BSc (Hons) Marketing

01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2027

Course Leader Callum Evans
Course Team Mary Hedderman, Martyn Rowling, Sofia Christidi, Marie Clifford, Lauren Thomas, Georgia Thomas, Emma Wheeler
Awarding Body University of South Wales
Teaching Institutions University of South Wales
Modes of Study Part Time, Full Time, Full Time Sandwich

Document Version

Version 4
Valid From 01 Sep 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

QAA Benchmarks

The course considers the following QAA benchmark statement:Business and Management (2015)

Educational Aim

The primary aim of the BSc (Hons) Marketing degree is to:

Produce confident, flexible marketing graduates with the skills and understanding necessary to perform marketing in a challenging omni-channel business environment.

In order to produce this, the course has been developed in line with the industry’s major professional body, the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), which specifies a range of desirable skills, competencies, and behaviours (highlighted in section B).

The objectives of the BSc (Hons) Marketing degree are to:

Provide students with a well-rounded and contemporary marketing education through a balance of theory and practice.

Enable students to understand and explore their preferred areas of marketing through relevant experiences such as placements and project work.

Develop work-ready marketing graduates equipped with industry-relevant knowledge and skills.

As a result of meeting these aims, the BSc (Hons) Marketing offers students a future facing and integrated business education which focusses on supporting students to develop the skills and competencies required in a contemporary and future labour market when pursuing a career in Marketing. This is driven by:

The Business School and USW Graduate Attributes Frameworks.

Requirements of key professional bodies.

Engagement with key employers.

The curriculum aims to challenge students in their ways of thinking, behaving and learning; issues of ethics and ethical decision making, sustainability, and global citizenship are embedded within a range of modules.

The course programme actively seeks input from the external environment and student learning is grounded in the external context wherever appropriate. For example, through external speakers; live case studies and assessments that require students to test out theory concepts in practice. In addition, students are required at level 5 to actively develop experience through 40 credits of work-based learning. Student achievement is supported by embedded and explicit personal development of transferable skills and competencies over all three levels; supporting student transition into higher education, underpinning employability and professional practice and the ethos of lifelong learning.

This course provides a comprehensive business education whilst specialising at levels 5 and 6 in the key aspects of marketing management. Specialist modules equip students with the range of knowledge and skills for a successful career in a complex business world. The course offers a broad range of modules, ensuring breadth of knowledge to support students in their future career aspirations. Successful completion of the course requires students to be entrepreneurial, creative, independent, analytical and critical. It requires them to work effectively within diverse teams and demonstrate strong information literacy, a spirit of enquiry and to be reflective in practice. It will also require a broad theoretical and practical knowledge of a range of business functions and the wider international business environment.

The course has been developed in line with the CIM, the marketing industry’s major professional body, which specifies a range of desirable skills, competencies, and behaviours as highlighted below (CIM, 2019). It also considers more widely, ‘skills clusters’ which graduates may need to demonstrate as their careers continue to evolve through changing economic and technological developments (World Economic Forum, 2016).

Chartered Institute of Marketing (2019). ‘Professional Marketing Competencies’. Available at:

https://www.cim.co.uk/membership/professional-marketing-competencies/ (Date accessed: 26/02/2019).

World Economic Forum (2016) - Changing emphasis on skills in the consumer industries.

Learning Outcomes

A1 Clear knowledge of how marketing relates to other major business disciplines, alongside an understanding of specific concepts, principles, theories and techniques relevant to marketing.
A2 Knowledge and understanding of the functions and processes of organisations, their influence upon the external environment andpractices for effective management of marketing organisations.
A3 Comprehension of international, national, and local context to business and marketing activities.
A4 Understand how consumer psychology and behaviour, along with factors such as culture, technology, and competition affect choice and consumption.
B1 Collect, analyse, and discuss relevant marketing information, and use it appropriately to solve problems and make decisions.
B2 Identify relevant theories, arguments, concepts, assumptions and implicit values, and evaluate them in terms of the available evidence.
B3 Plan and conduct research or development work, evaluate the outcomes and draw valid conclusions.
B4 The ability to formulate appropriate questions and evidence-based judgements, to achieve appropriate solutions for business and marketing issues.
C1 Demonstrate an ability to critically reflect on one’s professional and/or academic practice and consider how to continue one’s personal or professional development.
C2 Acquire and utilise a range of marketing skills to enhance employability and make an immediate contribution to an employer's activities.
C3 Develop a range of desirable business and marketing behaviours such as creativity, responsibility, and commercial awareness.
C4 Develop a range of marketing skill proficiencies such as communications planning, reputation management, and data management.

