Alex Hall – BA (Hons) Marketing

Alex was awarded the Gordon Oliver Prize for his performance on the BA (Hons) Marketing degree.

'When I first joined the University of Portsmouth, it was to do an entirely different course in a completely different department. Within a week I had changed to marketing following a total change of heart with regards to my initial choice.

This may not be the best start to a testimonial, however the fact that I have now graduated with good grades and recognition of my efforts over the past four years on the marketing course is testament to the quality of Portsmouth Business School and its staff.

One thing you find when you start a course is that there are always going to be parts you find harder or more trying than others, but that is no different to anything else. You find that the yardstick you measure yourself by is the sense of achievement felt when successfully completing these harder, tougher aspects of the course than those you found easier.

The BA (Hons) Marketing course has tried and tested me on numerous occasions but the dedication of the staff has invariably made those trials worth the time and effort.

Commendation or otherwise, I wouldn't change my time at Portsmouth Business School for anything else as it enabled me to reach things previously outside my grasp.'

Natalie Moore – BA (Hons) Marketing

'I enjoy the fact that we get to study a range of subjects within marketing. All the facilities within Portsmouth Business School are modern and the University offers a lot of academic help, for example the Maths Café and the Careers and Recruitment service. The Library is home to a vast amount of books, magazines and journals, and we also have access to online resources.

On the social side I belong to a group called VIP (Volunteering in Portsmouth) and I help out on special days arranged for the local community such as OAP Valentine Dinners and Santa's Little Helper days.'

Jazmin Beale – BA (Hons) Marketing

'I chose a degree in marketing as I enjoyed business studies at A Level and have always found the more creative side of business fascinating.

The first year was a general business year, and although I originally was disappointed as I wanted to get ‘stuck in’ with marketing, I found it invaluable as it has given me a good introduction and overview of all business elements. This leaves the flexibility to change course if you’re not one hundred per cent sure about which part of business you enjoy the most after completing A Level.

I love my course and have backed up the theory learnt in lectures by trying to get as much work experience as I can; in my second year I volunteered for two local organisations fulfilling their marketing plans.

Portsmouth Business School is great; the lecturers are really engaging and the support staff are very friendly and always on hand if you have a problem. The modern facilities make learning much easier, and the state-of-the-art IT resources make me feel more confident with business systems within the workplace.'

Annika Franklin – BA (Hons) Marketing

'I am currently on a 12-month placement at Mars UK, which is part of my four-year sandwich degree in BA (Hons) Marketing. I chose this course for many reasons; mainly because it offered the choice of working a year in industry but also due to the variety of modules and business areas that would be studied.

My first year covered business-based modules and this linked in well to my second year which was more marketing specific. The degree has given me a great insight into business and also into the more specific areas of marketing. The course is exciting and provides challenging and interesting modules.

So far my current year in industry is helping to put the theories I have learnt in my degree into practice. The BA (Hons) Marketing degree has provided me with great foundations for my year in placement but also for the future.

Studying at Portsmouth Business School is an excellent experience. It offers great resources and a friendly atmosphere to study and meet new people.

The lecturers and support staff have been very helpful and supportive throughout my first two years. The University as a whole has excellent resources to support and help you through your study, especially the newly refurbished Library.'

Adam Pankhurst – BA (Hons) Marketing

'The first year of the BA (Hons) Marketing course covers all business areas. This is vital knowledge as marketers no longer work in isolation of other areas and are expected to work with specialist knowledge from other business disciplines.

In the second and third years the degree narrows down to focus on more marketing-specific disciplines such as buyer behaviour and marketing communications.

I chose marketing because it is such an expansive area to study that you can do a lot with the degree. Furthermore I feel it is one of the more demanding areas of business as it is one that is constantly changing and providing new challenges.

This degree appealed to me particularly as it gives you a wide knowledge of different areas within marketing whilst providing enough detail on each to help you make any future career choices.

The fact that the degree can be combined with a placement year was a big attraction to me, and it is an opportunity which I have taken securing a placement at Microsoft UK for my third year.

From the degree I feel I am not only acquiring all the knowledge-based skills required but other skills such as team working and time management, which are essential skills to have learnt.

In the long term I would like to become a brand manager, thus the skills I will have learnt in units such as buyer behaviour or public relations are invaluable. In addition, the vast experience my placement year will offer should help me to be successful in my career goal.

The Business School is based in a modern building, fully equipped with computer suites and learning resources. Staff are extremely helpful and always willing to answer any questions that you may have.'