Branding and Marketing Communication MSc
Learn about the course below
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Viewing course details for 2025 year of entry
- Code
- PGN597
- Attendance
- Full-time
- Start
- September 2025
- Fees
- £13,600 (UK) | £18,350 (INT)
- Duration
- 1 year full-time, 2 years part-time
- Course Leader
- Sukhbinder Barn
- Study mode
- On campus
- Location
- Hendon campus
- Placement year
- Yes
- School / Department
- Marketing, Enterprise and Tourism
Why study MSc Branding and Marketing Communication at Middlesex University?
The world has changed.
Brands and the way they communicate with consumers have to demonstrate flexibility, adaptation, empathy and experience. Moreover, brands need to create conversations which build trust and communicate their value propositions in ways that resonate with the consumers at every touchpoint in their journey. The MSc Branding and Marketing Communication programme, will enable you to develop your understanding of the ‘phy-gital’ space in which brands exist and communicate.
Your course will be made up of students from a diversity of backgrounds and give you an appreciation of how the future of brand communication is about innovating naturally and adapting at will to the different marketing environments and conditions in which organisations function.
A key theme underpinning the course is about recognising change in all aspects of our lives. You will be encouraged to reflect, question and challenge conventional wisdom because you represent the future, and the programme’s philosophy is focused on creating marketing professionals who demonstrate adaptability, agility, empathy and understanding.
A course tailored with your future in mind
The course is designed with a teaching philosophy which puts you the students at the heart of the learning experience; recognising that you are future-oriented and career focused and looking to enhance your skills for employment in a range of marketing positions.
Practical learning from experienced UK marketeers
The course emphasises practical hands-on application of knowledge. We are the only University in the UK that offers you a unique practitioner focused learning experience, where we take you away for a week-long residential programme to witness ‘marketing in action.’ You will receive presentations and insights from a range of companies which have included global sports brands, cutting edge digital communication agencies as well as not-for-profit organisations.
The full cost of the residential experience is included in your tuition fees, and includes all transportation, accommodation and selected meals. For many students this is a life-changing experience and the main reason for choosing to follow this programme of study.
Benefit wherever you are in your marketing career
The programme is designed for applicants at the beginning of their marketing careers as well as those wishing to enhance and build on their expertise. We welcome students from a broad range of education and subject disciplines which adds to the vibrancy of the overall learning experience.
Recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing
Opportunities for employment in marketing, communication and advertising roles is further enhanced as programmes are recognised by 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. Middlesex University has joined forces with CIM to give our students the opportunity to gain CIM professional qualifications through their Graduate Gateway programme.
Foundation Certificate with Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA)
You will also receive a discount on fees to study for the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) globally-recognised Foundation Certificate. This will give you two stars towards the full Membership of Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (MIPA).
The IPA is the trade body for the UK advertising, media and marketing communications sector. Over 85% of media spend in the UK comes from IPA members. The Institute is incorporated by Royal Charter.
Course highlights
• Modules delivered in partnership with cutting edge advertising and communication agencies.
• Unique industry based residential programme exposing students to industry experts and practitioners which has been awarded Excellence in Marketing Education by the Academy of Marketing.
• Programme accredited and recognised by Chartered Institute of Marketing.
• Discounted fee to study for the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising globally recognised Foundation Certificate.
3 great reasons to pick this course
About your course
What will you study on the Branding and Marketing Communication MSc?
The course design recognises diversity of learning styles and approaches to learning in the student community. The hands-on focus of the programme will equip you with an advanced level of understanding and critical reflection on key brand building concepts and narratives.
You will understand the processes involved in designing effective, powerful branded content through a sound understanding of traditional and diverse range of digital media platforms through which brand messages can be communicated.
The course is designed to ensure that you are equipped with important transferrable skills in working both collaboratively and individually, which will enable smooth transition from academic study to the working environment.
You will be able to critically evaluate complex situations, to write clearly and analytically, synthesise information from a diverse range of sources and develop well-informed and justified solutions to marketing challenges.
