Kardi Somerfield
Senior Lecturer in Marketing
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Advertising & Digital Marketing BA (Hons)
Key Facts
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UCAS Code
BA: N564
BA with Foundation: N561 -
Duration
Full Time: 3 Years
Full Time with Foundation: 4 Years
Part Time: 6 Years
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BBC at A Level
DMM at BTEC
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Full Time: £9,535
Part Time: £1,585 (per 20 credit module)
Foundation: £5,760
Updated 03/12/2025
Updated 03/12/2025
This is an exciting time to enter the marketing communications industry as advertisers develop campaigns for an increasingly complex and interesting media landscape. Throughout this Advertising and Digital Marketing Degree, you will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of digital platforms and traditional advertising media as you plan and create real campaigns. The Marketing and Advertising degree culminates in a pitch to a leading company in the advertising industry, providing practical preparation for work in advertising and digital marketing roles.
The advertising industry has been transformed by the digital and social media revolution. From start-ups to big businesses, from social enterprises to charities and the public sector, this discipline offers careers in a wide range of industry sectors.
Our Digital Marketing and Advertising Degree suits those interested in creativity, tech and business with recent students working at companies such as Google, Disney, YouTube, The Financial Times, MediaCom, Next, Superdrug, Sainsburys, Publicis, Bauer Media and WPP.
Professional Body: Digital Marketing Institute and Chartered Institute of Public Relations
for student positivity out of all universities in England
for Satisfied with Teaching for Marketing and Public Relations
for Satisfied with Feedback for Marketing and Public Relations
Student positivity ranking from the latest 2025 National Student Survey (NSS). Guardian data taken from the Marketing and Public Relations Subject table.
Highlights
- Numerous opportunities for work experience during the BA Advertising and Digital Marketing course
- Max your writing skills by contributing to our marketing, advertising & digital student blog or our course Instagram
- Active student community with opportunities for collaboration across each year, and the potential to get involved in a student-led Marketing Society through the Northampton Students’ Union
- Involvement with industry professionals – from top ad agencies, digital media companies and the Digital Northampton network
- 100% overall student satisfaction, NSS 2020
- HP laptop and software included with this course for eligible students. Eligibility criteria and terms and conditions apply
Pair of hands lifting a virtual reality headset from a box
A group of three students sitting with open laptops at a table in a classroom
Students standing and presenting at a screen in a classroom
Two Advertising and Digital Marketing students inspect a virtual reality headset and laptop
Two students presenting their ideas on a digital screen during a class
Student wearing a virtual reality headset
Student being filmed on a smartphone on Waterside campus
Student examines design print outs at a table.
Entry Requirements
A typical offer for BA Advertising and Digital Marketing would be:
- BBC at A Level or
- DMM at BTEC/Cambridge Technical or
- M at T level.
We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.
For information on how to apply to study with us, please see our How to Apply page.
A typical offer for the Integrated Foundation Year would be:
- DEE at A level or
- MPP at BTEC/Cambridge Technical or
- Pass (D or E) at T Level.
We welcome applications from students with a mix of A levels and BTEC/Cambridge Technical qualifications.
For more information on how to make an application please visit our How to Apply pages for Home and EU, and International students.
All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
- IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands for study at undergraduate level
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
What You'll Learn
In addition to providing great learning experiences, our Digital Marketing Degree examines the fundamental areas of thought leadership in advertising and marketing communication. A good grounding in branding, public relations and a degree in digital marketing will underpin your future career.
You will study all the elements of marketing communications including interactive and e-marketing, sales promotion, marketing research and sponsorship. You will learn about the theory and practice of the tools. You’ll obtain the skills required to work in the industry, on both the client and the agency side. Creativity is of critical importance to communications, and you are taught an appreciation of creativity. This will enable you to recognise good work, and also techniques to develop your own creative skill set.
