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Find out moreMSc Digital Marketing with a Placement Year
Key details
- Attendance
- Full Time
- Award
- Degree of Master of Science
- Course Length
- 2 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2026
Course options
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UEA is ranked top 20 in the UK for Research QualityCourse Overview
Why MSc Digital Marketing with a Placement Year at UEA?
Build the skills that help organisations connect with audiences in a fast-moving digital world. Combining creativity, data, and technology, you’ll learn how to create effective campaigns, understand customer behaviour, and drive growth across digital platforms.
Why choose UEA
- Real-world focus: Gain practical digital marketing skills that can be applied directly in professional settings
- Career building: Benefit from opportunities for Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) exemptions
- Digital skills: Explore AI in marketing alongside evolving technologies and buyer behaviour
What is MSc Digital Marketing with a Placement Year?
Digital marketing is about helping organisations connect with audiences through channels such as social media, search engines, websites, and email. It combines creativity, technology, and data to deliver effective marketing campaigns.
You’ll build a strong understanding of marketing principles, develop strategic thinking skills, and learn how to create evidence-based solutions for real business challenges. You'll explore both traditional and emerging marketing approaches, including the growing role of AI and digital technologies in shaping customer experiences. In year two, you’ll take part in a placement, gaining valuable professional experience.
Studying Digital Marketing at UEA also offers the opportunity to gain exemptions from professional qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), helping strengthen your career prospects after graduation.
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Placement Year
This course includes an integrated placement year in your second year, giving you the opportunity to gain valuable UK industry experience alongside your Master’s degree.
During your first year, you’ll focus on your academic studies, including completing your dissertation, while taking part in an employability programme designed to help you prepare for the workplace. Through career-focused activities and support, you’ll develop the skills and confidence needed to pursue professional opportunities.
In your second year, you’ll have the opportunity to complete an industry placement or undertake three employer-led industry projects with different UK organisations. This experience allows you to apply your knowledge in a professional setting, gain insight into your chosen sector, strengthen your CV and develop your global career prospects.
You’ll take an active role in finding your placement, with support from employability workshops, one-to-one coaching and guidance from our specialist placement partner. If you’re unable to secure a placement, the industry projects provide an alternative opportunity to collaborate with organisations across a range of UK sectors and gain practical workplace experience.
Find out more about our Postgraduate Placement Year(opens in a new window) and the opportunities it can offer.
Accreditations
The course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM(opens in a new window)), the leading professional body for marketers worldwide. This means that upon successful completion of the course, you’ll be exempt from professional module exemptions from the CIM’s Certificates and Diploma.
Careers
Career Pathways
With an MSc Digital Marketing degree, you could launch a career as a:
- Social Media Manager: Create content strategies, grow online communities, and engage audiences across digital platforms
- Data Analyst: Use marketing data and insights to support decision-making and improve campaign performance
- Digital Marketing Consultant: Help organisations develop and optimise their digital marketing strategies
- Market Researcher: Analyse consumer behaviour, market trends and audience needs to inform strategic business decisions.
- Marketing Executive or Manager: Plan and deliver campaigns that build brand awareness, engagement, and growth
Career Support
You’ll develop a strong professional skillset through practical projects, strategic marketing challenges, and industry-relevant skills development. You’ll develop your creativity, analytical thinking, and ability to deliver effective digital marketing solutions. UEA’s Career Central(opens in a new window) will support you with CVs, applications, interviews, networking opportunities, and career planning, helping you stand out in a competitive job market. The course’s links to professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and its focus on current industry practices will help you build the confidence and connections needed to launch your career.
After the Course
You’ll graduate ready to harness the power of digital marketing to drive business success. You’ll develop the skills and confidence to thrive in both domestic and international organisations, with career opportunities across a range of sectors, including telecoms, technology, international trade, retail, and more. Roles could span business-to-business or consumer marketing, within companies or agencies, giving you the flexibility to shape a career that matches your ambitions.
Study and Modules
Structure
You’ll develop a strong foundation in marketing and key business areas, including business research methods, social media and digital marketing. You’ll explore core marketing theories and models while gaining practical experience across a range of marketing approaches, from traditional channels such as print to digital platforms and emerging channels including social media.
