Course overview

If you already hold a good degree in business which included marketing, a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Professional Diploma (Level 6) or have significant work experience in marketing and you want to achieve a Master’s in Marketing, then you should give this programme your serious consideration.

You can visit our MA Marketing pages for details of our full-time option.

Our part-time MA Marketing programme will help you to differentiate yourself from other marketers, demonstrate your commitment to achieving excellence in your chosen career and enable you to attain more senior marketing roles. You will acquire higher level marketing knowledge and skills, enabling you to:

• critically evaluate the relevance of marketing theories and related activities to organisations
• apply and adapt theories of marketing management for use within industry
• demonstrate creativity and original thinking in the design and applications of solutions to different problems
• evaluate the possible implications of new innovations and theories for the future development of marketing management that are vital to a wide range of commercial, public and not for-profit organisations

The programme has been developed in order to offer a high quality Master’s degree to students who wish to continue with their studies and career development. Delivered by experienced tutors who want to help you achieve your potential, the MA Marketing programme is ideally suited to the busy marketing practitioner who wants to consolidate their professional marketing qualifications and work experience.

Your studies will be based in Portsmouth over two years, starting in September. Over this period there will typically be ten two-day teaching blocks (Friday and Saturday) including a Research Methods workshop. Additional visits to Portsmouth will be required for revision and examinations.

The course is supported with an easy to use Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which will help you to consolidate your understanding, revise key topics, discuss issues and chat with your tutors and fellow students.

Professional accreditation

Find out more

For further information, please contact our Admissions Team (details above). We also hold regular postgraduate and part-time open evenings at which you can see our facilities, enjoy a guest lecture and meet the academics and current students over drinks and canapés. Applicants will be interested to know that each year Portsmouth Business School offers a number of scholarships for self-funding students.

Course content

This part-time programme has been developed to meet the needs of busy marketing professionals.

There are two routes to MA Marketing at Portsmouth Business School:

• Dissertation route (60 credits): a substantial piece of independent research into a marketing issue of your choice drawing on secondary and primary data
• Critical Marketing Study route (60 credits): a critical evaluation of an aspect of an organisation's marketing activities, using secondary sources only

You need to select which route you wish to follow before the programme commences. Further information and advice will be made available during induction on the first weekend for those who are unsure which route is best for them. You are welcome to discuss your choice of route with the Programme Manager.

Year 1 - Consumer and Organisational Buyer Behaviour (30 credits): this unit covers:

• behaviour learning models
• cognitive buyer behavioural models
• ebuying behaviourial models
• perceived risk
• consumer involvement
• attitudes in the buying cycle
• influences on consumer and organisational buyer behaviour
•  the differences between on and off line buying

Year 1 - Emerging Issues in Marketing (30 credits) : largely delivered by a number of external guest speakers who are experienced and specialised practitioners, this unit aims to expose you to contemporary and often controversial issues which organisations are grappling with in the real world.

Year 2 - Digital Marketing (30 credits): this unit provides you with the opportunity to explore how digital technologies are used within marketing whilst at the same time evaluating the strategic effect on business strategies. The focus is on how the use of digital technology and digital media in marketing affects operations, decision-making and strategic advantage.

Year 2 - Strategic Marketing Management (30 credits): this unit explores:

• marketing and shareholder value
• customer relationships
• growth strategies
• analysing the business environment
• competing with organisational resources
• managing products and brands for value
• value-based pricing and implementing value-based strategies
• global marketing
• B2B marketing
• services marketing
• innovation
• key account management

Teaching and assessment

Students studying MA Marketing will experience a range of teaching methods, for example, tutor-led presentation of material, in-class exercises, case study analyses, student presentations, group work and in-class discussion. All units are taught units, with the exception of the Dissertation and Critical Marketing Study, which are undertaken by you with the support and guidance of a supervisor.

Assessments will take the form of coursework assignments and examinations. Coursework assignments may take the form of presentations, essays or reports and examinations may be closed or open book. You will be encouraged to read widely and critically evaluate academic and practical materials.

No matter what your background or experience, studying for a Master’s qualification can be a demanding experience. In order to ensure that every student gets the most out of the programme, we offer an extensive support and assistance package. There is a strong culture of student pastoral support in the department and all students are allocated a Personal Tutor for the duration of their programme. A supervisor is allocated to each student at the end of Year two and provides support throughout the Dissertation or Critical Marketing Study period.

Career prospects

The highly regarded MA Marketing has consistently attracted applicants from around the world. The part-time route of the course is designed especially for busy professional marketers and will help you to differentiate yourself from other marketers, demonstrate your commitment to achieving excellence in your chosen career and enable you to attain more senior marketing roles.

This programme has been approved and accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) to provide direct entry onto the CIM’s Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing.

Facilities and features

• An induction schedule will introduce you to the University, its learning resources and your programme.
• Each student has a Personal Tutor, responsible for pastoral support and guidance.
• An easy to use online support system will help you to consolidate your understanding, revise key topics, discuss issues and chat with your tutors and fellow students.
• University support services include professional and friendly advice on careers, finance, disability and housing, and a free counseling service is also available.
• A student centre incorporating the Students Unions’ and student services.
• Excellent library facilities. The University Library is adjacent to your teaching rooms. It is open in term-time from 0800-2400, seven days a week and provides extensive study and IT facilities. You will have 24-hour internet access to leading databases, bringing you a wealth of data and information including academic and practitioner publications.
• Programme and unit handbooks provide information about the course structure and regulations.
• Written feedback is provided for all coursework assignments.
• Extensive computer facilities including personal email accounts and access to the internet.
• Academically qualified and enthusiastic staff with relevant experience including research, consultancy and links with industry.
• Wide links with companies and organisations willing to provide opportunities for invited speakers and live case studies.
• Access to learning support.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for MA Marketing (Part-time) are shown above, for more detailed information please contact:

Department: Portsmouth Business School
Tel: +44 (0)23 9284 8200
Email: pbs.postgradadmissions@port.ac.uk