Marketing and Digital Communications

Marketing and Digital Communications MA (Online)

Become a master strategist and an innovative creator.

Key details
Location
Online
Course duration
2 years
Attendance
Part-time

Course overview

On this online Marketing and Digital Communications MA course, you’ll learn not just to react to the changing digital landscape but to use emerging technologies to innovate and lead marketing transformations for international audiences. 

You’ll immerse yourself in the challenge of bringing modern digital brands to life, building a comprehensive working knowledge of marketing and branding strategy and learning how to recognise and adapt to the demands of client and agency-led perspectives. This includes understanding returns on investment, accountability and future planning, as well as how to use data-driven marketing insights in a professional, ethical and regulated process.

Why study this course at Falmouth?

• Join an established global community of practitioners, gaining crucial cultural perspectives while building your networks 

• Future-proof your practice by learning how to leverage emerging technologies in your strategies and embed sustainability into everything you do, scrutinising companies’ ethical and green agendas

• Work on collaborative industry-informed assignments, from SMEs in Cornwall to big global brands such as Unilever

• Graduate as a forward-thinking marketing professional, equipped to embrace industry challenges and ready to step up to new career opportunities

Marketing and Digital Communications MA (online) is accredited by the leading professional marketing body, The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). This means students who successfully complete the full MA are part-accredited for qualifications CIM offers professional marketing practitioners.

CIM accreditation logo

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Start dates: January / May / September

(Three intakes per year) 

Course details

Throughout this online masters in Marketing and Digital Communications, you’ll work independently and in teams on challenge-led projects. Following the latest industry practices and insights, you’ll create marketing plans, prepare briefs, craft content for a range of digital platforms and learn how to deliver a successful pitch to potential clients. You’ll also discover new marketing technologies and learn to research online audiences using digital ethnographies. At the end of the Marketing and Digital Communications MA, you’ll establish yourself as an expert on a theme, sector or trend through the development of your final major project.  

Modules 

The modules have been specifically designed to be studied in a non-linear order, with the order in which you’ll study the modules depending on when you begin the course. 

MA  

You will need to complete four 30-credit modules and one 60-credit Major Project (180 credits in total). All modules on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award. 

From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details for the MA.

PGDip  

You will need to complete four 30-credit modules (120 credits in total), and will not complete a Major Project. 

From module information to course aims and assessment criteria, discover the full course details for the PGDip.

Module details

In this module, you’ll interrogate how geography, globalisation and digital transformation impacts all areas of the marketing planning processYou’ll revisit the basic frameworks of marketing planning; updating the traditional practices to bring plans in line with the needs of a technology-aware audience. Using a variety of analytical and development tools, you’ll work through the process of marketing goal setting, strategy and planning. 

(30 credits)

This module is designed to help you explore digital opportunities for creative content creation and dynamic storytelling. You’ll identify ways of generating insights into your audience and their digital and analogue touchpoints. You’ll then examine how you can maximise the reach and impact of your campaign by using mediums such as user-generated content, social media, influencers, viral tactics, SEO, microsites and landing pages, user experience, artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, and big data. 

(30 credits)

Here, you’ll explore media strategy and planning in a global context, examining traditional and digital media channels. You’ll get up to speed with the latest industry insights and practices in communication strategy, media planning and performance monitoring. You’ll examine ‘Paid, Earned and Owned’ models, Google Ads and Analytics, PPC, as well as media-specific data analysis. 

(30 credits)

You’ll learn to innovate and problem-solve for brands, audiences and communication strategies. You’ll pitch a new idea or concept to a professional audience, taking well informed risks with creative concepts and presenting these in an imaginative way that makes the most of the digital technologies available. 

You’ll also develop a portfolio of case studies and examples of legal and ethical issues affecting your sector of interest. 

(30 credits)

For your final major project, you’ll choose an area of digital marketing communications to specialise in. You may have a new business idea to launch with a digital marketing campaign. You could solve a business problem associated with your current work or use a case study. You could extend a business opportunity for an existing company or respond to a gap in the market. Whatever you choose, your project is the final stage in your transformation into an adept, articulate marketing and digital communications innovator. 

(60 credits)

As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.

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How you'll learn & be assessed

How online study works

You'll learn through a blend of lectures, webinars, guest talks, tasks and discussion forums, which you'll access via our dedicated virtual learning environment. This is also where you'll find all key documentation, get course announcements and access extensive learning resources.

How will I be supported?

You'll be supported academically by Online Tutors, who will also deliver weekly webinars and facilitate the online forums. If you need assistance with anything that isn't directly related to course material, a dedicated Student Advisor team will be on hand to help. You'll also have access to Falmouth University's excellent Employability Service.

You'll master key principles of marketing and digital communication approaches, spending 20-25 hours a week working on your craft. We incorporate optional face-to-face events for all our online students. There will be up to two per year and will typically run over weekends, to fit around your other commitments.

What are my study hours?

A postgraduate student should dedicate at least 20-25 hours per week for study.

Find out more about learning online

Assessment methods

Assessment provides the course team with a means of offering tailored guidance alongside advice on how to progress knowledge and skills in key areas that relate to the course Learning Outcomes. The course team will identify your strengths and weaknesses as an individual and discuss them with you throughout your time on the course.

Assessments are 100% coursework, submitted in an electronic format to the virtual learning environment, and designed to reflect professional practice. Assessment methods include:

  • Academic essays
  • Reports and plans
  • Blogs and infographics
  • Pitches and presentations
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Online Learning Support

You'll have access to a range of support throughout your studies with us to help you thrive and deve...