Advertising, particularly when executed via digital media channels is more measurable than ever before. The availability of what the industry calls ‘big data’ to analyse what we consume, see, buy, think, like and believe means that research metrics will inform every marketing campaign. You will also develop the skills to work with customer insight information and artificial intelligence tools during this BA Advertising Degree.
Compulsory Modules
The purpose of this module is to introduce the concept of marketing to studentsTo explain what marketing is and to show the way in which marketing impacts on organisations, customers and other stakeholdersThe idea of creating value is central to a marketing orientation and this module seeks to explain what this means in a rapidly changing external environment.
The purpose of this module is to provide students with an opportunity to explore current and emerging practices in marketing communications across a range of industries and sectors.
The purpose of this module is to provide an opportunity for students to learn about a variety of advertising media such as Television, Radio and Out of Home and develop an understanding of the key concepts around media selection, audiences and buying. Students will go on to experience the challenge of creating a campaign, with particular focus on the creative thinking and project management, essential for an advertising environment
This module provides students with a foundation in digital marketingStudents will explore the promotional and brand-community aspects of the discipline via social media platforms and promotional contentThey will also develop the skills and knowledge to develop plans, going on to create a digital marketing campaign, selecting the right combination of tools to achieve specific, commercial objectives.
The purpose of this module is to provide an overview of the importance of consumer behaviour and the relationship between understanding consumers and its impact on businessThis module will focus on understanding the basis for consumer behaviour, and the importance to marketers in understanding the factors that affect it, including psychological, personal, social and technological factors.
In this module students will develop practical real-life skills required by professional marketersThere is a strong focus on market research, business environment, communication skills, creativity, academic and professional integrityStudents will also develop numeracy skills required of a marketing professional and apply relevant tools and techniques in a marketing context.
Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 25/26. The modules relating to the academic year 26/27 will be available from June 2026.
Our BA Advertising and Digital Marketing Course has gained accreditation from the Digital Marketing Institute. This means that as well as your degree in digital marketing, you will now be awarded an Associate level Certification from the DMI based on UON assessments (no extra tests).
You will also become a DMI Power Member for the last two years. This gives you access to over 1200 pieces of unique content including videos, tools, webinars and templates. These are created and curated by some of the world’s leading subject matter experts. If you plan to study for a Digital Marketing degree with us, you have the added benefit of knowing that your course has been approved by an internationally recognised global certification provider. DMI certification is recognised by the world’s leading employers and will help you get the job you want.
Adobe Creative Cloud
If you plan to take your career in a Content Creation route, our research shows that Adobe tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator can be both helpful and a requirement for some roles. We make this software available for students on this course, and you will have plenty of opportunities to use them if you wish.
At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.
If you join our full-time BA Advertising and Digital Marketing course at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.
Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.
To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.
*UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).
The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree in digital marketing, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.
If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements for the Advertising & Digital Marketing degree, we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year Marketing programme that includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.
Our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.
Please see our Integrated Foundation Year page for more details.
The optional placement year enables you to put into practice what you have learned on your degree and gain practical industry experience. Your course about Digital Marketing & Advertising is extended to four years and the placement is undertaken at the end of your penultimate year, this is for one year (48 weeks) and paid. If you meet the entry criteria, and choose to take up a placement year, you will find it an invaluable experience that helps you to apply your learning in your final year and prepares you for your career. We offer a lot of support in helping you to find a placement, which can be in the UK or overseas.
Where have previous Advertising and Digital Marketing students worked during their placement year?
- Rolls Royce
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Stanley Black & Decker
- Wonderbly
- Cummins
- Oracle
- 123 Internet
- Disney
Hear from previous Digital Marketing and Advertising students about their placement experience
How will I learn?
Throughout our Digital Marketing and Advertising degree, you can expect taught study to be a combination of lectures, seminars and workshops. This is usually for 12 hours per week. We recommend that you spend 24 hours per week in self-directed study time.
How will I be assessed?
