Advertising and Marketing Communications

UCAS code: N561

Here's what De Montfort University says about its Advertising and Marketing Communications course.

This course is aimed at preparing you for a career in a wide range of marketing communication disciplines. Our accredited course combines the strategic side of marketing with the application of cutting-edge theory and techniques in creative areas such as social media, influencer marketing and campaign planning.

Providing a solid theoretical underpinning of marketing as a discipline and how organisations use it, this programme will build upon contemporary techniques to provide knowledge and skills that are directly relevant and applicable to employers and industry best practice.

Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the Institute of Data & Marketing (IDM) and the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), this programme provides live industry campaigns on which you can apply your learnings and demonstrate your creativity, from top companies and brands such as Pall-Ex, Aston Martin, Samsung and Next. With opportunities to participate in creative pitch competitions such as X-Culture and the CIM The Pitch, students from this course have reached the finals of these cross-university competitions every year for the last two years.

Taught by industry practitioners with real world experience, our lecturers have worked both agency and client-side at big-name companies across business and consumer brands. You will also have the opportunity to take a placement year in industry, with previous students having secured placements at companies such as Bosch and Samsung.

You’ll have opportunities to put your consultancy skills into practice – taking part in live projects where you can help companies tackle their real-world business challenges.

Key features

• DMU is a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Accredited Study Centre and an Institute of Data & Marketing (IDM) Key Educational Partner, meaning you can earn exemptions from CIM and IDM professional qualifications in addition to your degree.

• This degree is recognised by the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) allowing students the opportunity to become a member for only £36 a year, granting access to CPD materials, networking opportunities and activities to students interested in a career in communications.

• Working in partnership with key industry partners like the Taylor Bennett Foundation and a raft of regional and national agencies, this degree provides students with an accurate picture of working in contemporary agencies.

• Our Careers Team offers support to help you gain the skills and qualities that today’s employers are looking for through placement opportunities with local, national and global companies. Past students have worked at Next, DHL, Pfizer, FedEx, Rolls-Royce and Walgreens Boots Alliance.

• Our graduates have gone on to have careers in globally renowned organisations with the support of our Careers Team. Recent successes include TJX Europe, Marks and Spencer, Ocado and Vodafone, with graduates landing roles such as social media executive, junior creative executive, public relations account executive and marketing executive.

• This course covers a wide variety of modular content, such as Principles of Marketing, Digital Marketing, Public Relations, Campaign Planning, Social Media and Influencer Marketing, with students often working on live campaign briefs provided by real companies.

• Enjoy an international experience linked to your studies with our DMU Global. Previous trips have also included New York, Dubai, Copenhagen, Paris, Athens, India, Berlin and San Francisco.

The Faculty of Business and Law is a signatory of the United Nations’ Principles for Responsible Management Education for integrating sustainability in the curriculum.

We work with our advisory board, which is made up of industry professionals, to make sure we are designing our courses with the latest skills and knowledge valued by employers.

Year 1 Block 1: Marketing Essentials Block 2: Fundamentals of Advertising and Marketing Communications Block 3: Marketing in a Digital World Block 4: Regulatory, Ethical and Sustainable Communications Year 2 Block 1: Consumer behaviour and insight Block 2: Brand Strategy and Management Block 3: Digital Marketing and Media Block 4: Public Relations Year 3 Block 1: Market Analysis and Strategy Block 2: Contemporary Issues in Advertising and Public Relations Block 3: Advertising and Campaign Planning or Social Media and Influencer Marketing Block 4: Marketing Dissertation or Brand Portfolio

Teaching and assessment You will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, group work and self-directed study. Assessment is through 100% coursework (presentations, essays and reports) on this programme often in the form of real live briefs from companies.

Teaching contact hours This is a full-time course. Each module is worth 30 credits. It is expected that student will spend a total of 300 hours of study for each module. You should be prepared to devote approximately 10 contact hours a week to your studies and additional independent hours of study in order to succeed. Teaching is through a mix of lectures, tutorials, seminars and lab sessions and the breakdown of these activity types is shown in each module description.

In addition, each module provides a two-hour surgery each week for individual consultation with the lecturer. You will also have timetabled meetings with your personal tutor and careers and/or subject meetings scheduled throughout the year.

Self-directed study In order to prepare for, and assimilate, the work in lectures and seminars you will be expected to use our on-line resources, participate in flipped or virtual classroom discussions on our virtual learning environment (VLE) and engage in personal study and revision for approximately 25 hours per week.

Block teaching You deserve a positive teaching and learning experience, where you feel part of a supportive and nurturing community. That’s why most students will enjoy an innovative approach to learning using block teaching, where you will study one module at a time. You’ll benefit from regular assessments - rather than lots of exams at the end of the year - and a simple timetable that allows you to engage with your subject and enjoy other aspects of university life such as sports, societies, meeting friends and discovering your new city. By studying with the same peers and tutor for each block, you’ll build friendships and a sense of belonging.