Online Learning Support
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In-Person Events

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In-Person Events
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Resources and Support

  • Dedicated easy-to-use virtual learning environment (VLE)
  • Accessible online audio / visual content
  • A Student Advisor to support you throughout your studies and access to our Student Support Services
  • Access to our Employability Service
  • 24/7 access to Falmouth's extensive online library of contextual books, journals and resources
  • Access to online software tutorials at LinkedIn Learning
  • Students' Union community
  • Optional in-person events
  • Invitation to attend alumni events

Although online students don't have access to on-campus facilities as part of the course, you can hire equipment and access facilities by paying a charge. Find out more about availability and prices here.

Meet the team

Rosie Smith

Lecturer and module leader

Lecturer, module leader, freelance senior copywriter and fiction writer.

Rosie Smith

Jon Paget

Lecturer

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Jon Paget
Raven

Nick Raven

Associate Lecturer

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On this Marketing and Digital Communications MA, youll be taught by an extensive network of industry practitioners and leaders. As well as drawing on their experience of teaching marketing theory and practice, they can share insights on career opportunities, current industry trends and the challenges facing the sector. 

The course has previously included a wide range of contributors and guest lecturers, such as: 

  • Penelope Bellegarde – Analytics Consultant, The Data Touch, PwC, TUI
  • Dave Chaffey – Marketing Industry Leader, Smart Insights Founder, Author and Academi
  • Maya Epstein – Global client lead for Nestle, Publicis Group
  • Viren Mistry – content and social director on Google and YouTube at Redwood 
  • Lily Tomala – Social media and marketing strategist, Vodafone, Mindshare, Manning Gottleib OMD

 

Some members of staff only teach on specific modules, and your course might not feature every staff member who teaches on the course.

Careers

As a graduate of this Marketing and Digital Communications MA, you could go into roles such as:

  • Marketing officer or manager
  • Account handler or planner
  • Content planner
  • Media planner
  • Consumer or market researcher
  • Data communications manager
  • SEO/SEM manager
  • Social media producer
  • Digital marketing executive 

Research skills embedded throughout the modules and with the Major Project could allow you to successfully progress into postgraduate research programmes and PhDs in the areas of marketing, branding and digital communications.

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How to apply

You can apply to begin your studies in January 2025 by selecting the relevant course route below:

Apply for MA

Apply for PGDip

You can apply to begin your studies in May 2025 by selecting the relevant course route below:

Apply for MA

Apply for PGDip
 

An honours degree or Level 6 equivalent qualification is desirable. However, candidates without a degree or formal qualification are still encouraged to apply. If you'd like to discuss our entry requirements, speak to an advisor.

For more information regarding equivalent international qualifications and Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) either request information with our easy online form, or read about it on our apply page.

If your first language is not English, you'll need to take an English Language test.  We accept: 

  • IELTS - minimum overall score of IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.0 in Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening 
  • TOEFL iBT (online test) - minimum of 88 overall and at least 21 in all 4 components 
  • LanguageCert (online test) - a High Pass from the ESOL B2 Communicator test in reading, writing, speaking and listening (2 parts) 

We also accept a range of other recognised English language qualifications.  You can visit our English Language Requirements page for more information. 

For more information about equivalent international qualifications or English language requirements please contact our friendly Course Advisors

This course has three intakes per year: January, May and September.

Academic start date* Application deadline
23 September 2024 2 September 2024
20 January 2025 8 January 2025
26 May 2025 6 May 2025

Please note:

*Virtual Welcome Week begins the week before the academic start date. During this time, our Student Advisor team will host Welcome Webinars and be in touch with practical information on how to study online.

An Early Bird discount is available for early applications. Currently the scheme offers up to £600 off MA tuition fees: £300 if you apply by the Early Bird discount submission deadline, and a further £300 off your tuition fees if you receive an offer and within two weeks you accept the place and pay the acceptance fee. Both these payments would be applied to your final fee instalment. Please note the discount amount is subject to change for future intakes.

Early Bird discount submission deadline Academic start date
5 August 2024 23 September 2024
25 November 2024 20 January 2025
31 March 2025 26 May 2025

To discuss all our discount opportunities, contact an advisor.

Speak to an advisor

Fees, costs & funding

Tuition fees

£12,150 total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - 2 years part time - MA/MSc course

£7,921 total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - PGDip course

£12,150 total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - 2 years part time - MA/MSc course

£7,921 total fee (incl. acceptance fee) - PGDip course

Tuition fees for September 2026 will be confirmed in summer 2025.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible. 

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs

Typical course costs

As part of studying Marketing and Digital Communications MA you will require:

Laptop/computer

A desktop/laptop at an expense of around £1,300, capable of running our virtual learning environment. 

Adobe Creative Cloud

You will need access to Adobe Creative Cloud. You may be eligible for discounted licenses through Adobe's education pricing and Falmouth University seeks to provide further discounts when possible. If any discounts are available, we will communicate these to you.

For more information please visit Adobe Creative Cloud.

Optional face-to-face events 

You will be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation and subsistence costs to attend these events. 

 

Ask a student

What better way to find out about life at Falmouth University than by asking our current students?

From course details and academic support, to the social scene and settling in, our students are ready and available to answer any questions you might have. Simply set up your account, send them a question and they'll get back to you within 24 hours.

Speak to an advisor

Do you have questions about the course or studying online with Falmouth? Fill in our simple online form and we'll get in touch to support your application journey.

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