A variety of individual and group-based assessments are used. This includes reports, presentations, posters, e-portfolios, projects, client briefs, multiple-choice tests and examinations.
Are there any special features for the advertising and digital marketing course?
- Many of our students choose to undertake work placements of around 4-5 months’ duration in the summer break or work on internships a couple of days each week
- There are numerous opportunities for work experience
- We are building a student community and encouraging cross-year collaboration using social media. You can see our students talking about their work on Instagram and on our student blog
- Input from industry professionals including guest speakers, live client projects, making pitches to real clients and agency staff.
Creative Practical Experiences
Experiences are at the heart of our BA advertising degree. As well as regular guest speakers and industry visits, we work on real projects with real marketing budgets. We operate as a marketing department from the first year. Typically, you will be set a brief and then develop and pitch your concept. You will work within brand guidelines, often appointing suppliers, like photographers or design agencies, to deliver your project.
Each year we seek out marketing communications projects which give our students interesting practical challenges to work on. Recently we have been designing and building Virtual Reality scenarios and working with 360° filming as part of a campaign for the Fire & Rescue Service.
Another campaign saw the students working on a cup recycling campaign with a £70K budget. They collaborated with the hospital, theatre, shopping centre and railway station and our own sustainability team on campus. The initiative won an Investors in the Environment award and is a finalist in the Green Gowns Awards (Student Engagement category). To find out more, check out the story of the Up for the Cup project.
Our final year Digital Marketing and Advertising Degree Students worked alongside the University of Northampton Marketing department for a week. This allowed them to gain valuable hands-on experience. Find out how they got on when they took over the University’s social media platforms in a ‘Student Takeover’, gaining valuable hands-on experience.
Digital Northampton
As a digital marketing and advertising student, you have an opportunity to become involved in activities and events organised by Digital Northants, which can help enhance your studies and build connections with employers. Digital Northants is a collaboration between local digital businesses, the University of Northampton and local councils, designed to support the digital innovation in the region.
Fees and Funding
2025/26 Tuition Fees
- UK Full Time: £9,535
- UK Part Time: £1,585 per 20 credit module
- UK Integrated Foundation Year: £5,760 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
- International Full Time: £15,700
- International Integrated Foundation Year: £15,700 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
- Optional Work Placement Year: £1,200
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 2025/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years. UON will adjust UK fees annually in line with Government Policy.
For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
- UK Full Time: £9,250
- UK Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
- UK Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
- International Full Time: £15,200
- International Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200 for the foundation year; thereafter standard fees apply
- Optional Work Placement Year: £1,200
For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.
For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.
Staff
Christiana Stephen
Senior Lecturer in Marketing
Martin Smith
Senior Lecturer in Marketing
Simon Wragg
Senior Lecturer in Marketing
Deborah Clewes
Senior Lecturer in Marketing
Rebecca Fakoussa
Senior Lecturer in Marketing and Entrepreneurship
Matthew Holtz
Senior Lecturer in Marketing
Ken Punter
Senior Lecturer in Marketing
Careers and Employability
You will join a world-class community of marketing professionals, who continue to support one another and our students at events and through our LinkedIn group.
The advertising and digital marketing industries provide a wide range of exciting employment opportunities for graduates, including:
- Digital media executive
- Social/online communities manager
- Account manager in a marketing communications agency
- Media planner or buyer
- Advertising planner
- Public relations consultant
- Brand or communications manager within a client organisation
Master’s Opportunities
Once you have successfully completed your BA Advertising & Digital Marketing degree, you will have the opportunity to undertake further study at postgraduate level. Benefit from our 20% alumni discount on master’s fees to give you a CV that will catch the eye of employers. Some of our industry relevant master’s degrees include:
Campus Facilities
When you study a degree in BA Advertising & Digital Marketing with the University of Northampton, you will be able to take advantage of our on-campus facilities, study areas, and services to help support you through your degree.
Learning Hub
The Learning Hub is at the heart of the campus and home to the student information desk.
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