Branding and Marketing Communications MSc
Bridge creativity and strategy to lead branding and communications in a changing global market
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Why study MSc Branding and Marketing Communications at Middlesex University?
The world has changed.
Brands and the way they communicate with consumers have to demonstrate flexibility, adaptation, empathy and experience. Moreover, brands need to create conversations which build trust and communicate their value propositions in ways that resonate with the consumers at every touchpoint in their journey. The MSc Branding and Marketing Communications programme, will enable you to develop your understanding of the ‘phy-gital’ space in which brands exist and communicate.
Your course will be made up of students from a diversity of backgrounds and give you an appreciation of how the future of brand communication is about innovating naturally and adapting at will to the different marketing environments and conditions in which organisations function.
A key theme underpinning the course is about recognising change in all aspects of our lives. You will be encouraged to reflect, question and challenge conventional wisdom because you represent the future, and the programme’s philosophy is focused on creating marketing professionals who demonstrate adaptability, agility, empathy and understanding.
A course tailored with your future in mind
The course is designed with a teaching philosophy which puts you at the heart of the learning experience; recognising that you are future-oriented and career focused and looking to enhance your skills for employment in a range of marketing positions.
Practical learning from experienced UK marketeers
The course emphasises practical hands-on application of knowledge. We are the only University in the UK that offers you a unique practitioner focused learning experience, where we take you away for a week-long residential programme to witness ‘marketing in action.’ You will receive presentations and insights from a range of companies which have included global sports brands, cutting edge digital communication agencies as well as not-for-profit organisations.
The full cost of the residential experience is included in your tuition fees, and includes all transportation, accommodation and selected meals. For many students this is a life-changing experience and the main reason for choosing to follow this programme of study.
Benefit wherever you are in your marketing career
The programme is designed for applicants at the beginning of their marketing careers as well as those wishing to enhance and build on their expertise. We welcome students from a broad range of education and subject disciplines which adds to the vibrancy of the overall learning experience.
Recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing
Opportunities for employment in marketing, communication and advertising roles is further enhanced as programmes are recognised by 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. Middlesex University has joined forces with CIM to give our students the opportunity to gain CIM professional qualifications through their Graduate Gateway programme.
Foundation Certificate with Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)
You will also receive a discount on fees to study for the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) globally-recognised Foundation Certificate. This will give you two stars towards the full Membership of Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (MIPA).
The IPA is the trade body for the UK advertising, media and marketing communications sector. Over 85% of media spend in the UK comes from IPA members. The Institute is incorporated by Royal Charter.
Course highlights
• Modules delivered in partnership with cutting edge advertising and communication agencies.
• Unique industry based residential programme exposing students to industry experts and practitioners which has been awarded Excellence in Marketing Education by the Academy of Marketing.
• Programme accredited and recognised by Chartered Institute of Marketing.
• Discounted fee to study for the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising globally recognised Foundation Certificate.
3 great reasons to pick this course
About your course
What will you study on the Branding and Marketing Communication MSc?
The course design recognises diversity of learning styles and approaches to learning in the student community. The hands-on focus of the programme will equip you with an advanced level of understanding and critical reflection on key brand building concepts and narratives.
You will understand the processes involved in designing effective, powerful branded content through a sound understanding of traditional and diverse range of digital media platforms through which brand messages can be communicated.
The course is designed to ensure that you are equipped with important transferrable skills in working both collaboratively and individually, which will enable smooth transition from academic study to the working environment.
You will be able to critically evaluate complex situations, to write clearly and analytically, synthesise information from a diverse range of sources and develop well-informed and justified solutions to marketing challenges.
Whether you wish to work as a marketing manager, brand or creative consultant, analyst, researcher or entrepreneur, the programme will allow you to acquire both general and specialised knowledge required to start building your chosen career.
You can choose the option to complete a 12-month professional experience as part of this course (Branding and Marketing Communications with Professional Experience).
Compulsory modules
We’ve made sure that the skills and knowledge that you’ll gain on your course will enable you to enjoy a successful marketing career.
The module will provide you with a broad perspective of the marketing practitioner through an intense and unique one week, off-campus residential programme. The module will allow you to understand and apply the consulting process through a blend of strategic thinking, analytical skills and expertise in communication. The Residential will provide you with a practical and applied perspective of the marketing discipline through presentations and hands-on experience with a range of organisations. These will include global brands as well as independent businesses, all providing their cutting-edge insights to current branding and marketing communication challenges. Importantly, the residential will also provide an opportunity for informal networking with fellow students, members of marketing faculty as well as marketing practitioners.