Course Structure

Level 0 Modules

Module Code Module Id Module Title Module Status Credit Value Module Type
BSPU51 MOD012070 Employment Experience - Sandwich Year Running 0 specified

Level 3 Modules

Module Code Module Id Module Title Module Status Credit Value Module Type
HU0S021 MOD012390 Study Skills Running 20 specified
HU0S022 MOD012391 Investigative Project Running 20 specified
HU0S023 MOD012392 Digital Capability Running 20 specified
HU0S025 MOD012394 Organisational Psychology Running 20 specified
HU0S032 MOD012401 Business Administration Running 20 specified
HU0S033 MOD012402 Statistics Running 20 specified

Level 4 Modules

Module Code Module Id Module Title Module Status Credit Value Module Type
CAS001 MOD011501 Centre for Academic Success - Managing and Developing Self - Knowledge Running 0 specified
MK1S05 MOD013319 Event Management Skills Running 20 specified
MK1S06 MOD013320 Content Creation for Marketers Running 20 specified
MK1SX1 MOD011255 Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Running 20 specified
MK1SX1W MOD011500C Marchnata ac Ymddygiad Defnyddwyr Running 20 authorised substitution
DG1S49 MOD010062 Advertising Fundamentals Running 20 specified
DG1S51 MOD010075 Copywriting Running 20 specified
FA1S71 MOD013854 Branding Running 20 specified
BS1SX1 MOD011258 Economics, Law and the Business Environment Running 20 specified

Level 5 Modules

Module Code Module Id Module Title Module Status Credit Value Module Type
CAS002 MOD011502 Centre for Academic Success – Managing and Developing Self Running 0 specified
MK2SX1 MOD011342 Digital Marketing: Tools and Techniques Running 20 specified
MK2SX2 MOD011343 Creative Marketing Communications Running 20 specified
MK2SX7 MOD012814 Marketing in the Community Running 20 specified
MK2SX8 MOD012934 Professional Development Planning for Marketers Running 20 specified
MK2SX9 MOD012935 Marketing Employment Experience Running 20 specified
5C001E MOD014032 Market Research Project Running 40 specified

Level 6 Modules

Module Code Module Id Module Title Module Status Credit Value Module Type
BS3DX2 MOD011265 Consultancy Project Running 40 optional
BS3DX2W MOD011497C Prosiect Ymgynghori Running 40 authorised substitution
BS3DX3 MOD011266 Critical Enquiry Project Running 40 specified
BS3DX3W MOD011493 Prosiect Ymholi Beirniadol Running 40 authorised substitution
CAS003 MOD011503 Centre for Academic Success - Managing and Developing Self - Evaluation Running 0 specified
MK3S86 MOD008125 Public Relations and Reputation Management Running 20 specified
MK3SX1 MOD011348 Professional Selling and Business Development Running 20 specified
ST3SX1 MOD011264 Strategic Management Running 20 specified
MK3SX3 MOD013521 Services Marketing Running 20 specified

Teaching and Assessment


Learning and Teaching Methods

Active/simulation based N/A 

Lectures 

Lectures are used to deliver theoretical foundations. These are contextualised and applied in seminars/workshops. Lectures will be engaging and interactive using technology solutions to the traditional challenges of large-group teaching. 

Seminars 

A seminar approach will be utilised to complement the lectures. This will allow the subject matter to be contextualised based on pathways of study and to effectively apply theory to practice. 

Tutorials 

Not part of the credit bearing modules. 

CAS sessions will incorporate tutorial activity for targeted academic and employability skills development support. 1,2,3 

Groupwork 

Group work will be an important learning and teaching method, particularly in seminars and will also be incorporated in the assessment regime (except for Level 6 group work not being assessed). Group work will also be utilised to promote immersive learning as per the University’s Academic Blueprint. Specific examples are: 

Level 4– Event Management Skills 

Level 5– Creative Marketing Communications 

Level 6– Public Relations and Reputation Management

Work Based

Students complete WBL as an essential part of the Marketing Employment Experience and Professional Development Planning for Marketers at level 5.

