Digital and Social Media Marketing

MSc

  • Entry year 2025
  • Duration Full time 1 year
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Overview

Top reasons to study with us

  • 6

    6th for Marketing in the UK

    QS World University Rankings by Subject (2024)

  • 10

    10th for Marketing and PR

    The Guardian University Guide (2025)

  • Top 50 for Marketing in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

Equip yourself with the skills and knowledge to thrive in digital marketing. Our MSc in Digital and Social Media Marketing is more than just a degree; it’s a gateway to limitless opportunities. Whether you aspire to work for a leading brand, start your own business, or become a digital marketing consultant, our programme will empower you to achieve your ambitions.

Employers need digital and social media marketing managers who can navigate the complexities of business and show global awareness while also acting in a sustainable and ethical manner. Our MSc in Digital and Social Media Marketing will equip you with these key skills and the critical mindset to flourish in your chosen career.

From SEO and content marketing to digital and influence partnerships, you’ll gain the skills needed to excel in the industry.

You will learn from seasoned professionals and leading academics who will bring real-world experience and insights from their own research to the classroom. Our faculty are dedicated to your success and provide personalised guidance to help you reach your goals. You will benefit from joining an academic department with a strong research agenda and teaching that embraces current thinking from their own research into the field of digital and social media marketing.

In the final part of the degree, you will have the opportunity to work on a project brief provided by a real-world client. Top-performing students will also get the opportunity to present their findings to the client directly. Students will also be required to build a digital portfolio of work suitable for sharing with an employer.

You will be joining a diverse community of like-minded individuals from around the world. Our programme fosters a collaborative environment where you can share ideas and form lasting connections with peers and industry leaders.

Course outline

In the first term, you will study the following core modules:

  • Introduction to Marketing and Global Strategy
  • Marketing Communication
  • Consumer Behaviour and Insights
  • Building Marketing Intelligence

In the second term, you will take two core modules and one optional module.

Core modules:

  • Strategic Marketing and Simulation
  • Digital Marketing and Analytics

Example optional modules:

  • Consumer Experiences
  • Marketing and Society
  • Business-to-Business Marketing
  • International Retail Marketing
  • Branding Strategy

In the third term, you will work on your Capstone project, where you’ll build essential professional skills and undertake a hands-on research project within a real marketing setting and write a Company Commissioned Dissertation, where you will dive deep into a marketing issue that aligns with your field of study.

Typical career destinations

This course is suitable for high-calibre graduates from any degree discipline who are interested in expanding their marketing knowledge and adding key digital marketing and social media skills to their existing qualifications.

The aim of this programme is to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to pursue a successful career in digital and social media in an international context. Typical career destinations include:

  • Digital marketing manager – Oversee and develop online marketing strategies, manage digital campaigns, analyse performance metrics, and coordinate with other marketing teams. Key skills: SEO, SEM, content marketing, data analytics, and project management.
  • Social Media Manager – Create, curate, and manage content on social media platforms, engage with followers, analyse social media metrics, and develop social media strategies. Key skills: social media platforms, content creation, community management, and social analytics.
  • Content Marketing Specialist – Develop and execute content strategies, create high-quality content (blogs, videos, infographics), and ensure content aligns with brand messaging. Key skills: content creation, storytelling, SEO, and strategic planning.
  • Digital Advertising Specialist – Plan and execute digital advertising campaigns (PPC, display ads, social media ads), manage advertising budgets, and analyse campaign performance. Key skills: PPC, Google Ads, social media advertising, and data analysis.
  • Email Marketing Specialist – Create and manage email marketing campaigns, segment email lists, and analyse campaign performance to improve engagement and conversion rates. Key skills: email marketing tools, copywriting, A/B testing, and analytics.
  • Influencer Marketing Manager – Identify and collaborate with influencers, manage influencer relationships, and measure the impact of influencer marketing campaigns. Key skills: influencer identification, negotiation, campaign management, and performance tracking.
  • Digital Analytics Manager – Collect, analyse, and interpret data from digital marketing campaigns, provide insights and recommendations, and develop data-driven strategies. Key skills: Data analysis, Google Analytics, statistical tools, and reporting.
  • E-commerce Manager – Manage online store operations, develop and implement e-commerce strategies, and optimize user experience to drive sales. Key skills: E-commerce platforms, digital merchandising, user experience, and sales strategy.
  • Brand Manager – Develop and maintain a brand’s image, create branding strategies, and ensure consistent brand messaging across all marketing channels. Key Skills: branding, strategic planning, market research, and creative direction.
  • Digital Consultant – Provide expert advice on digital marketing strategies, help businesses improve their online presence, and offer solutions for digital marketing challenges. Key skills: digital strategy, problem-solving, client management, and industry knowledge.