The aim of this module is to explore the psychological foundations that drive consumer behaviour and decision-making processes. You will examine how and why individuals engage in consumption activities, analysing cognitive, emotional, and social factors that influence purchasing choices. The module will provide insights into consumers personality traits, motivations, attitudes, and lifestyles, enabling you to understand how organisations segment markets and develop targeted marketing strategies. By integrating theoretical knowledge with practical applications, you will develop the ability to influence consumer behaviour and optimise marketing efforts to enhance brand engagement, customer satisfaction, and business success.
This module will equip you with the knowledge and skills to design, manage, and optimise omnichannel strategies, ensuring brand consistency, customer engagement, and business growth. You will learn how to integrate digital and traditional channels into a unified brand experience, applying sales funnels and attribution models to analyse and enhance the customer journey. You will also develop expertise in auditing omnichannel effectiveness using analytics, attribution modelling, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Finally, the module further explores strategic leadership in omnichannel marketing, enabling you to manage initiatives that align with organisational goals. It examines how businesses integrate marketing, sales, and service strategies for customer retention and revenue growth, while also assessing the impact of emerging technologies like AI, augmented reality, and blockchain on the future of omnichannel marketing.
This module will equip you with the skills and knowledge necessary to design and implement effective digital marketing campaigns across a variety of platforms, including Search Engine Marketing, Social Media Marketing, and Email Marketing. It will enhance your understanding of the role of AI in digital marketing, enabling you to integrate automated tools and data-driven decision-making into their campaign strategies. You will also develop advanced analytical skills, learning how to monitor, assess, and optimize campaigns using key digital marketing metrics.
The module will introduce you to a contemporary exploration of experiential focused marketing strategies and tactics. At its core, experiential marketing is about immersing consumers in live experiences through an authentic interaction with product and service brands. You will gain an understanding of how experiential marketing approaches can amplify and humanize via sensory experiences that profoundly impacts consumer feelings and behaviour, facilitating a deeper emotional level of brand engagement. The module will engage with creative experiential practitioners and agencies, providing you with practical insights and understanding of how well curated experiences, deliver brand value despite media and audience fragmentation.
The module will provide you with an in-depth understanding of how to leverage emerging technologies to create impactful and innovative digital marketing campaigns. The module will explore disruptive technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), blockchain, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), enabling you to utilise these tools for creative marketing solutions. Through a combination of innovation workshops and hands-on prototyping, you will gain practical experience in designing unique, compelling content that effectively engages audiences in a competitive digital landscape.
The Capstone Research Project module will you equip with knowledge and skills to undertake an independent research project, applying rigorous research methods to explore contemporary business challenges, opportunities and trends. The Capstone enables you to integrate your learning by developing a research proposal, conducting a critical literature review, applying appropriate research methodologies, and analysing findings. The project may take the form of theory-driven research, contributing to academic understanding; applied research, generating practical insights and strategic recommendations for real-world challenges; or a consultancy-based project, delivering research-driven solutions for a specific organization.
The module provides you with the opportunity of working collaboratively on a real, client-driven consultancy project. External clients will provide a project brief and you will work in teams to develop practical solutions. The module gives you an opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to real organisations; and facilitates the practice of team-working, problem-solving, reflection and presentation skills, as well as an understanding of the complexities relating to client management and project deliverables.
Only for students who choose Professional Experience (24 months) Pathway.
The primary aim of this module is to develop your employability skills and support your search for a placement. The module will include communication, team working, negotiation and problem-solving skills development as well as practical workshops on selection methods, CVs, cover letters, interview preparation and techniques. The module will also introduce you to other methods that will include aptitude test and assessment centres.
Only for students who choose Professional Experience (24 months) Pathway.
The objective of this module is to offer you a twelve-month (30-36 weeks) professional experience that is directly applicable to your studies, encouraging you to engage in critical reflection on your learning through hands-on experience. Additionally, the module seeks to develop your intellectual and interpersonal abilities, thereby deepening your critical comprehension of real-world applications.
Only for students who choose Professional Experience (24 months) Pathway.
The module builds on learning from prior modules and provides you with the experience of working collaboratively on a real, practitioner-driven Business or Policy Transformation Project. It enables you to demonstrate proficiency in relation to scoping and addressing topical issues, challenges and opportunities in a relevant field of work. Identifying, developing and presenting a business or policy transformation project will develop your ability to effectively focus, present and communicate information and ideas.