Project Supervision 

Students will be supervised through project work at level 6 of study

Practical Classes and Workshops 

Along with seminar activities within the course practical classes and workshops enable more interactive learning for students. Where appropriate, these sessions can make use of Faculty teaching laptops and tablets that can be booked to take into classes. Example modules include 

Level 4 – Event Management Skills 

Level 5 – Digital Marketing; Tools and Techniques Level 6 – Professional Selling and Business

External Visits (including fieldtrips) 

Company visits will form part of the work based learning modules and will be dependent on the internship or Clinic project undertaken. 

Ad hoc industry visits can be incorporated at the Module Leader discretion into modules. n/a 

Directed Study (including Online Learning) 

Students will be provided with reading recommendations, self-study questions and opportunities to engage with online module material. Academic development support will be provided online. Flipped classroom principles will be applied at all levels of study and students will be expected to prepare to actively engage in class.

Independent Study 

Students will utilise the independent study time to complete summative and formative assessments. They are also expected to stay abreast of current affairs and business news.

Placement 

All students will be supported in engaging with a 40 week SW placement between levels 5 and 6. 2 

Study Abroad 

This is not an option unless students choose to undertake an Erasmus term or year abroad. This is on a case by case basis. 

Formative assessment-scheduled 

Scheduled opportunity for formative assessment is targeted at students during level 4 and 5 in order to provide a structure to learning. Formative assessment will also be embedded on an ongoing basis. CAS provision will provide regular formative assessment on the development of academic skills at each level. 

Formative assessment-independent 

During level 5 independent formative assessment is introduced as students are more confident in their learning and this becomes the principle focus at level 6. CAS provision will provide regular formative assessment on the development of academic skills at each level. The use of online activities (such as MCQs and peer review) can be utilised for students to self-assess their development and progress. 

Students have the opportunity to undertake externally certified marketing qualifications such as CIM, IDDM, and Google Analytics etc but they are not mandatory. 

CAS and some modules will include online activities (such as MCQs and peer review) for students to self-assess their development and progress. 


Employer Engagement

Employer Engagement will be achieved by:

Visiting Speakers

Visiting speakers are provided on a yearly basis. The highest number of speakers is in the final year, where students have previously sourced internships by attending guest lectures.

Volunteering

Volunteering opportunities are available for all students. Through the Business Clinic students can take the voluntary role of ‘trainee analysts’ working with a range of external partners.

Fieldwork

N/A

Fieldtrips

N/A

Work Placements

A 10 week placement is a mandatory part of the course.

Work-based Learning

Work based learning is achieved via the placement.

Sandwich Years

Sandwich years are available, and students are encouraged to take up this opportunity. Students undertaking a sandwich year (and placement students) are invited to share their experiences with first year students and this also boost their public speaking skills.

Employer Forums

Events such as Business Futures and the internship poster presentations are some of the opportunities for students to engage and network with employers.


Means of Assessment


Learning Support

The learning support available through the course

Induction

Students will enjoy a comprehensive induction programme at the start of the course. The first week of induction will be at the University of South Wales’s Treforest campus. Induction content will introduce all aspects of student life such as VLE training, pastoral care and wider University services, alongside events to build course identity. Week two of induction will take the form of an immersive enterprise activity, Ignite.

Level 5 induction will focus on raising students’ aspirations and reinforce expectations around professional practice and employability development. The immersive learning weeks will focus on preparing students for their work-based learning, which will include simulated activities around the graduate recruitment and selection process.

Level 6 induction will focus strongly on future career aspirations and planning, with the immersive learning focusing on intensive research skills to support the final year project.

Personal tutor

At each level students are supported by a Personal Academic Coach, an academic member of staff who will have access to information on the performance and profile of the student, allowing them to effectively support students' personal and academic development. This is an academic role and where students have problems of a personal nature (health, wellbeing, financial, etc) they can be referred to the appropriate University Support Services.

Office hours

Office hours are shared with all students at the beginning of term and are also typically available on the module’s Blackboard site. Students are made aware of the department’s open door policy.

Tutorials

The Centre for Academic Success sessions will incorporate tutorial activity for targeted academic and employability skills development support.

Seminars

As can be seen in the learning and teaching section, seminars will be used as a pedagogical device. This will allow contextualisation and application of theoretical concepts explored throughout the module.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is undertaken in the form of presentations (i.e. flipped classroom) alongside commenting on draft work where appropriate.

Progress meetings

Personal Academic Coaches hold three progress meetings per year. All student progress is formally reviewed in January subsequent to completion of the first 60 credits of study.

