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Business and Marketing Management

BA (Hons)

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UCAS code: NN15

Start dates: January 2025 / September 2025 / January 2026 / September 2026

Full time: 3 years, or 4 with work placement

Part time: up to 8 years

Location: Headington

Department(s): Oxford Brookes Business School

Overview
Course details
Careers
Entry requirements
How to apply
Tuition fees

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Overview

Considering a marketing career? Think you’ve got what it takes to be a business leader? Join us to develop expertise in both areas while discovering what it means to think as an entrepreneur and act like a marketing leader.

From consumer behaviour to consultancy, our core modules are designed to cover all the key areas of marketing management and business. Thanks to our diverse expertise, we offer a range of optional modules allowing you to specialise in 1 of the 2 areas. For example, you might focus on leadership or look into omnichannel marketing.

When you’re not learning from our experts in the lecture theatre, you’ll likely be in our Marketing and Social Media Lab. Here you’ll find everything from the latest industry-standard tools like Brandwatch to essential software like Adobe Creative Cloud.

To give you the best chance of success, we talked to a range of employers about what skills they look for when recruiting graduates. We also work with our partners, including JVCKENWOOD UK, to set live briefs so you know what to expect in your first role and put theory into practice.

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Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Professionally accredited

    We have accreditation from The Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing, as well as the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

  • Marketing and Social Media Lab

    Work on real-world marketing projects. Develop the skills that employers are looking for and become confident using industry software such as Brandwatch, Sprout Social and Adobe Creative Cloud.

  • Sustainable mindset

    We aim to create the responsible marketing leaders of the future with our courses.

  • Study abroad opportunities

    Do a semester overseas in your second year. Many of our students head to Australia. Where will you go?

  • Practical placements

    Take the opportunity to work in local industries. You’ll gain invaluable experience, apply theoretical knowledge and gain industry contacts.

  • Study abroad

    You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Brookes. Most exchanges take place in the second year. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.

  • Accreditation(s)

    Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing

    • Chartered Institute of Marketing
    • Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing

Course details

Course structure

The impact of digitisation. Different styles of leadership. Attitudes towards sustainability. These are just some examples of the topics you’ll cover in your Year 1. You’ll get started by exploring the principles of marketing and professional practice. Understanding consumer behaviour will be key too.

To build on your business knowledge and entrepreneurial skills, you’ll look at people management – how managers recruit, motivate and reward their staff. We’ll also talk about what businesses face around issues such as ethics, privacy and security.

Mastering how to manage a brand is key to being successful in marketing. We’ll talk about how this varies between different organisations, whether they’re selling to other businesses or directly to consumers.

You’ll pick from a range of optional modules that will encourage you to specialise in marketing management or business. You’ll explore areas like entrepreneurship and big data.

In your final year, you’ll complete a project and write a dissertation. Or develop a practical solution to a real-life scenario around enterprise or sustainability.

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Learning and teaching

Your learning experience will be exciting and challenging. You will develop the necessary skills to take on the demands of graduate jobs in leading international businesses. 

Teaching methods and activities include:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • Workshops
  • Simulations
  • group projects
  • presentations
  • role plays
  • analysis of numerical data
  • discussions of topical material
  • computer-based simulations.

You will be immersed in an employer focused course, working on real-world marketing projects in our new Marketing and Social Media Lab that is equipped with the latest industry-standard tools and software, such as google analytics and Adobe Creative Cloud.

Our teaching staff are leading academics who are renowned experts, researchers and consultants in the field of business and marketing management. You will have close contact with your academic adviser throughout the course.

Assessment

Assessment methods include:

  • written exams
  • practical exams
  • coursework.

The majority of teaching and assessment activities take place between Mondays and Fridays, 9am to 7pm. There may be occasions when such activities may fall outside of these hours. 

Start this course in January or September

You can start this course in January if a September start doesn't suit you or is not currently offered for this course.

If you opt to start in January, in each of your 3 years, you will study your first semester between January and May and your second semester between September and December. There will be no teaching during June, July and August. 

Find out more about January entry

Study modules

In your second year please choose two optional modules.

In your final year please choose four optional modules.

