a written dissertation or practical assignment (such as a film or marketing campaign). You are also encouraged to undertake work placement that will count towards your final grade.

Feedback

We adhere to the university’s policy of providing feedback on assessments within 15 working days.

Career opportunities

Our marketing degree will help you develop key transferable skills like critical thinking, adaptability and collaboration.

And if you ever need advice, support, or guidance, we offer lifetime careers support. Please contact our Career Services at careers@stmarys.ac.uk for more information.

Some examples of job roles and areas of work for graduates of undefined include:

journalismPRmarketingbrandingdesignweb editingmultimedia productioncontent creationcreative industriesNGOs and charities

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Open Days

Open Days are a fantastic opportunity for you to meet academic staff. You'll also be able to look around the campus, speak to current students and find out more about services such as Accommodation and Student Wellbeing.