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Marketing and Brand Management

MSc

Find out more about our courses by joining a live master’s webinar

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

Full time: 1 year or 2 years in sandwich mode which includes one year's full-time paid supervised work experience (a work placement).

Part time: MSc: 24 months for UK and International students (teaching normally structured to provide one whole day or two half days each week in the semester)

Location: Headington

Department(s): Oxford Brookes Business School

Overview
Course details
Careers
Entry requirements
How to apply
Tuition fees

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Overview

On this MSc Marketing and Brand Management course you will immerse yourself in the exciting and fast-paced world of brands and their strategic management across a broad range of industries.

You will develop a strong foundation in various areas of marketing theory and practice. With a particular perspective on brand management, you will learn how to ‘market’ products and services through the use of various marketing communication channels. This includes traditional as well as digital channels such as 

  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube 
  • or LinkedIn.

You will learn about digital marketing, advertising, public relations and influencer marketing by working with real-life client organisations.

The course prepares you to work for organisations such as branding and advertising agencies or marketing, brand management and communications departments within an organisation.

There is a work placement option for those who start the course in September or January. This consists of a year's paid supervised work experience in a marketing role. This will prepare you for your future career.
 

Attend an open day or webinar Ask a question Order a prospectus

Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Exciting projects with real brands
    On this programme, we work closely with industry organisations as ‘live clients’. In the past, we have worked with brands such as Rolls-Royce, L’Oréal and Red Bull.
     
  • Learning from leading advertising agencies
    On this programme, we work with top advertising agencies. Recently, we have collaborated with agencies such as McCann Erickson, VCCP and Anomaly.



     
  • Visiting lecturers from world-class marketing organisations
    On previous runs of this programme, we had guest lecturers from Facebook, Amazon, Lego and Harley-Davidson.

     
  • 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
    Our courses aim to create the responsible marketing leaders of the future.

     
  • Accreditation(s)

    Chartered Institute of Marketing, Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing

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

Course details

Course structure

You will study eight compulsory modules, including  a module which will help you develop your professional and academic skills. You then choose either a dissertation, client project or group consultancy project

If you start in September or January, you can choose the sandwich mode, which gives you the opportunity to apply for one year's paid supervised work experience in a marketing role. If you   choose the work placement option, the course lasts two years.

If you do not take the work placement the course lasts one year.
 

Lecturer presenting to class

Learning and teaching

Most of the teaching takes the form of interactive workshops. You will strengthen your practical analysis and decision-making skills with:

  • lectures
  • discussions
  • role-play exercises.

These are linked with selected case studies. Structured group assignments and an online group-based marketing simulation will develop your skills in working as part of a team.

On two of your modules, you will work with real-live clients from the industry. And put your knowledge of various marketing and brand management theories into practice.

You will benefit from the insight of the teaching staff at the Business School. They are engaged in academic research or come from an industry background with in-depth practical experience of business and management issues. 

You’ll take part in leading edge discussions and specialist events with input from visiting speakers from the world of business, consultancies and research bodies. 
 

Assessment

We use a range of assessment methods, including:

  • individual and group reports and presentations
  • portfolios
  • reflective statements
  • open briefs that encourage individual creativity. 

Throughout the course, we encourage you to work in teams. This facilitates and enhances your own and collective learning. However, group work is only assessed in the following module:

  • Global Marketing Strategy.

The Dissertation, Client Project, and Group Consultancy Project are self-managed activities and focus on a brand management or marketing communications management topic. You will be supported by a tutor in the role of Supervisor who will provide regular feedback on progress.
 

Field Trips

The International Business in Practice Study Trip module allows you to experience ideas and practices of global business. During the trip, you will have direct interaction with management executives and practices. You will: attend presentations from local management executives and experts and you’ll go on site visits to major corporations and agencies. This study trip is voluntary and you will need to fund all costs associated with the trip. It is not linked to university assessments in any way.

Start this course in January or September

You have the option to start this course in January. You will study a range of modules between January and May. During the summer months of June, July and August you will study further modules and begin work on your dissertation, client project or group consultancy project. Between September and December you will complete your final modules and focus on your dissertation, client project or group consultancy project.
Find out more about January entry

Study modules

Be industry ready when you graduate

By undertaking an optional work placement you can gain valuable and relevant industry experience and develop transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, networking and problem-solving. A work placement can help you decide on your long-term career objectives and may lead to a job offer after graduation (would require visa sponsorship for international students).