Top 50 in the world for Marketing

Lancaster is ranked 6th in the UK and in the Top 50 globally for Marketing according to the QS World Rankings by Subject 2024, one of 11 subjects at Lancaster to be featured in the top 100 in these prestigious listings.

QS Rankings 2024
QS Top 50 logo

Scholarships for 2025 entry

We are delighted to offer a selection of scholarships for Master’s programmes at Lancaster University Management School for 2025 entry.

International students

Your qualifications Programme cost without scholarship Management School Scholarship Lancaster Global Scholarship Total Scholarship amount You pay
1st class degree £32,760 £8,300 £5,000 £13,300 £19,460
2:1 degree £32,760 £5,000 - £5,000 £27,760
2:2 degree £32,760 £3,000 - £3,000 £29,760

Home students

Your qualifications Programme cost without scholarship Scholarship amount You pay
1st class degree £16,270 £5,000 £11,270
2:1 degree £16,270 £5,000 £11,270

We also offer an additional 10% discount on fees for Lancaster University Alumni. Alumni Loyalty Scholarship.

Scholarships will be applied automatically if you meet the criteria.

Scholarships information, terms and conditions

Departmental scholarships

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Entry requirements

Academic requirements

2:1 Hons degree (UK or equivalent) in any subject (except Marketing). One or two 'taster' Marketing modules may be acceptable.

If you have studied outside of the UK, we would advise you to check our list of international qualifications before submitting your application.

Additional requirements

Applicants should have no more than two years' work experience in related areas such as marketing, sales, or business development prior to starting the course.

English language requirements

We may ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification, dependent upon your nationality and where you have studied previously.

We normally require an IELTS (Academic) Test with an overall score of at least 6.5, and a minimum of 6.0 in each element of the test. We also consider other English language qualifications.

If your score is below our requirements, you may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language programmes.

Contact: Admissions Team +44 (0) 1524 592032 or email pgadmissions@lancaster.ac.uk

Pre-master’s programmes

Delivered in partnership with INTO Lancaster University, our one-year tailored pre-master’s pathways are designed to improve your subject knowledge and English language skills to the level required by a range of Lancaster University master’s degrees. Visit the INTO Lancaster University website for more details and a list of eligible degrees you can progress onto.

Course structure

Detailed module information for this postgraduate programme will follow shortly. However, if you have any questions please contact the department.

Fees and funding

Location Full Time (per year) Part Time (per year)
Home n/a n/a
International n/a n/a

General fees and funding information

Additional fees and funding information accordion

Scholarships and bursaries

You may be eligible for the following funding opportunities, depending on your fee status and course. You will be automatically considered for our main scholarships and bursaries when you apply, so there's nothing extra that you need to do.

Unfortunately no scholarships and bursaries match your selection, but there are more listed on scholarships and bursaries page.

If you're considering postgraduate research you should look at our funded PhD opportunities.

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We also have other, more specialised scholarships and bursaries - such as those for students from specific countries.

Browse Lancaster University's scholarships and bursaries.

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Making Marketing Matter

Marketing is everywhere, and in our Making Marketing Matter podcast, we introduce you to the world of marketing – everything from digital to advertising, sustainability to accessibility – that you can encounter as a student at Lancaster University.

We’ll show you what students can expect to learn on our programmes, introduce you to the experts who head up our teaching and research activities, and dive into fascinating subjects you might never have associated with marketing – from salmon farming to art exhibitions, science fiction to dark tourism and the metaverse.

Making Marketing Matter podcast

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Important Information

The information on this site relates primarily to 2025/2026 entry to the University and every effort has been taken to ensure the information is correct at the time of publication.

The University will use all reasonable effort to deliver the courses as described, but the University reserves the right to make changes to advertised courses. In exceptional circumstances that are beyond the University’s reasonable control (Force Majeure Events), we may need to amend the programmes and provision advertised. In this event, the University will take reasonable steps to minimise the disruption to your studies. If a course is withdrawn or if there are any fundamental changes to your course, we will give you reasonable notice and you will be entitled to request that you are considered for an alternative course or withdraw your application. You are advised to revisit our website for up-to-date course information before you submit your application.

More information on limits to the University’s liability can be found in our legal information.

Our Students’ Charter

We believe in the importance of a strong and productive partnership between our students and staff. In order to ensure your time at Lancaster is a positive experience we have worked with the Students’ Union to articulate this relationship and the standards to which the University and its students aspire. View our Charter and other policies.

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