of graduate employers say relevant experience is essential to getting a job with them
Why should I choose this course?
- WORK PLACEMENT – Gain invaluable real-world experience before you graduate by taking on an optional 48-week paid work placement
- PRACTICAL APPLICATION – Apply your learning on consultancy projects, as well as having the chance to research and develop a new digital concept and work in our Digital Creative Studio
- INDUSTRY VISITS - Visit firms within the marketing industry in order to explore how the sector operates
- ENRICHMENT – Network with digital marketing agencies and professionals and hear from a variety of expert guest lecturers
Our facilities
Students on our marketing courses have access to our Digital Creative Studio, a brand new facility where you can get hands-on experience creating podcasts, promotional videos and livestream content for social media. We also provide a range of support services for student entrepreneurs through our Enterprise Hive.
Course breakdown
Students on the FdA have the option of progressing onto the final year upon completion of the foundation degree.
- Year 1
- Year 2
- Year 3
Core Modules
Digital Toolkit
This module involves the practical application of digital marketing tools and platforms. In order to enhance your understanding of key digital channels and their marketing functions, you will be taught design elements of website and content marketing as well as social media applications.
Essentials of Digital Marketing Communications
Appreciating the nature of the digital landscape will help you develop skills and select tools to improve the effectiveness of your digital marketing communications as well as pinpointing challenges and opportunities. You will be introduced to a range of digital marketing and communication platforms and examine the growing impact of online communities.
Marketing Dynamics
You will be exposed to the principles and concepts of marketing. Assuming the role of a Marketing Manager, you will learn how to make and justify a range of marketing decisions as well as learn about market segmentation and marketing tactics within differing types of organisations. You will be able to appreciate the importance of customer orientation and of satisfying customer needs successfully in an increasingly competitive environment.
People and Organisations
To help you with the fundamentals of understanding the management of people, you will be looking at the internal structure of large and small organisations. This module also examines current business theory, with a focus on the practice of managing people within a variety of organisations.
Planning for Professional Development
Do you know what your future career will be, or what you would like it to be? In this module, you will be encouraged to consider the range of career paths available to you within the business and marketing sectors. You will undertake an audit of your current skills and attributes and then map them to those that are required within your possible career paths.
Principles of Finance
You will develop an understanding and awareness of the fundamental principles of finance including cash budgets, profit and loss accounts, balance sheets and break-even analysis. You will learn how managers can use financial information to greatly enhance the decision making process.
The External Business Environment
This module is designed to provide learners with a foundation to analyse the dynamic external business environment and the challenges this presents to businesses operating in international markets. Learners will be able to gain an understanding of the diverse range of external influences (political, economic, socio-cultural, technological) and identify the opportunities and challenges these present for international businesses. Learners will also gain an understanding of the key drivers of globalisation, market entry decisions and the global monetary environment.
Core Modules
Advanced Digital Toolkit
This module will allow you to build on the knowledge and practical applications of web production tools and platforms established in your first-year introductory modules. You will be able to further enhance your understanding of user experience and interface design, including the importance of design limitations and accessibility standards. In this practically-focused module you will learn the value of empathising with potential users and adopting human-centred design solutions, across a range of digital processes and products.
Consumer Insights
Why do consumers behave in the way they do? As a marketer, you need to understand the underlying factors influencing consumer decisions. You will understand and appreciate consumer behaviour and its impact on the marketing decisions undertaken by organisations. This module includes a residential trip, enabling you to apply theory to a 'live' setting.
Digital Marketing Planning
Digital marketing today is essential for any business to remain competitive and successful, so in this module you will discover the knowledge and tools necessary to develop and write an effective marketing plan. From the perspective of a Digital Marketing Manager, you will discover a wide range of digital marketing tactics available and learn how to co-ordinate and manage these in order to obtain a successful RO1 (return on investment).
Employability in Practice
You will be encouraged to identify and apply for opportunities and careers that are available to you. You will identify opportunities for development through training needs analysis which can extend to include recognising the potential to develop your skills through work experience, placement and overseas study.
Marketing Intelligence
The importance of marketing research is growing in the increasingly-global competitive marketing environment. You will explore the nature and scope of marketing research, including where and how marketing research fits in with other aspects of marketing management, the characteristics of the research industry and marketing intelligence suppliers.
Choose 1 optional module
Business Innovation and the Environment
All organisations need creative thinkers to question current business practices and develop dynamic solutions to 21 st century environmental challenges. You will be examining key global environmental issues affecting new enterprises and the importance of innovative thinking. As a result, you will be developing your own creative designs and solutions in response to the needs of contemporary enterprises.