The WAVES (Work and Voluntary Experience Service) and Careers Office will provide you with support and advice to get ahead in your career and help you with your CV and applications. The team has access to a wide range of small, medium and large employers that offer postgraduate student work placements.

If you wish to pursue a placement at a particular company, our WAVES team can support you in making an approach to the company. Our Careers Office can also provide you with advice on how to use professional social media channels to pitch yourself to prospective employers.

Taught modules

Compulsory modules

  • Responsible Marketing in a Global World

    This module introduces the key principles of responsible marketing by studying the theories that underpin ‘Better Marketing for a Better World’ which works towards achieving the UN Sustainability Goals. You will explore the marketing environment including the changing needs of customers, and how brands make choices about the marketing mix to meet those needs in a long-term sustainable way. This includes the ways in which marketers plan, manage and implement marketing programmes in the context of the international interconnected global environment of the 21st century.

  • Sustainable Consumer Behaviour

    You will critically appraise the behaviours of customers and their interactions with marketing. Informed by behavioural science, you will analyse why customers behave as they do and how marketing activity influences their behaviours. This analysis informs your critical understanding and implementation of both strategic and responsible marketing practice. An innovative dimension of this course is the investigation of change agents that will significantly influence the behaviours of customers in the future, for example neuroscience, climate change and technology innovation. This is an analytical module that utilises research evidence to inform evaluation, behavioural and communications research.

  • Research Methods for Marketers

    This module delivers the skills that enable you to conduct marketing research independently. Students on the MSc programmes are expected to undertake effective research drawing upon a range of secondary and primary data sources in the preparation of coursework. It is important that you are exposed to a range of methodological issues, data collection techniques and study skills. In addition, this module is geared towards the preparation for, and successful completion of, high quality, rigorous and systematic research for business and management.

  • Professional and Academic Development

    This professional and academic skills development module helps you to become a lifelong learner and enhances your employability. Starting with a focus on how to achieve your best academically, you will then develop your skills for employment and career planning. You will work through a self-development plan, taking the lead in your own learning and development. You will be coached in identifying, engaging in and reflecting on how you can gain from developmental activities within the University and externally.

  • Strategic Brand Management

    You will examine how brands are created and successfully managed. You will explore the latest research and practice in strategic brand management and focus on innovative approaches to new product development. Key ethical, environmental and socio-cultural implications for contemporary brand management are analysed within regional, national and global contexts. The latest research and practice in strategic brand management and the use of social media and digital communications technology, is investigated. On completing this module, you will have gained an advanced knowledge of the latest tools, techniques and broader societal implications of contemporary strategic brand management.

  • Brand and Marketing Communications

    You will explore the role and usage of contemporary brand and marketing communications and the fundamental insight that an organisation's brand strategy needs to be at the heart of all its marketing communications activities. A professional and ethically responsible focus will help you to consider multiple stakeholders' needs – eg consumers, businesses, the media, pressure groups – in a global context. A broad range of marketing communications channels and tools will be critically assessed. This includes advertising, public relations, sponsorship and digital marketing communications. Creative and strategic insights from current practice will help your understanding and application of marketing communications skills.

  • Sustainable Global Marketing Strategy

    You will build on the Responsible Marketing in a Global World module, and explore the global marketing environment. There is a particular emphasis on internationalisation and the creation and development of global markets. You will understand the principles, influences, and institutions affecting the development of international trade and global marketing strategies. You will analyse opportunities and constraints in the context of global marketing strategy, and the associated organisational and control issues associated with the development of global markets. This includes an appreciation of the importance of ethical and social issues.

Final project - choose one of:

Compulsory modules

  • Marketing Research Project

    This is your opportunity to undertake a substantial independent marketing research project by applying and extending your study, knowledge and practical skills that you've gained in other modules. You will be able to demonstrate a wide range of skills such as research, critical thinking, project planning, problem-solving and writing/presentation skills. You will choose from four different research project options, so you have the opportunity to explore in detail a particular area that interests you. Your options are;
    • Dissertation
    • Client Project
    • Group Consultancy (places limited)
    • and Synoptic Enquiry.

Optional Work Placement year

Optional modules

Marketing Work Placement

This module is a great opportunity to gain one year’s supervised full time paid work experience in the UK or internationally in a marketing role. You will investigate a marketing challenge in a commercial or non-profit organisation. Throughout this placement, you apply the practical concepts you are learning on the course. When you are working for the organisation, you will be responsible for managing a large proportion of your own learning, including tracking and recording your progress. 