Teaching for this course takes place Face to Face and you can expect around eight hours of contact time per week. In addition to this, you should also anticipate a workload of 1,200 hours per year. Teaching usually takes place Monday to Friday, between 9.00am and 6.00pm.

Contact hours involve activities such as lectures, seminars, practicals, assessments, and academic advising sessions. These hours differ by year of study and typically increase significantly during placements or other types of work-based learning.

Year 1

Compulsory modules

  • Marketing in a Digital World

    This is your introduction to the general principles of marketing. Through practical activities supported by lectures, you will learn to apply the tools and techniques used by professional marketers. You’ll gain understanding and appreciate the inter-relationships between different marketing and business concepts and be able to build upon the knowledge you develop in your subsequent second year modules.

  • Essential Management and Leadership Skills for Marketing

    Gain the key management and leadership skills you’ll need in a marketing environment. You will actively engage with the study of key management and leadership approaches by being exposed to the essential characteristics of organisations operating in a global context and the role of management within this. 

    Also you will explore the functions of business, their interrelatedness and the impact of management and leadership styles on their operations. By examining how theoretical concepts and frameworks are applied in practice you will be exposed to a number of different scenarios so you build your awareness of how management decision making impacts business performance and also look at and learn the skills successful managers and leaders use to meet the challenges of a dynamic marketing environment.
     

  • Academic and Professional Practices for Marketing

    This module supports your transition from your school/college to now studying an honours level undergraduate course. Through the lens of real business problems, you will acquire the necessary research, critical analysis, team working and communication skills that will be the foundation of your academic and future professional success. You’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills in specific areas, based on tutor feedback. This module will prepare you for your other first year modules, helping you to flourish in an academic environment.

  • Customer and Marketing Insights

    To understand customer needs and market trends is intrinsic to the success of any business. On this module, you will look at the concepts and tools required by professional marketers to understand customer and market needs including a brief overview of consumer behaviour. Through traditional and contemporary techniques you’ll explore the process of marketing research and its role in gaining understanding of consumers and markets to meet organisational objectives.

    You’ll learn the academic concepts underlying marketing research and develop practical research and analytical skills. You will gain sufficient grounding in marketing research techniques and data analysis and its interpretation to enable you to carry out projects involving marketing research and data analysis.
     

  • Finance for Marketing

    You’ll look at finance for marketing and focus on its importance in a variety of business contexts. You will learn how to interpret and analyse simple financial statements in order to assess an organisation's performance and its financial strength. You’ll understand the basics of planning and budgeting and short-term decision making. Also you’ll develop your confidence in your ability to deal with the internal and external financial information important to marketing.

  • Sustainable and Ethical Marketing

    You are the marketers of tomorrow, so it is key you understand and are able to respond to the ethical and environmental sustainability challenges that will be faced. As such, your learning is tied to the Business School’s commitment to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Management. 

    You will discuss the meaning of ethical marketing and key environmental issues such as:

    • global warming
    • pollution
    • biodiversity loss 
    • freshwater depletion.

    Including the role of marketing in causing as well as responding to such issues. You’ll look at a variety of stakeholder perspectives and frameworks to aid the analysis of marketing responses.
     

Year 2

Compulsory modules

  • Contemporary Marketing Communications

    The communications environment is rapidly changing and you’ll look at contemporary approaches to integrated marketing communications in a wide range of contexts. You’ll also be introduced to Digital asset management as a concept for curation of digital artefacts and assets in the context of marketing communications, building your understanding of marketing communicative methods.

  • Consumer Behaviour

    On this module, you will be able to identify and evaluate the latest developments in consumer behaviour. Which will include emerging consumer behaviour trends across different consumption contexts through the application and development of appropriate research methods and tools. You will also build a deeper understanding of

    • diversity
    • inclusivity
    • ethics
    • sustainability 

    and skills in responsible marketing within different consumption contexts.  
     

  • Introduction to People Management

    This module is designed to introduce you to the operational role and functions of people management and how it supports organisations to manage their diverse workforce in an international context. People management is an essential tool for all line managers as it provides them with the skills, knowledge and competencies that equip you to be effective in how you recruit, motivate and reward your staff. This module offers you an operational ‘toolbox’ that covers all the core, fundamental features of people management.

