MSc Marketing & User Experience

Delivery:
Full time according to Funding Council definitions, Sandwich (Thick) out of college.

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Accredited by:

This conversion course is delivered by the Business School, which has AACSB accreditation in recognition of our focus on excellence in all areas. It’s something that fewer than 5% of business schools worldwide have achieved, so you can be sure you’re in good hands. This course is also accredited by the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM) which means you may be eligible to sit an extra exam to achieve the IDM Professional Certificate alongside your degree.

Digital and technical skills are highly sought after by a wide range of professionals. User experience designers are increasingly being asked to demonstrate social science skills and business acumen, as well as technical knowledge.

This course aims to provide you with a deeper knowledge of marketing combined with the technical skills to design and manage the user experience – the combination of which will make you highly employable.

You’ll be introduced to a range of digital marketing concepts and integrated marketing communication campaigns, as well as learning how to design and develop digital products, services and solutions by applying human centred design principles and techniques. You will also explore the psychological theories of decision making and behaviour change and design methods for persuasive technology.

This course will suit those with a background in business, management or marketing, computer science or information and technology management who wish to advance and reorient their marketing and user experience skills, knowledge and techniques.

You will also have the option to complete a 30-week work placement with a UX employer to help increase your employability even further.

See Course details for more information, including how this course will be delivered safely in autumn 2020 in response to Covid-19.

Image description — Executive Business Centre

Key information

Next start date:

September 2020, January 2021, September 2021

Location:

Bournemouth University, Talbot & Lansdowne Campus

Duration:

September: 1 year full-time. January: 16 months full-time; 2 years with optional 30-week work placement

Accreditations:

The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and Institute of Data & Marketing

Entry requirements:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject or equivalent. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

International entry requirements:

If English is not your first language you'll need IELTS 6.0 (Academic) with a minimum of 5.5 in each component, or equivalent. For more information check out our full entry requirements.

Course details

September 2020 – course information

During your first semester (September to January), your course will be delivered online, using interactive platforms that will replicate the experience of being in a lecture theatre or seminar room.

You’ll have opportunities to interact with your lecturer and fellow students just as you would have done in any other year.

We hope to have a full programme of face-to-face sessions on campus for all courses from January if government guidelines permit.

You will be able to use the Library, the Student Centre, Open Access Centre and social learning spaces, subject to physical distancing measures to undertake group and other work.

There will be no other changes to the content of your course as a result of Covid-19; we will deliver all of the units we have previously promised we would, and we are not making any changes to the individual learning outcomes on your course.

It’s important that you know these changes are temporary and that we will be back to our usual on-campus experience as soon as national guidance makes it possible.

See our Coronavirus FAQs for the latest information from BU.

This is the latest information, updated on 20 July. We will update this page when more information is available, and we can confirm any additional on-campus activity.

Core units

Digital Marketing: You will be introduced to a range of digital marketing concepts underpinned by the digital marketing planning process including analysis, planning, implementation and control. Emphasis will also be placed on evaluating the effectiveness of various digital marketing tools
Human Centred Design: Computer-based interactive systems refers to as a spectrum of digital products, services and solutions that interact with human users in business, social and global contexts. This unit will help you learn how to design and develop systems by applying human centred design principles and techniques and carrying out relevant activities in the planning and management to satisfy both business needs and its user requirements.
Integrated Marketing Communication: Integrated marketing communications aim to create a seamless customers’ experience to interact with the brand/organisation. You will develop the practical skills to plan and implement an integrated marketing communication campaign - the conceptual framework for planning, determining marketing communication options, developing realistic digital marketing objectives, budgeting and allocating resources, evaluating the effectiveness and the strategic use of media channels.
Omnichannel Strategy & Supply Chain management: In this unit you will apply the operational, managerial and strategic uses of technology and strategic management information systems to a global omnichannel business environment, considering the end-to-end process of product development and marketing/selling business-to-business and business-to-consumer.
Persuasive Technology & Behaviour Change: The unit will cover the mainstream psychological theories of persuasion, influence, decision making and behaviour change besides their application on a wide range of domains including health, business and e-learning. Analysis and design methods for persuasive technology solutions will also be studied.
Research Methods & Professional Issues: Research requires a structured and disciplined approach at all stages, from the initial literature search through investigation and experimentation to dissemination of findings. This unit will develop your research skills in areas such as planning, literature review, qualitative research, quantitative research, mixed methods, design science research, critical analysis of research findings, academic writing, and dissemination.
Research Project: An opportunity to undertake a significant piece of self-managed research in an area that interests you.

Optional work placement

The placement is intended to foster personal and professional development, and to help you to make a connection between academic learning and the working world.

You should consider how a range of management theories can be used, and if management in industry could be improved. The transferable skills developed will improve your performance in your future career, both as employee and manager.