We provide lots of support to help you find a paid work experience and gain connections with various organisations. Our placements team (WAVES) has a database which records work placement opportunities and they run numerous placements fairs where you could meet potential employers. Securing a work experience placement is your responsibility and does take a lot of effort, but this gives you valuable experience. You would need to cover your own living and travel costs throughout this duration.

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.

Research

Studying for your MSc in Marketing and Brand Management at Oxford Brookes Business School offers you a first-class experience to engage with our excellent researchers. They investigate core challenges facing contemporary societies, ranging from sustainable marketing  and AI to the latest developments in fashion marketing . We also have great expertise in Coaching and Mentoring (leadership development) and Diversity (gender, ethnicity, class) and are keen to include students in our projects where possible. Please visit our research pages to learn about our three research centres: The Centre for Business, Society and Global Challenges; The Centre for Diversity Policy Research and Practice and the International Centre for Coaching and Mentoring Studies (Research in the Oxford Brookes Business School). Being a master's student offers great opportunities to be part of our research culture and to discuss your own research ideas with us.

Researcher using a laptop in a quiet space

Careers

This course will prepare you to work for a branding or marketing agency or for a marketing, branding or communications department within an organisation. Graduates of this course will be well prepared for future roles as:

  • brand managers
  • brand strategists
  • marketing executives
  • account planners
  • brand coordinators
  • advertising account executives
  • corporate communications executives
  • marketing communications managers

In addition, graduates from our portfolio of courses are employed in marketing roles throughout the world; these include jobs in media, digital, brand and communications agencies, as well as in-house marketing management positions in areas as diverse as fast-moving consumer goods, retail, luxury, hospitality, travel, publishing and manufacturing.

Employers include:

  • Amazon 
  • Burberry 
  • Hilton Hotels
  • Lacoste 
  • Mercedes-Benz 
  • Microsoft
  • Nestle
  • Unilever
  • Visa 
  • Vodafone
  • Walt Disney.

As well as top advertising and media planning agencies such as

  • McCann Erickson 
  • Ogilvy & Mather
  • Saatchi & Saatchi
  • Havas Media
  • Mindshare
  • Wavemaker

In addition, some of our students go on to start their own companies.

We have strong relationships with companies in a range of industries that inform the programme design and delivery, and provide opportunities for placements and employment. Our Careers Service helps students gain the ‘competitive edge’ when applying for jobs by offering help with CVs, mock assessment centres and interviews.

Student profiles

Christina Nguyen

"I really appreciated the support the tutors provided. They dedicated a lot of time to have meaningful discussions about our assignments as well as our career development."

Read more about Christina
Left
Right

Our Staff

Dr Bjoern Asmussen

Bjoern has developed and teaches several modules on brand management and marketing communications which involve collaborations with Rolls-Royce, Lego, Amazon, Facebook and more.

Read more about Bjoern

Christina Nguyen

I really appreciated the support the tutors provided. They dedicated a lot of time to have meaningful discussions about our assignments as well as our career development.

Read more about Christina
Left
Right

Dr Bjoern Asmussen

Bjoern has developed and teaches several modules on brand management and marketing communications which involve collaborations with Rolls-Royce, Lego, Amazon, Facebook and more.

Read more about Bjoern

Related courses

Related course
Global Marketing
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Right

Entry requirements

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process


Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
Home (UK) full time
£11,350
Home (UK) part time
£5,675
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,100
International full time
£17,650
International sandwich (placement)
£2,100
Home (UK) full time
£11,950
Home (UK) part time
£5,975
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,200
International full time
£18,950
International sandwich (placement)
£2,200

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2024 / 25
Home (UK) full time
£11,350
Home (UK) part time
£5,675
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,100
International full time
£17,650
International sandwich (placement)
£2,100
2025 / 26
Home (UK) full time
£11,950
Home (UK) part time
£5,975
Home (UK) sandwich (placement)
£2,200
International full time
£18,950
International sandwich (placement)
£2,200

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

The full-time fees quoted are for the taught Year 1. Fees will be charged for the placement year in Year 2 and are available on request from finance-fees@brookes.ac.uk. For approximate fee levels of the placement year see the placement fee above.

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.

Postgraduate Master's Loan - England International Student Scholarship - CAS ready

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

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.