    On successful completion of this module, you will be able to identify the essential components of viable people management policies whilst also illustrating their effectiveness and engage in appropriate and accurate communications amongst different business contexts
     

  • Applied Marketing Consultancy

    This is your introduction to marketing consultancy through action (or experiential) based learning methods. In action learning, you’ll be part of a team to solve a real and relevant problem for a client. Through this approach to learning you’ll experience and analyse marketing as it happens in a work based context.

    In the lectures, you’ll develop marketing theory, skills and knowledge to support you in the second part of the module (i.e. workshops, lab work and field work) to work on behalf of a client organisation.
     

  • Customer Experience and Relationship Management

    This module introduces the interlinked concepts of Customer Experience (CX)/Customer Relationship Management (CRM) as they are practised now. You will explore the strategic importance of these concepts to the modern marketer and their contribution to customer engagement and loyalty. As well as adding value to the product/service offering in order to create a competitive advantage. You’ll focus on the customer journey and how marketers can control/influence it to improve the customer’s overall experience.

Optional modules

Enterprise and Entrepreneurship

The module has been designed to help develop the knowledge and understanding as well as the related skills and capabilities associated with enterprise in its broadest sense. This module addresses the subject of entrepreneurship in a holistic manner, one in which the range of contexts; from entrepreneurship to intrapreneurship, and from high tech spin out to social and public enterprise is considered. The module focuses on both macro and micro dimensions, to help you understand both the dynamic nature of the entrepreneurial economy and their own employment opportunities within it.

On successful completion of this module, you will understand the theoretical underpinnings of enterprise and entrepreneurship, be able to identify the perspectives required for entrepreneurial success and be able to evaluate the contribution of government policies designed to develop an enterprise culture.
 

Digital Advertising and Creative Content

This is your introduction to the world of digital marketing in a global context. It builds on your earlier module Contemporary Marketing Communications and will help give you insights into a range of contexts including mobile advertising, in-game advertising and user generated advertising.  

This will help to prepare you for your final year modules and also enhances your employability skills with the opportunity to engage you with practical and written assessments linked to creative industry scenarios.
 

Contemporary Omnichannel Retail and Marketing

This is your introduction to the nature, scope and characteristics of the various marketing and sales strategies used in the retail industry and how they are evolving, in line with changing customer buying habits and expectations. 

You will look at the drivers impacting on the sector and the interaction between digital platforms and physical outlets, combined with new technologies, to enhance the customer experience and bring new efficiencies to retail sales and marketing. You’ll build your knowledge of how these various factors can combine to create the ideal Omnichannel retail experience for the customer.
 

Purchasing and Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is concerned with managing and controlling the activities along a chain of supply. From procuring materials to delivering finished goods that satisfy customer orders. 

This module will help you study, in a global context, the processes necessary to strategically manage the flow of materials and products in order to achieve a competitive advantage. You’ll examine how effective logistics and purchasing systems can become key business enablers. Also you’ll look at how the management of international supply chains must form a significant element of the strategy of any organisation operating on a global basis. By the end of the module you’ll gain a deep understanding of the various threads in a supply chain and that an improved supply chain can be of a significant benefit for a whole business.
 

Year 3 (optional placement year)

Optional modules

CHOOSE ONE MODULE FROM:

Placement

On this placement you will be able to access a 40-52 week work-based learning / placement opportunity to help develop your employability and enterprise skills. You will gain first-hand knowledge and experience of making applications to and working in a placement role. You will set your own work-based targets and reflect upon your progress in the role you have on your placement. Halfway through your placement you will make a presentation to your line manager and placement tutor which summarises your gained knowledge on your placement and the tasks you have/ will complete in your placement role.

Full Year International Study Abroad

This is your opportunity to study Business topics abroad in order to experience a different national, educational and business culture and to build on your knowledge, understanding, skills and competencies you’ve gained so far. You will undertake an international study exchange at a university outside the UK, arranged with the University’s exchanges office. This international study exchange lasts for one academic year and is taken after your second year of studies (Level 5).

OR CHOOSE THESE TWO OPTIONS:

Short Placement

This 24-week placement is your opportunity to develop your employability and enterprise skills. In the UK or Europe you will gain first-hand knowledge and experience of making applications to and working in a placement role. You will set your work based targets and reflect upon your success in your placement role. At the end of the placement, you will make a presentation to your line manager and placement tutor which summarises the knowledge and skills you have developed on your placement.