Creative Communications
The skills of effective communication are vital to successful management. This stimulating module is invaluable to a range of business aspects such as product launches, brand promotions, travel and food journalism and exhibition guidance. You will be encouraged to discuss the effectiveness of words and images when communicating intended messages and will enable you to critically appreciate the complexities of the communication process.
Digital Content and Copy
This practical module highlights how to create powerful digital content and copy for a variety of online digital platforms. You will learn how to grab attention, drive traffic, stimulate loyalty and enhance brand reputation by using the right words in the right places. You will also gain an understanding of how to creatively integrate digital media (including video, audio and graphic media) within a wider content strategy.
Enterprise Start-up Studies
This module provides an insight into the key issues a new business needs to consider before starting up the enterprise. Emphasis is placed on students undertaking research into such areas as market trends, target audience, location analysis and resource requirements, in order to justify the customer demand and feasibility of their product/service. This module also provides an insight into the marketing communiction tools a new business employs in order to showcase their product/service to their target audience/s.
Operational Sales Management
You will learn the concepts involved in managing sales and salespeople, getting a clear understanding of selling within a marketing organisation, the different types of buyers and how to sell to them. In light of the ever-increasing 'internationalisation' of business, you will also be looking at sales on an international scope.
Voluntary Initiative
The voluntary sector is one of the most dynamic sectors worldwide. You will have the opportunity to work on a volunteer project within a private, public or community organisation and see how they market themselves and compete for resources with other voluntary projects. You will be able to reflect on your experiences as well as develop your personal and professional skills within a working environment.
Optional Placement module
Professional Placement
Students will undertake Employability in Practice module at level 5 (year 2 of the course), prior to undertaking their placement year. By undertaking this module, they will be provided with essential skills and tools to apply and secure their own placement (with support from Hired@UCB) and complete the requisite time in placement.
Core Modules
Creative Digital Innovation
This module provides you with the opportunity to explore, analyse and assess the processes of digital innovation and related product and service development. You will examine the development of new marketing products, services, digital processes and applications, emphasising the need for organisations to be creative and innovative in their endeavour to sustain competitive advantage within their markets.
Digital Planning and Analytics
You will develop your skills in order to analyse, integrate and appraise effective digital tactics to deliver enhanced marketing activities and strategic recommendations. You will also examine how the management of digital channels helps to achieve business objectives by learning how to selectively analyse data sets for effective decision-making in relation to marketing resources.
Managing On-line Communities
Building on previous modules that examined the motivations and behaviours of consumers in relation to online community management, this module inspects all aspects of online community engagement, from initially fostering online communities, to building and growing a productive digital community to merging offline and online activity management. Crisis management of online communities is also explored.
Marketing Showcase
This module enables you to demonstrate your capabilities in researching, planning and delivering an industry or community-related project. You will cultivate the desired graduate attributes of professionalism, critical enquiry and problem solving, enterprise, creativity and innovation. You will then exhibit your research findings in an event for peers and industry professionals.
Choose 1 optional module
Advertising and Media Management
You will be taken deeper into the management processes relating to advertising, focusing on the skills involved in matching business objectives and brand communication to target markets. You will be given a greater insight into detailed analysis of what makes advertising communications effective.
Brand Management
The most valuable assets that a company has are the brands that it has invested in and developed over time. You will be given the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to succeed in the management of complex brands and look at how brands are viewed, built, managed and measured to ensure superiority and sustainability.
Enterprise Risk Management
Risk is becoming an important function for business managers and owners. You will learn about enterprise risk management techniques and strategies employed by businesses operating within increasingly complex and dynamic environments. Key risk areas include human resources, finance, IT, marketing, health and safety, innovation and product development, leadership and corporate governance and business continuity.
International Marketing
We live in an interconnected world, so it's important to examine how organisations explore new market opportunities beyond national boundaries. As a result, you will become more aware of the technological, communication and transportation challenges businesses face and the options they consider when seeking a foothold in a new country.
Social Entrepreneurship
The role of the not-for-profit sector is becoming increasingly significant on both a national and global scale. You will be analysing the business and marketing principles of the not-for-profit, and how they contribute to running an efficient organisation in a complex and dynamic environment. You will be able to look at business examples from a variety of sectors, including education, social services, charities and voluntary organisations.