Whether you wish to work as a marketing manager, brand or creative consultant, analyst, researcher or entrepreneur, the programme will allow you to acquire both general and specialised knowledge required to start building your chosen career.
Modules
We’ve made sure that the skills and knowledge that you’ll gain on your course will enable you to enjoy a successful marketing career.
Gain a broad perspective of the marketing practitioner through an intense and unique one week off-campus residential programme. The Residential will provide students with a practical and applied perspective of the marketing/digital marketing discipline through presentations and hands-on experience with a range of organisations. All providing their cutting-edge insights to current marketing challenges.
The Research Project is the culmination of the programme and provides students the opportunity to further develop and integrate the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme. Developing an understanding of the research process and to conduct research leading to successful completion of their Research Project.
With the support of the programme team and an individual supervisor students will propose, design, conduct, analyse, interpret and evaluate an ethically sound research project.
Creativity & innovation exists at the core of digital marketing, explore and understand the dynamics of creativity & innovation within digital marketing. Whether brands strive for disruptive innovation for consumer engagement, or product advertising and promotions to stand out and become memorable and communicate a brand message, this lies at the core of digital marketing.
Learn to analyse the role of creativity and innovation in behaviour and communications across all aspects of digital marketing applying considerations such as neuro-marketing.
You will critically review and assess digital marketing strategies of live organisations and provide insight and analysis of the latest developments in digital as well as an understanding of the processes to optimise and improve a brand’s digital communications performance.
Through an understanding of social media and advertising metrics, search behaviours and customer journey management, you will produce a coherent and evidence-based digital marketing strategy.
Explore the concepts of brand storytelling, brand personas and influencers, to provide insight into techniques for creating and nurturing brand value, as well as an understanding of the critical role brands play in creating and influencing customer experiences, culture, society, social media and in the context of today’s globalised and dynamic digital era.
We live in extraordinary times; this module presents content which reflects the evolution of the marketing discipline and brand communication strategies in the face of changing consumer behaviour and attitudes. Issues of sustainability and ethical consumption affect the ways in which brands position themselves in the minds of consumers, and the recognition that brands need to engage the hearts and minds of their consumers to remain relevant.
Students will examine and apply a range of models used for persuasion and engagement to achieve coherent brand communication strategies and brand narratives across traditional media.
You will work closely with a leading London-based advertising agency: Lucky Generals as part of the process of understanding the challenges and opportunities presented with the growth of new media channels in a dynamic digital communications sector.
This module provides you with a framework and toolkit for analysing marketing from a strategic and managerial perspective. In particular, the module will focus on the development of sustainable marketing strategies to help you understand how organisations – B2B and B2C - attempt to gain a competitive advantage in highly volatile operating environments. Therefore, through an analysis of Compulsory 15 market trends, competitive intelligence, internal strengths and informed judgement; you will assess and monitor the capability, competitive positioning, and growth initiatives, that make a difference between the high and low performance of firms within volatile markets.
Explore how and why individuals and groups engage in consumption activities and to explain why consumers tend to choose products, services, experiences, or ideas to satisfy their needs and wants. Understanding consumers is essential for digital marketing professionals. It helps organisations to create marketing strategies relevant to the needs of the target markets. Learn how to influence consumer behaviour to market products successfully.
Register your interest
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Teaching
You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We aim to model a wide range of teaching strategies and approaches on the course which you can adapt to your own setting.
How will the MSc Branding and Marketing Communications be taught?
Our approach to teaching recognises that you come with different experiences and approaches to classroom engagement as well as having your own individual learning style.
We want and encourage you to be an active participant in classroom discussions, so our teaching philosophy is based very much on practice-based learning and one which recognises that learning is not restricted to the classroom alone.
We understand that education is not just about an ability to solely demonstrate knowledge, but it’s about the application of that knowledge which distinguishes true learning.
We actively encourage you to embrace the diversity of the learning community and use this as a way of expanding and building on your overall experience.
You will be studying at our leafy north London campus in Hendon.
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
The assessment design within the programmes has a clear vision of setting challenges which reflect and resemble the tasks you are most likely to face when in employment. The strategy is designed to provide you with concrete transferable skills but also to become independent learners, team collaborators and problem solvers.