To find out more about this programme, please download the MSc Branding and Marketing Communications programme specification (PDF)..
Register your interest
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Teaching
You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.
You will develop a comprehensive blend of knowledge and skills through a dynamic mix of teaching methods, including the use of key concept videos to help you prepare for the topics, large group interactive classes, seminars, workshops and/or labs, industry engagement, and experiential learning opportunities. Knowledge is gained through active participation in workshops, independent study, group discussions, and industry-led presentations, all of which deepen understanding of marketing concepts and their practical applications.
You will be studying at our leafy north London campus in Hendon.
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
You will complete reports, literature reviews, and presentations tied to practitioner-focused tasks that simulate professional challenges. These assessments will encourage you to apply marketing concepts to innovative problem-solving, culminating in criticalreflections and the preparation
of portfolios that demonstrate their growth and expertise. This integrated approach will equip you with a nuanced understanding of marketing and innovation management, positioning you for success in both academic and professional contexts. Skills are assessed by a range of methods such as reports, presentations and a range of authentic practitioner focused assessments which develop skills in critical thinking and application.
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North London campus
Our north London campus is just 20 minutes from central London, giving you easy access to everything this vibrant city has to offer. Make the most of incredible professional opportunities, cultural experiences, and more affordable living, all within a supportive and close-knit campus community.
Learn about campus lifeFacilities and support
Our Sheppard Library has over 1000 study areas and 600 computer spaces
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Student support
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.
Additional needs
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.
Wellness
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Work while you study
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.
Careers
How can the MSc Branding and Marketing Communications support your career?
Skills and knowledge in communications can enhance many marketing roles in management, strategy, PR, advertising and communications. The course has a strong emphasis on developing an understanding of how theory can be applied in practice, preparing recent graduates with an awareness of the challenges of the sector and current practitioners with the specific knowledge for application in their careers.
Careers specific to branding and marketing communication can include:
- Marketing Executive
- Account Executive
- PR executive
- Brand Executive
- Marketing Communications Executive
Entry Requirements
At Middlesex, we're proud of how we recognise the potential of future students like you. We make fair and aspirational offers because we want you to aim high, and we’ll support you all the way. We’ll always be as flexible as possible and take into consideration any barriers you may have faced in your learning. And, if you don’t quite get the grades you hoped for, we’ll also look at more than your qualifications. Things like your work experience, other achievements and your personal statement.
Qualifications
- We normally require a second-class honours degree 2:2 or above in any discipline
- We will also accept a professional qualification of an equivalent standard
- You are welcome to apply if you do not have a formal qualification but have extensive marketing experience. You may be required to submit a GMAT score of 550 (or above) and/or come in for an interview.
Interviews
Entry onto this course does not require an interview.
We welcome students from the UK and all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:
- Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
- Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
- Work placements and networking with top London employers
- Award-winning career support to get you where you want to go after university.
Qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the accepted qualifications on your country's support page. If you are unsure of the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest international office.
English language
You will need to meet our English language requirements. And, don’t worry If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer a Pre-sessional English course.
Visas
To study with us in the UK, you might need a Student visa. Please check to see if this applies to you.
Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university. Please visit our postgraduate application page for further information and to apply.
Fees and funding
The fees below are for the 2025/26 academic year:
UK students1
Full-time students: £13,600
Part-time students: £91 per credit
Part-time students: £45 per dissertation credit
International students2
Full-time students: £18,350
Part-time students: £121 per credit
Part-time students: £66 per dissertation credit
Additional costs
We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.
- Free – laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing
- Free specialist software for your course
- And the cost of the one week marketing residential programme is included in tuition fees.
The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you will need to budget for these:
- the cost of books that you might wish to purchase.
Financial support
We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.
Postgraduate scholarships
You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:
- The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
- The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
- The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
- The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
- Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees
For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.
Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.
Help from your employer
Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.
Work while you study
If you are not currently working, we can help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.
Fees disclaimers
1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
Student Testimonials
I Just wanted to thank you very much for this amazing residential week. I believe that in a week I received such an amazing experience, which I doubt I would ever get through all my years of studying. I’m so glad you organised all these companies for us to talk about their businesses! That we had a chance to ask questions to understand how it works better. I feel much more confident after this trip and happy that I chose Middlesex instead of Kings. Best decision ever!
Alina Agarkova
Marketing Manager at Yewdale
Get answers from our Unibuddy student ambassadors
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We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.