Work-based Learning

This module is also a 24-week work-based learning opportunity for you to develop your employability and enterprise skills. As on the other modules you will have the opportunity to obtain first-hand knowledge and experience of making applications to and working in a placement role. This could include employment, volunteer work experience or undertaking a consultancy type project. 

You will agree a brief before your work-based role begins,set work based targets and reflect upon your success in your placement role. At the end of the placement, you will make a presentation to your line manager and placement tutor which summarises the knowledge and skills you have developed on your placement.

Year 4 (or year 3 if no placement)

Compulsory modules

  • Personal Branding

    Harness your knowledge of brands, communication strategies and business types gained through your degree. This module will help you to understand your potential future career paths, based on your strengths, skills and interests. You’ll get the support to be focused, differentiated and successful in planning your future careers through developing your 

    • personal brand purpose
    • brand story
    • brand communication plan 

    in a way that is consistent and authentic. You’ll look at theoretical and professional perspectives relating to management, professional ethics and other areas relevant to careers in business, marketing, events and related areas.
     

  • Marketing and Business Dilemmas

    Focus on the critical understanding of issues and dilemmas related to organisational business and marketing strategies. You will explore the ever-evolving dilemmas faced by marketing practitioners. These issues include but are not limited to 

    • ethics
    • sustainability
    • equality
    • privacy
    • and security. 

    To address these issues, you will engage with various case studies that highlight the dilemmas organisations have to face regarding collecting personal data for profits, maintaining the impact of businesses on the environment, etc. Helping you to look at business and marketing practices with different perspectives.
     

  • Marketing Strategy and Innovation

    On this module, you’ll have the opportunity to develop, evaluate and implement both traditional and contemporary marketing strategy theories in as realistic a situation as possible. In parallel with lectures, you will be involved in workshop format sessions that will further consolidate and deepen your understanding of strategic marketing theory and concepts. In your workshops, a marketing strategy simulation game will run throughout the semester. Within the simulation, you will work in teams running brands that are competing with each other. This will help you to shape and implement strategic marketing plans with an innovative solution-oriented mindset within the context of a competitive environment.

  • Experiential Marketing

    This is your introduction to Experiential Marketing and how it combines digital platforms, new technologies and Artificial Intelligence to engage with its customers in unique, emotional, and immersive ways across both physical and digital (hybrid) settings. 

    You’ll explore how Experiential Marketing has evolved from the product and service focus of the traditional marketing mix to the point where customers and businesses are co-creating new products and immersive experiences. You will examine the effectiveness of Experiential Marketing in real businesses and in doing so, apply theory to practice.
     

Optional modules

Project (academic or sustainability and enterprise)

You’ll receive appropriate supervision and guidance, on a topic you select to study in depth from your course. You will engage in research and employ methodologies which will progress your understanding of the process of research, and you’ll also use material that is at the forefront of the topic you’ve selected.

Campaign Planning and Management

You will practise marketing problem-solving using marketing communications throughout this module. Also from taught input and practical exercises you’ll develop a holistic view of marketing communications campaigns, their role and how they are developed, managed and evaluated in a variety of sectors and situations. You will progress your knowledge of marketing communications tools, and your ability to conduct independent research into a variety of markets and sectors. You’ll further develop, sharpen and utilise your skills that can be used and applied to a marketing communications-focused area.

Entrepreneurial Business Management

This module provides you with an in-depth focus on the skills involved in evaluating business ideas, the practical steps involved in launching a business and the necessary processes of winning the finance. The module also addresses those issues that ventures must consider when planning an exit strategy and so focuses attention on the purpose of business enterprise. In Semester 1 this module explores contemporary theories of entrepreneurship and applies them to real life case studies. In Semester 2 the module focuses upon the preparation of a complete plan for a new business, capable of attracting funding.

On successful completion of this module, you will be able to apply appropriate analytical concepts to provide support for untried venture proposals, understand the range of technical issues faced by those in start-up ventures and reflect on application of entrepreneurship theory, based on experience in a practical setting.
 