The modules listed above for this course are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up to date and informed by industry as well as the latest teaching methods. On occasion, we may need to make unexpected changes to modules – if this occurs, we will contact all offer holders as soon as possible.
Entry requirements
Digital Marketing BA (Hons)
A-levels: An A-level grade profile of CCC-CDD.
BTEC: A BTEC grade profile of MMM-MMP. This can be achieved from either an Extended Diploma or a combination of smaller BTEC qualifications.
Tariff: Other Level 3 qualifications are accepted at University College Birmingham for entry. A minimum of 96-80 UCAS Tariff points will be required.
Access to Higher Education Diploma: 96-80 UCAS Tariff points including a minimum of 15 Level 3 credits at Distinction.
Digital Marketing FdA
A-levels: An A-level grade profile of CD-DD.
BTEC: A BTEC grade profile of PPP-PP. This can be achieved from either an Extended Diploma or a combination of smaller BTEC qualifications.
Apprenticeship: Achieve an advanced apprenticeship (Level 3).
Tariff: Other Level 3 qualifications are accepted at University College Birmingham for entry. A minimum of 56-32 UCAS Tariff points will be required.
Access to Higher Education Diploma: 56-32 UCAS Tariff points.
Non-tariff: Non-UCAS Tariff-based Level 3 qualifications are also considered for entry. Please contact admissions@ucb.ac.uk to check your eligibility.
Work-based: We also give equal consideration to applicants who are currently in work and wish to apply to University College Birmingham. To apply, you must have a minimum of 3 years’ relevant work experience, demonstrating management or supervisory duties. Your application must also include a reference from your line manager supporting your entry to higher education. For further details, please contact Admissions.
EU/international students
For entry requirements for EU and international students, please visit the Country Specific Information page.
Key information
Teaching and assessment
Teaching
In light of COVID-19, we have made some changes to the way we deliver our teaching. We are continually following the guidelines and measures put in place by the UK Government to ensure our students and staff are safe on campus, whilst remaining committed to providing high-quality education. The information below explains how teaching will take place in semester 2 (or semester 1 for those joining us in January) for each level/year of this course.
Assessment
Estimated breakdown of assessment for this degree course:
- Coursework – 68%
- Practical assessment – 24%
- Written examinations – 8%
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2015-2020.
Kick-Start
As a new student studying this degree full-time, you will receive £300 per year via our Kick-Start Scheme (eligibility criteria applies). This scheme will support your studies and future career by contributing to course-related materials, uniform or selected items on campus. You might even qualify for an additional £500 per year.
Tuition fees
UK/EU students
If you are a UK/EU student enrolling on a full-time foundation degree or a BA/BSc in 2020/21, your fee for this academic year will be £9,250 per each full year. A half year tuition fee is £4,625. UK/EU students do not pay tuition fees for any placement periods.
International students
If you are an international student enrolling on a a full-time foundation degree or a BA/BSc in 2020/21, your fee for this academic year will be £11,500 per year.
If you complete a placement year, there will be an administration fee of £500 for a full year, or £250 for a half-year placement.
Accreditations, endorsements and partnerships
University College Birmingham works with a wide range of organisations to ensure you receive the best possible training and qualifications recognised by industry.
Work placements
Work placements are vital for gaining real-life experience and for building your confidence and skills before you finish your course – and they may even lead to a job when you graduate. Our hired@UCB team can help find the ideal placement for you.
Our FdA and BA Digital Marketing courses offer you the option of a paid 48-week work placement, during which you will not incur any tuition fees.
Work alongside experts in your sector
A snapshot of some of the employers we have worked with:
- Drakos DMC (Cyprus)
- Yiatros Group (Cyprus)
- The Sea Pines Resort (USA)
- Wintech-group (Wolverhampton)

I’ve studied not only marketing and management principles and theory, which is mandatory for any marketing manager, but I’ve also learned and practised skills that are in high demand right now, in a digital world. I have access to great lecturers that have real-world experience in business.
Career opportunities
The example roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.
Digital marketer
Average Salary: £30,000
Analytics manager
Average Salary: £47,392
Social media manager
Average salary: £25,000 – £32,000
Advertising account executive
Average Salary: £35,000
Pay-per-click (PPC) specialist
Average Salary: £32,500
SEO specialist
Average Salary: £30,500

Kelly’s Story
Representing a well-known international brand on social media may sound daunting, but for Kelly, her degree had already shown her the way.
Course statistics
BA (Hons)
FdA
Meet your lecturers