Programme specification

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the university's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively please contact us for assistance.

Download the programme specification (pdf 124kb)

Placements

An exciting and valuable part of your studies with us is the opportunity to gain valuable experience through full-time paid industrial placements, for a minimum of 30 weeks. You will have the option to start your placement when the taught units of the course are finished, before the dissertation.

Find out more about placements for postgraduate students

What support is available?

We provide a lot of support for you to help you find work, including a block of seminars, covering topics such as writing a CV and a covering letter, completing an application form, performing well in interviews, and we also provide language support to assist you with the written elements of your applications.

However, it is ultimately your responsibility to find work. The university does not guarantee that you will find a place. As you all probably know, it is hard work finding a job, and for this reason, many students change their mind once they are here, and choose a taught unit instead of doing the placement.

During your time on placement you will be supported by a unit tutor and a placement development advisor who will visit you on placement and keep in touch by phone and email.

International students

If you choose to do a placement as part of your course:

If you have previously studied in the UK, we will consider any study limit that may apply. We will issue your CAS according to the length of time you are entitled to under UKVI regulations (if you do not have enough time left for a work placement year, we will issue your CAS to cover your course dates only).

If you decide after you have enrolled on your course that you do not want to do a placement, this will be reported to the UKVI when you have successfully completed your course.

If you choose not to do a placement as part of your course:

We will note this on your CAS and your visa will only be granted long enough to cover your taught course, excluding placement.

If you change your mind while you are here and decide you want to do a placement, you will need to leave the UK to make a new Tier 4 visa application for the additional year of study. You would need to pay for your return travel back to your home country, as well as the cost of a new Tier 4 student visa application.

Your application

This course may suit applicants who:

Demonstrate a passion for computing science
Demonstrate a passion for marketing and business management
Can evaluate theory and business practice
Communicate effectively in both written reports and among peers
Can show an awareness of the importance of user experience within all business activity.

What we’re looking for

We expect our students to be hard working and enthusiastic, open to new ideas and prepared to work with others to achieve the high standard of industry professionals that BU is renowned for.

You should have a strong interest and passion for extending your skills and knowledge, especially during the final stage of the course when you must research one topic of interest and write a 15,000 word dissertation on this subject.

Selection methods

How and when to apply

There is no application deadline for this course. However, if you will need a visa to come to the UK to study, think carefully about the length of time it will take for your visa application to be processed and make sure your visa will be ready in time for the beginning of your course.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

The normal requirements for embarking upon a postgraduate taught degree are:

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in any subject or equivalent.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow – some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

International entry requirements

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

China: 学士学位 (Bachelor degree) with a minimum of 65% overall
Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution in Nigeria
Thailand: Thai Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution.
Vietnam: Bachelor's degree/Bang tot nghiep dai hoc with an average score of at least 7.0, or a Master’s degree/Thac si.
Turkey: Bachelor’s Degree (Lisans Diplomasi -four years) to be considered for a postgraduate course at BU.

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.0 with minimum 5.5 in each component, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level.

Careers

Typical starting job roles

Further study

Costs and fees

You can find full information about the deposits required and how to pay your fees in our postgraduate fees and funding section, including details of the Postgraduate Loan (subject to fee status).

All fees are quoted in pounds sterling and are per annum. Fees quoted are for tuition only unless stated otherwise. Your tuition fees will be the same for each year of your course.

No hidden extras

What’s included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

Materials for laboratory and field-based teaching activity
Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement
A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service
The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces
IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) scheme
Disability and additional learning support
The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills
24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.

Costs of living and other expenses you need to consider

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

Accommodation and living costs. Our accommodation price guide can be found on our website.
Optional fieldwork travel, outdoor wear and footwear (where applicable)
Text books, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campuses.
Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas). Information about funding your placement year can be found on the website.

Repeat units

Deposits

International (non-EU) students need to pay a non-refundable £2,000 deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Financial help available from BU

Our staff

On this course you will be taught by staff with relevant expertise and knowledge appropriate to the content of the unit. This could include senior academic staff, qualified professional practitioners and research students, many of whom are actively engaged in research and/or professional practice which is integrated into the teaching of this course. Please note that staff can change.

Dr Maheshan De Silva Kanakaratne - Course Coordinator

Prior to joining academia, Maheshan held a number of marketing/sales roles with multinationals such as Unilever, 3M and Dilmah. He also has several years of experience working for and consulting SMEs in industries such as mobile technology, exports and commercial services.

His research primarily focuses on customer loyalty in the retail sector but has worked on other projects investigating aspects such as ethical consumption. He currently works on a number of research projects focusing on customer loyalty, subscriptions services, ethical fashion marketing and web-rooming.

View Dr Maheshan De Silva Kanakaratne's staff profile

MSc Marketing & User Experience

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