Undergraduate Course 

BA (Hons)

Marketing, PR and Advertising

 Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CMI) 

Top15for Marketing and Public RelationsGuardian University Guide 2025
Top15for academic support - MarketingNational Student Survey 2024
1stfor graduate prospects (on track) - MarketingComplete University Guide 2025

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.

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.

Marketing, PR and Advertising student, Oliver Smith

Balancing Business, Sport, and Studies

Is it possible to have it all? Marketing student Oliver Smith shares his attempts to build a brand, compete in motorsport, and navigate university life as a Student Entrepreneur.

Read Oliver's blogRead Oliver's blog

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. 

An artists impression of the new Derby Business School.

New Derby Business School in the city centre

We're building a new Derby Business School, serving as an international centre of excellence. The superb new teaching facilities will build on our established reputation for inspirational teaching and research excellence, as we shape the next generation of qualified business leaders.

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Kedleston Road, Derby Campus

Big spaces for big ideas

Kedleston Road offers it all: study in our largest library, relax at Basecamp, train in real-world healthcare settings, and stay active in our state-of-the-art Sports Centre.

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What you will study

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.

Kedleston Road, Derby Campus entrance

Undergraduate Open Days

The best way to find out if studying at Derby is right for you is to experience an Open Day. Get a feel for the city and campus, tour our first-class facilities and see where you could be living.

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How you will learn

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

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:

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.

Person offering support to a student Person offering support to a student with a laptop Student smiling with tutor Tutor smiling with student and laptop

Helping you reach your full potential

Our Personal Academic Tutoring programme supports your academic journey, helping you achieve your goals and unlock your potential.

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Who will teach you

Tracy Powell

Programme Leader

Tracy Powell

Tracy Powell

Tracy is the Programme Leader for  Digital Marketing and teaches on a number of modules across all levels of the Undergraduate Marketing programmes. 

View full staff profile

Entry requirements

2025 entry

These are the typical qualification requirements for September 2025 entry.

Contextual offers may apply to students who meet certain criteria.

RequirementWhat we're looking for
UCAS points112
A LevelBBB-BBC
T LevelMerit
BTECDMM
GCSEGCSE Maths and English Grade 4/Grade C (or above) or equivalent qualification
Access to HEPass Access to HE Diploma with 60 credits: 45 at Level 3 with a minimum of Distinction: 15, Merit: 24, Pass: 6

English language requirements

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

Fees and funding

2025/26

 Full-timePart-time
UK

£9,535 per year

£1,190 per 20 credit module

International

£16,900 per year

N/A

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

Additional costs and optional extras

How to apply

Please look at our application deadlines before you apply.


UK students

If you are in Year 13 and applying for a full-time undergraduate course (including our joint honours courses), we recommend that you apply through UCAS.

Apply through UCAS

If you are applying to study part-time, or already have your qualifications, or wish to join at Year 2 or 3, you should apply directly to the University.

Apply directly to the University

Careers

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)

Getting you career ready

Your degree is only part of your story.

We're here to help prepare you for life after university.

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96%
of UK graduates are in employment or further study.

Top 5
for employability.
Uni Compare Annual Student Review Rankings 2025.

87%
of UK graduates say their current activity is meaningful.

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.

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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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Full-time

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