Our MSc Digital Marketing offers a flexible approach, with opportunities to explore specialist taught modules in areas such as brand creation, brand management and the future of brands. You can also choose to complete a dissertation or an industry-sponsored project, allowing you to tailor your studies to your interests and career ambitions.
Throughout the course, your learning will be closely connected to real-world marketing practice. You’ll develop your critical thinking by analysing the strategic marketing approaches of real organisations and considering how you could respond to business challenges in different ways. Global case studies will introduce you to international brands such as Huawei Technologies, Sony, Haribo and Spotify, helping you understand marketing in a global context. This experience will prepare you for careers across international markets, whether you return to your home country, work with organisations serving global audiences or join a multinational company.
To support your transition into the workplace and prepare you for your placement year, you’ll complete a year-long Employability Skills module. Through workshops, one-to-one coaching and a combination of online and in-person sessions, you’ll develop practical career skills including CV writing, interview techniques, LinkedIn and job applications. You’ll also receive personalised support with your placement search and interview preparation. The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis, and successful completion, including meeting attendance requirements, is required to progress to your placement year.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Credits: 20)Optional B Modules
(Credits: 40)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your second year, you’ll complete a placement module designed to help you gain professional experience relevant to your area of study. You’ll receive dedicated support throughout your placement search, including in-person workshops to help you strengthen your applications, prepare for opportunities and reflect on your professional development. If you’re unable to secure a placement, you’ll complete three employer-led industry projects with organisations across a range of UK sectors, gaining practical experience and insight into different workplace environments.
The module is assessed on a pass/fail basis through a portfolio documenting your placement search and a reflective report exploring your placement or industry project experience.
The placement year will help you apply your knowledge in a professional setting, strengthen your CV, expand your network and develop a deeper understanding of your chosen sector. You’ll gain valuable experience and confidence to support your future career, whether in the UK or internationally.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
You’ll benefit from teaching that is both research-driven and industry-focused, learning from lecturers, academics, and guest speakers who are actively engaged in innovative research or bring hands-on business experience.
Learning is delivered through a blend of lectures, seminars, group work, presentations, case study analysis, and independent study. Teaching takes place both face-to-face and online, using a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities. Lectures are highly interactive, incorporating question-and-answer sessions, group tasks, games, learning technologies, live polls, and video. Seminars provide opportunities for you to work on collaborative projects, developing your teamwork and communication skills. Examples may include creating a strategic marketing plan or applying stages of the marketing research process.
Throughout your studies, there is a strong emphasis not only on applying key marketing and management theories, but also on thinking critically about them in a contemporary context.
Assessment
Throughout the course, your knowledge will be assessed through a variety of methods, including coursework, group projects, and presentations. You’ll submit both formative and summative work, receiving constructive feedback to help you identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
Degree classification
Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area.
Please note that if you have studied business before at undergraduate or postgraduate level, we recommend you check the modules carefully to make sure that this course is right for you.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
Degree classification
UK Bachelors degree - 2.2
Degree Subject
Any subject area.
Please note that if you have studied business before at undergraduate or postgraduate level, we recommend you check the modules carefully to make sure that this course is right for you.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in each component).
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, our UEA International Study Centre(opens in a new window) offers a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.
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- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic requirements for this course, you may be able to study the International Pre-Masters programme offered by our partner UEA International Study Centre. This programme guarantees progression to selected Master's degrees if students achieve the appropriate grade. For more details, please click here:
International Pre-Masters in Business, Economics and Social Sciences (opens in a new window)
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2026/27 are:
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UK Students: £14,500
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International Students: £25,700
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
If you choose to take this course with a placement year, your tuition fees for the first year will be as shown above. An additional fee of £3,500 will apply for the placement year (see our FAQs page for further details).
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Course Related Costs
Please see additional course fees(opens in a new window) for details of course-related costs.
How to Apply
How to apply
Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University.
To apply please use our online application form(opens in a new window).
Further information
If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us:
Postgraduate Admissions Office
Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515
Email: admissions@uea.ac.uk(opens in a new window)
International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students(opens in a new window) section of our website.