Manchester Metropolitan University
MSc in Digital Marketing Communications
Manchester, United Kingdom
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
GBP 22,500 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU and non-EU international students full-time fee
Key Summary
About: The MSc in Digital Marketing Communications at Manchester Metropolitan University is accredited by the Institute of Data and Marketing and the Chartered Institute of Marketing and is a practice-focused Masters that builds evidence-based digital marketing strategy and campaign-planning skills. Taught by industry-skilled, research-active staff, the course uses collaborative teaching, live client briefs, and guest lectures. You'll get internship and networking opportunities in Manchester and learn SEO, paid advertising, content marketing, social media, UX, CRM and marketing automation.
Career Outcomes: You'll be ready for digital marketing executive, social media manager, digital account manager, content creator, or specialist roles in SEO.
The way we communicate with, reach, and engage customers has changed dramatically in the digital age. As such, opportunities for careers in digital marketing are growing all over the world.
Accredited by the Institute of Data and Marketing and the Chartered Institute of Marketing, this is a specialist course designed to develop your knowledge and skillset in evidence-based, applied digital marketing strategy and campaign planning. We welcome students from all over the world, who have a passion for digital and want to develop their professional practice and enhance their marketing career prospects.
You will develop your knowledge and skills through a mix of collaborative teaching and group workshops with industry-skilled, research-active academics, live client briefs, and specialist guest lectures.
The latest insights from the industry
This course is designed around the latest advancements in the digital environment, with modules that allow you to develop specialist digital marketing skills, highly sought after by employers.
Taught by experienced digital experts, you will gain unique insights and the vital skills needed to succeed in this rapidly expanding sector.
A world of opportunity
Outside the course, our internship and networking opportunities will offer you the chance to put your skills to the test and to make valuable contacts.
Whatever your preferred career direction, in-house, agency, or freelance, studying with us will help you find your passion and ensure you have the knowledge and skills to succeed as a strategic digital marketer.
Features and benefits
- Industry accreditation – this course is accredited by the Institute of Data and Marketing (IDM) and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). This means that the course content is professionally recognised and approved by leading, global bodies. As part of the course you’ll have the chance to take the IDM professional exam. Through our accreditation, we can offer five students per year a free place on the exam.
- Triple accredited – our Business School holds the globally recognised trio of accreditations from EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA, placing us among the best business schools in the world.
- Applied learning – build your professional portfolio as you study. Put your newly acquired skills into practice, working through a series of live coursework projects, with the added option to work on a live client brief.
- An accessible masters degree – upgrade your knowledge and skills, whatever your previous level of marketing experience.
- Rise programme – all students are eligible to take part in co-curricular activities with Rise. These might include volunteering, project work, and certifications. Find out more
- Study in Manchester – a city at the heart of digital, packed with creative companies on the lookout for talented graduates.
- Industry connections – learn with our team of experienced marketing professionals and take advantage of their links within the global digital and social media community.
- No exams – complete your masters through a series of coursework submissions.
- Employability – graduate with an industry-recognised qualification that will allow you to compete for a wide range of senior roles in the digital environment.
Course information
Digital has transformed our lives and marketing has changed with it, keeping pace and making the most of every innovation. It’s a rapidly evolving world and, with the right skills, one that’s full of opportunity.
This is a course that will help you discover what it takes to deliver, monitor and measure targeted digital marketing campaigns. Crucially, you will also get the chance to apply the theory in practice, whether working on your assignments, a live client brief or taking on an internship.
Home to a flourishing creative and digital sector, Manchester is an ideal location to develop your professional portfolio. A great location to pursue a career in digital marketing.
Flexible study
This course has multiple start dates (September and January). No matter which start date you choose, you will study all the same modules as other students, however if you opt for the January start date you will only be able to do the one-year course (without optional internship year).
Rise with Manchester Met
Rise is a programme available to all students at Manchester Met giving you the opportunity to earn practice credits on your degree through employment-enhancing activities. During your studies you can collect points for the activities you engage in and if you engage in enough activity you could receive recognition on your degree transcript.
Postgraduate students can get involved in activities such as project work, workshops, volunteering and certifications. For example, you could gain certifications with the likes of Microsoft, Adobe and the Project Management Institute free of charge. Not only are these fantastic to have on your CV but they are also transferable to a wide range of careers.
All Rise activities are organised according to themes of Digital Capabilities, Self-Effectiveness, Sustainability, Internationalisation, Enterprise and Civics. Completing a number of activities within a certain theme will also earn you micro-accreditations in the form of Digital Badges.
Year 1
You’ll study several core modules, covering topics such as strategy for digital, digital marketing practice and content strategy. From there you’ll complete your applied research proposal and project.
In addition to your core modules, you’ll also study live client brief as an option module. Whilst studying the module is compulsory, the credit-weighting of the module can be substituted for credits gained on the Rise programme in your final transcript.
Please note: The order in which you complete these modules will depend on which date you select to start the course (September or January).
Core modules
- Applied Research Proposal
- Applied Research Project
- Digital Masters Level Learning
- Digital Marketing Practice
- Strategy for Digital
- Rich User Experience
- Digital Measurement and Evaluation
- Organic and Paid Digital Practice
- Option modules
- Live Client Brief
Year 2
Only students who apply for the optional internship route will continue on to Year 2.
Option modules
- Internship Year
Business School International Postgraduate Scholarship
International students who have been accepted onto this course starting in January 2026 may be eligible for a scholarship worth £1,500 in the first year of study.
This scholarship can be combined with the Postgraduate International Scholarship, making the total value of the discount £5,000 in the first year of study. This means the fee you pay will be £17,500.
By the time you graduate, you will have developed valuable skills and the critical knowledge to succeed in this exciting, constantly evolving industry.
Employment opportunities are expanding globally. Finding roles such as a digital marketing executive, digital brand manager, social media manager, digital account manager, or content creator are just some of your options. You will also be able to explore roles in exciting new areas of this industry, such as:
- Digital Research
- Digital Marketing Strategy and Planning
- Campaign Planning and Creative Content Creation
- SEO and CRO
- Paid Advertising
- Marketing Automation and Evaluation
- User Experience
- Consumer Journey Planning
- Email Marketing and Customer Relationship Management
- Digital Marketing Consultancy
- Social Media Marketing
- Content Marketing
High-level operational and strategic planning roles could also be within your reach, where you may work on evolving digital campaigns. With your newly acquired knowledge and skills, you will also be able to pursue a freelance career in digital marketing communications, or even create your own agency.
Our graduates are working in exciting roles all over the world, with local, national, and international companies, including:
- BP
- The Co-operative Bank
- McCann
- TBWA
- The Hut Group
- SE10 PR
Study
- Full-time 20% lectures, seminars or similar; 0% placement; 80% independent study
Assessment
- Full-time 100% coursework; 0% practical; 0% examination
Ten credits equates to 100 hours of study, which is a combination of lectures, seminars and practical sessions, and independent study. A masters qualification typically comprises of 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits and an MFA 300 credits. During the course, you are likely to be required to engage in collaborative projects, practical assessments, group work activities, and to give presentations to your peers/tutors. The exact composition of your study time and assessments for the course will vary according to your option choices and style of learning.