Business to Business Marketing

Business to Business (B2B) marketing is increasingly operating on digital platforms and it is predicted to further grow but also to rapidly and continuously evolve. You may go into employment in a B2B context, for example an Advertising agency is in the B2B business and therefore it is very important for you to understand and evaluate how the Marketing concepts, that normally we refer to the consumers, are applied to the Business-to-Business environment. On this module, you’ll gain analytical skills and develop a data analysis mindset to evaluate the various stages of an effective marketing process and mediate between theory and reflections on significant case studies in B2B marketing.

PR and Crisis Management

You will explore the main concepts and theoretical models that underpin Public Relations (PR) and crisis management. Also you’ll look at the role of PR campaigns to influence and change consumer’s behaviour and consider what goes into creating a successful PR plan. Examining how organisations manage and respond to crises. You will learn how to conduct a crisis audit, and plan a response strategy across different communication channels.

Social and Non-profit Marketing

An effective society is arguably one where people are civically engaged. It is one where they not only know about and are conscious of social and environmental issues and imbalances, but are also motivated to step forward: whether through managing nonprofit organisations, leading social campaigns or through consumer behaviour such as donating, volunteering or boycotting. 

On this module, you will deepen your knowledge of the role of marketing in strengthening engagement with the nonprofit sector, and how behaviour change is achieved through social marketing campaigns. 
 

Leading and Managing Change

After completing this module, you will have an understanding of the nature of change and key theories, frameworks, principles and practices relevant for the management and leadership of change. You'll be able to evaluate critically the actions taken by those leading change. You will be better prepared to lead and manage change in your own managerial careers and have an increased awareness of your own potential for ongoing personal development in leading and managing change.

Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.

Careers

By the time you finish this course, you’ll have a brilliant combination of academic, technical, and soft skills. We’ll make sure you know how to present yourself and have started building your own brand, something that is so important in the competitive job market.

Some roles you might apply for include:

  • brand management
  • product management
  • market research
  • digital marketing 
  • agency-based account management
  • direct marketing 
  • customer relationship management.

Student profiles

Alini Shires

"The teachers: they have many years' experience working with business, in marketing and management, so they don't just teach us the theory from the books; they teach us the experience that they have from their working life."

Read more about Alini

Peder Joraandstad

"You’re getting so much knowledge; I’m learning stuff every day. It’s just exactly what I need for my degree"

Read more about Peder

William Cressford

"The international foundation is a really good course because of the mix of a lot of nationalities, making it easier to make friends and get settled in."

Read more about William
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Related courses

Related course
Marketing Management
Related course
Foundation in Business
Related course
Digital Marketing
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Entry requirements

Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.

Standard offer

UCAS Tariff Points: 120

A Level: BBB

IB Points: 31

BTEC: DDM

Contextual offer

What is a contextual offer?

UCAS Tariff Points: 96

A Level: CCC

IB Points: 28

BTEC: MMM

Further offer details

Applications are also welcomed for consideration from applicants with European qualifications, international qualifications or recognised foundation courses. For advice on eligibility please contact Admissions: admissions@brookes.ac.uk

If you don’t achieve the required tariff points you can apply to join a foundation course, like Foundation in Business or an international foundation course to help to reach the required level for entry onto this degree.

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process


Full time Home (UK) applicants
Apply through UCAS


Part time Home (UK) applicants
Apply direct to the University


International applicants
Apply direct to the University

Full time international applicants can also apply through UCAS

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,600
International full time
£16,300
International sandwich (placement)
£1,600
Home (UK) full time
£9,535
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,700
International full time
£17,100
International sandwich (placement)
£1,700

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£9,250
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,600
International full time
£16,300
International sandwich (placement)
£1,600
2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
£9,535
Home (UK) part time
£1,155 per single module
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£1,700
International full time
£17,100
International sandwich (placement)
£1,700

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.

Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students. 

The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. 

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

  • For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
  • For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page

Additional costs

Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

International Student Scholarship - CAS ready Oxford Brookes Bursary for home students Undergraduate maintenance loans for part-time UK students Undergraduate maintenance loans for full-time UK students Undergraduate tuition fee loans for UK students Oxford Brookes Bursary Scheme

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

Information from Discover Uni

Full-time study

Part-time study

Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been published on the website. For more information, please visit our changes to programmes page.