Marketing, PR and Advertising with Placement Year

• This degree is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) , meaning if you choose specific modules, you’ll gain exemptions towards the CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing, enhancing your credibility as a marketer
• Focus on the integrated management of marketing, marketing communications, PR and advertising
• Improve your marketing knowledge whilst appreciating the full multi-media approach to marketing communications
• Placements, internships and hands-on projects for companies enable you to work on real marketing issues and develop your marketing skills
• Take a placement year between years two and three of your degree.

All companies use marketing as a vital tool to promote products, services and brands to different audiences. The BA (Hons) Marketing, PR and Advertising offers a core understanding of key marketing, branding and communication concepts preparing you for a successful career in advertising and PR in either an organisation or agency environment.

Boost your employability with a placement year

You’ll have the opportunity to take a placement year to put the skills you’ve learned into practice in a real-world environment. We'll support you to find your placement and throughout your year in industry. Placements allow you to gain valuable experience to add to your CV, make industry contacts and help you to narrow down what kind of role you may be interested in after graduation. 

Relevant, respected, rewarding

This is a practical, in-depth study of one of the most exciting business disciplines. You’ll be fully prepared to plan and execute effective communication campaigns that deliver the right message to the right people at the right time.

As you develop your skills in marketing, PR and advertising techniques you’ll understand how a strong and consistent brand image is developed and what impact it has on business profitability. By the end of the course, you will have built a professional digital portfolio. 

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) is the leading professional body for marketers worldwide and exists to develop the marketing profession, maintain professional standards and improve the skills of marketing practitioners.

We have joined forces with CIM to give students the opportunity to gain professional qualifications through the CIM. These qualifications are highly sought after by employers, and their content is reflected in our own degrees which ensures we are equipping students with the best opportunities for a successful marketing career.

Putting theory into practice

You'll have the opportunity to take a placement year in industry to enhance your skills and employability. Marketing student Benas, took a placement year with Derby based marketing agency Think3, he was then offered a role with the company ahead of graduating. 

Connected in to a business network

Raise your profile and enrich your learning throughout your Marketing, PR and Advertising degree as you network and make connections with agencies and businesses working on consultancy projects and live case-studies and projects. Our students have worked on consultancy projects, offering marketing advice to local young entrepreneurs. They have had opportunities to meet clients and present marketing solutions. 

Learning outside the classroom

You'll take part in field trips to trade fairs and exhibitions and work on many live company projects throughout your studies meaning your work is relevant and up-to-date with market trends. Put your knowledge in to practice by securing an internship to build your skills and develop your portfolio.

Learn from the experts

Our vast experience marketing will be your guide. Our teaching team is enthusiastic, innovative, knowledgeable - ambitious for you and supporting you all the way. We have research expertise spanning everything from consumer behaviour to business intelligence. Our lecturers are marketing specialists and many of them have worked in industry for years. The Head of Discipline, Dr Alison Lawson, has her own blog - Musings on methodology - featuring her personal thoughts, ideas and opinions on research methods. 

Please note that our modules are subject to change - we review the content of our courses regularly, making changes where necessary to improve your experience and graduate prospects.

Our teaching methods will be varied, interactive and engaging. You will take part in:

• lectures and seminars — led by our own tutors as well as occasionally, by guest speakers from the marketing world
• individual and group-based practical assignments, such as creating advertising slogans, blogs, infographics, social media profiles, videos and TV commercials. Many of these will be for real company briefs
• visits to exhibitions, trade fairs and companies
• placements and internships
• research projects.

You will be encouraged to be creative, whether you're creating eye-catching media, memorable slogans or designing mood boards to find new innovative ways to communicate with your audience. Some of your learning will be classroom based, sometimes you will want to use computer labs and at other times you may work in a studio. You’ll use new digital technology to create digital content, including blogs, vlogs, videos and TV commercials.

Assessment

You will be assessed through coursework, which will incorporate individual assignments as well as group tasks. These focus on applying what you have learned to real business scenarios and producing the kind of work that might be expected in a marketing role, for example:

• written reports based around research, including data and case studies
• visual presentations
• creative outputs such as infographics, short advertisements, films or bespoke projects for clients
• online assessments.

At levels 4 and 5, you will take part in a lot of group work, which prepares you for the marketing workplace, but at level 6, you will be working independently more so you can deepen your research and critical analysis skills.

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.0 (with at least 5.5 in each skills area)

2025/26

Further information about our fees and support you may be entitled to.

Additional costs and optional extras

Demand for advertising, PR and communication specialists in marketing is high. Your skills in campaign development, analysis and measurement of results will be in demand as a marketer who can demonstrate impact and return on investment.

You’ll have a great foundation to begin a successful career in areas like account, product, brand or communications management.

Past Marketing, PR and Advertising students have gone on to work in large, multi-national blue chip companies, some have set up their own businesses; some work in marketing departments, some in specialist businesses; some work in the public sector. In all these areas there is a need for marketing skills for organisations to understand consumer needs and influence consumer behaviours.

Or why not study further with our: MSc Marketing Management (Alumni discount available)

Contact us

If you need any more information from us, eg on courses, accommodation, applying, car parking, fees or funding, please contact us and we will do everything we can to help you.

Additional information about your studies

Teaching hours

Like most universities, we operate extended teaching hours at the University of Derby, so contact time with your lecturers and tutors could be anytime between 9am and 9pm. Your timetable will usually be available on the website 24 hours after enrolment on to your course.

Course updates

The information provided on this page is correct at the time of publication but course content, costs and other individual course details do change from time to time and are updated as often as possible, so please do check these pages again when making your final decision to apply for a course. Any updated course details will also be confirmed to you at application, enrolment and in your offer letter.

If you are thinking about transferring onto this course (into the second year for example), you should contact the programme leader for the relevant course information as modules may vary from those shown on this page.

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