Research Supervision

Project supervision is allocated, where possible in line with students’ chosen area of specialism for the level 6 40-credit enquiry project.

Online Resources

All module content will be made available on UniLearn (VLE Blackboard). Additional online academic support will be provided as part of the CAS provision. All modules make use of UniLearn for web-enhanced delivery to at least the recommended minimum standard and for communications with students.

Additional support is provided through the Student Development and Study Skills Service who have self-directed online materials and tutorials which.

Advice Zones

There is a Student Advice Zone located at the Treforest Campus and also provision for online support. They provide confidential guidance and advice to students on all aspects of their university experience and are integrated to make direct referrals University Professional and Support Services.

Further information on their services and availability can be found here:

Advice Zone Online

Advice Zones

DDS Service

As per QAA subject benchmarks, the University will ensure that the curriculum and learning opportunities are inclusive and therefore reasonable adjustments will be made to accommodate needs of students with disabilities.

Students requiring support for their studies are assessed by the Student Services Team and individual Learning Support Plans are put in place. For more information see:

Disability Service

Dyslexia

IT/Library

Module resources and texts are where possible available electronically and any core texts for the course are stocked at the Treforest library.

There is a dedicated Business School Librarian who guest delivers within modules, appropriate training to students. This includes demonstrations and workshops for example on how to use USW FindIt, identifying sources of quality information, etc. The Librarian also offers students’ one-to-one or small group bespoke support.

For more information see: Library Services at the University of South Wales.

There are computer labs with open access on both campuses, ensuring students have access to PCs. WiFi is also available across both campuses and students can loan laptops for independent-study.

Information on IT facilities and support can be found here:

IT, Media and Technical Services

Course Exit Points

Award Criteria Final
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) 360 credits of which at least 100 must be at Level 6 or above, 120 at Level 5 or above, 120 at Level 4 or above and no more than 20 at Level 3 Final
Certificate of Higher Education 120 credits of which at least 100 must be at Level 4 or above and no more than 20 at Level 3 Intermediate
Diploma of Higher Education 240 credits of which at least 100 must be at Level 5 or above, 120 credits at Level 4 or above and no more than 20 credits at Level 3. Intermediate

Progression Route

MSc MarketingMSc Strategic Digital MarketingMSc Public RelationsMBAMSc ManagementAnd also a range of other specialist masters in procurement, logistics, human resource management, international business, and enterprise and project management.


Entry Requirements

Admission to the course is typically through the following qualifications:

The most up to date entry requirements for the School’s undergraduate degrees courses can be found on the course page of the University website: www.southwales.ac.uk/courses/ba-hons-business-management/.

The entry criteria below shows the qualification range within which the University will make offers. Most offers made at the higher end, but we do consider all aspects of an application. Combinations of qualifications are acceptable and other qualifications not listed here may also be acceptable.

Typical A-Level offer is BCC - CDD (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical Welsh BACC offer: Pass the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Diploma with Grade C/D in the Skills Challenge Certificate and BC - CD at A Level (this is equivalent to 104-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical BTEC Offer: BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit - Merit Merit Pass (this is equivalent to 112-80 UCAS tariff points).

Typical IB Offer: Pass the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points from Higher Levels.

Typical Access to HE Offer: Pass the Access to HE Diploma and obtain a minimum of 80 UCAS tariff points.

Additional requirements include GCSEs: The University normally requires a minimum 5 GCSEs including Mathematics/Numeracy and English at Grade C or Grade 4 or above, or their equivalent, but consideration is given to individual circumstances

For international students, information can be found on the university’s website: http://international.southwales.ac.uk/apply/international/ucas-direct. In general international applicants will need to have achieved an overall IELTS grade of 6.0 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each component.

Students who complete the CertHE Business and Management are eligible to apply for direct entry onto level 5 of the BSc (Hons) Marketing Management degree.


Inclusive Curriculum Statement

The University of South Wales operates a policy of inclusive learning, teaching and assessment to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to fulfil their educational potential. Course teams will have considered ways of designing out any potentially disadvantageous element of courses during the course design process. However some specific needs may remain, details about how to apply to have your needs assessed can be found at: http://unilife.southwales.ac.uk/pages/3040-disability-and-dyslexia-service/


Addendum for Delivery at a Partner Institution

N/A


Methods Of Quality Standards

N/A


Quality Of Standards Indicators

N/A