It is important that you see the learning environment as a safe space in which you can make mistakes, practice, develop and hone your skills, because we believe that you learn best when you are engaged and stimulated.
The constantly evolving nature of the marketing discipline, its arguable ‘influence’ on society and its perception as holding up a mirror to society norms, are all imperatives which cut across our assessment strategy.
You will be empowered to be co-creators of many aspects of the assessments you will complete; and you will see how we have moved away from the traditional ‘exam’ and ‘essay’ approach to one which challenges you to be critical and reflective as well as innovative, experimental and creative through practical and application based projects and assessments.
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North London campus
Our north London campus is 23 minutes away by underground train, travelling from London Kings Cross.
Learn moreFacilities and support
Our Sheppard Library provides a wide range of resources and support to help you to succeed in your studies.
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Over 1,000 study spaces including rooms for group study and over 500 computers available.
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We have one of London's biggest and best university campuses with everything you need in one place.
Our facilitiesStudent support
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.
Additional needs
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.
Wellness
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Work while you study
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.
Careers
How can the MSc Branding and Marketing Communication support your career?
Skills and knowledge in communications can enhance many marketing roles in management, strategy, PR, advertising and communications. The course has a strong emphasis on developing an understanding of how theory can be applied in practice, preparing recent graduates with an awareness of the challenges of the sector and current practitioners with the specific knowledge for application in their careers.
Careers specific to branding and marketing communication can include:
- Marketing Executive
- Account Executive
- PR executive
- Brand Executive
- Marketing Communications Executive
Entry Requirements
Qualifications
- We normally require a second-class honours degree 2:2 or above in marketing, communications, or a business related field. Applicants without a business degree will also be considered and are encouraged to apply.
- We will also accept a professional qualification of an equivalent standard
- You are welcome to apply if you do not have a formal qualification but have extensive marketing experience. You may be required to submit a GMAT score of 550 (or above) and/or come in for an interview.
Interviews
Entry onto this course does not require an interview.
We welcome students from the UK and all over the world. Join students from over 122 countries and discover why so many international students call our campus home:
- Quality teaching with top facilities plus flexible online learning
- Welcoming north London campus that's only 30 minutes from central London
- Work placements and networking with top London employers
- Award-winning career support to get you where you want to go after university.
Qualifications
We accept a wide range of international qualifications. Find out more about the accepted qualifications on your country's support page. If you are unsure of the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest international office.
English language
You will need to meet our English language requirements. And, don’t worry If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, as we offer a Pre-sessional English course.
Visas
To study with us in the UK, you might need a Student visa. Please check to see if this applies to you.
Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university. Please visit our postgraduate application page for further information and to apply.
Fees and funding
The fees below are for the 2025/26 academic year:
UK students1
Full-time students: £13,600
Part-time students: £91 per credit
Part-time students: £45 per dissertation credit
International students2
Full-time students: £18,350
Part-time students: £121 per credit
Part-time students: £66 per dissertation credit
Additional costs
We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.
- Free – laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing
- Free specialist software for your course
- Free online training with LinkedIn Learning
- And the cost of the one week marketing residential programme is included in tuition fees.
The following course-related costs are not included in the fees, and you will need to budget for these:
- the cost of books that you might wish to purchase.
Financial support
We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.
Postgraduate scholarships
You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:
- The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
- The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
- The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
- The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
- Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees
For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.
Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.
Help from your employer
Your employer can contribute towards the cost of your postgraduate study as part of their staff development programme.
Work while you study
If you are not currently working, we can help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.
Fees disclaimers
1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
Student Testimonials
I Just wanted to thank you very much for this amazing residential week. I believe that in a week I received such an amazing experience, which I doubt I would ever get through all my years of studying. I’m so glad you organised all these companies for us to talk about their businesses! That we had a chance to ask questions to understand how it works better. I feel much more confident after this trip and happy that I chose Middlesex instead of Kings. Best decision ever!
Alina Agarkova
Marketing Manager at Yewdale
Get answers from our Unibuddy student ambassadors
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We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.