Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Marketing (Placement Year)

The Marketing degree at Derby is delivered without traditional examinations and is assessed through applied, practical, and varied assignments designed to build a thorough understanding of marketing theory and its real-world application. The programme enhances learning through a wide range of trips, visits, and guest speakers who showcase marketing in professional practice. Recent opportunities have included visits to Belfast and Dublin, as well as guest sessions with professionals from organisations such as JCB and Coors Brewery.

Live industry briefs are integrated into the curriculum, enabling students to develop real marketing solutions for active businesses, with recent collaborations including Coors Brewery, Siddiqui Education, and East Midlands Railway. Some modules also provide opportunities for study abroad, offering valuable global perspectives on marketing practice. The degree holds accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). Graduates achieving a 2:2 or above receive exemptions toward CIM Certificate and Diploma modules, supporting accelerated progression toward professional marketing qualifications.

Marketing is a dynamic and fast-paced discipline with relevance across almost all sectors, including private, public, and third-sector organisations. Every business relies on marketing to promote products or services, whether through in-house marketing teams or by working with creative agencies. Effective marketing planning, implementation, and monitoring are essential to achieving organisational success and profitability. The growth of digital media has significantly expanded the range and complexity of marketing channels, leading to increased demand for specialist roles in areas such as content marketing, affiliate marketing, social media management, and search engine optimisation. The programme’s modules and course structure directly reflect these industry developments and the need for specialist expertise.

The degree equips students with the knowledge, confidence, and creativity required to shape organisational marketing strategies and support customer-focused approaches to business development. Learning focuses on integrating all elements of the marketing mix and understanding how to work effectively with both internal marketing teams and external agencies to achieve business objectives.

Practical experience is a central feature of the programme. Students have the opportunity to undertake a placement year that allows newly acquired skills to be applied within real professional environments, supported throughout the placement process by the university. Placements provide valuable experience, opportunities to build professional networks, and clarity regarding future career pathways. Beyond placements, the programme offers extensive real-world learning opportunities including working on live projects, engaging directly with clients, and presenting solutions to genuine business challenges. Recent student projects have included promoting new events, enhancing company profiles through social media campaigns, attracting visitors to tourism destinations, and creating brand identities for community and arts venues. Employer partnerships support access to internships, placements, guest speaker programmes, and real-world case studies that bring marketing concepts to life.

In addition to a minimum of 30 hours of work experience completed during the second year, students may undertake a full placement year between the second and third years of study to further enhance employability and post-graduation prospects. Opportunities are also available to study abroad for a semester, providing international exposure, cultural enrichment, potential language development, and the opportunity to gain fresh perspectives that enrich both academic learning and professional outlook.