International Marketing (Top-up) - BA (Hons)
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry. Switch to 2025/26 Entry
September 2024 — UCAS code N550
Want to top up your marketing degree in Birmingham? Our BA (Hons) International Marketing (Top-Up) course allows you to learn in our in-house marketing agency, The Link. Our international marketing top-up degree gives you the chance to broaden your knowledge of marketing within the global business environment....
Qualifications Required
Rather than points this course has specific qualifications required. See below for details.
Clearing places available
This Course Requires Specific Qualifications
Please refer to entry requirements below.
- Level Undergraduate
- Study mode Full Time
- Location City Centre
- Award BA (Hons)
- Start date September 2024
- Fees View course fees
- School Birmingham City Business School
- Faculty Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
Clearing 2024
Qualifications required
Want to top up your marketing degree in Birmingham? Our BA (Hons) International Marketing (Top-Up) course allows you to learn in our in-house marketing agency, The Link.
Our international marketing top-up degree gives you the chance to broaden your knowledge of marketing within the global business environment. We’ll teach you to apply your knowledge to real business scenarios, helping you to progress into employment, having already dealt with many situations you find in the working world.
What's covered in this course?
You’ll be put into a range of exciting and innovative scenarios, strengthening your expertise and learning from different cultures and experiences.
On this top-up year, you will take a range of advanced modules that look at current marketing methods and contemporary business issues, such as contemporary advertising, e-business and marketing strategy and planning.
Hands-on learning will go alongside more conventional teaching methods like lectures and seminars on this course. You’ll be put in a range of scenarios, such as assuming the role of an international marketing manager, strengthening your expertise in the areas employers want. You’ll get to mix and collaborate with students on other marketing courses and exchange different ideas and experiences.
The course combines business theory with exciting current marketing themes, such as emerging digital media and the importance of a positive consumer experience. From day one, you’ll start to understand how organisations operate and what their current challenges and opportunities are. You’ll look at how emerging technologies and consumer experience can have a profound effect on how successful a business can be.
You’ll have the opportunity to work on real-life briefs with real clients, thanks to our own student marketing agency, The Link, which is run by our undergraduates and students take on live client briefs, with our students recently getting to work on a campaign for the Bullring.
You will benefit from close tutor support and form strong partnerships with our staff. They are all marketing experts who have had successful careers, and they’ll share their experience and marketing know-how with you.
Why Choose Us?
- We have a strong focus on employability and through placement opportunities and our links with local businesses, we aim to ensure you graduate not only with your degree but also with the skills and knowledge needed to embark on your chosen career.
- The STEAMhouse offers amazing opportunities for entrepreneurial students to kick start and build a business. Services available include the Incubator which helps focus and solidify business ideas and the Hatchery which offers support in getting your business off the ground.
- We pride ourselves on being the University for Birmingham and supporting and giving something back to the local business community. We have strong links with local businesses in the city across several industries. These links help us enhance students’ experiences by giving them access to industry experts for guest lectures, exciting placement opportunities and other chances to engage with the business community as a whole.
- We aim to infuse learning with exposure to real-world experiences. Through the Link Agency we give students the chance to work on real-life projects using industry-standard software and with real-world clients. These offer a unique opportunity for students to gain this invaluable experience while they study.
Open Days
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Open Day: 19 October 2024
Entry Requirements
These entry requirements apply for entry in 2024/25.
All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.
Qualifications required
Essential requirements
Accepted qualifications include:
- ABE Advanced Diploma: At least a grade B in two modules and the qualification must be in a relevant subject area.
- Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE): Pass with 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5, in a related pathway. Acceptance will be Subject to satisfactory comparability of modular content at level 4 and 5. A transcript will be required.
- Foundation degree (Level 5): Pass with 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5, in a related pathway. A minimum of 60% overall must be achieved. Acceptance will be subject to satisfactory comparability of modular content at level 4 and 5. A transcript will be required.
- Higher National Diploma (HND): Pass with 120 credits at level 4 and 120 credits at level 5, in a related pathway. A minimum of a Merit profile overall. Acceptance will be subject to satisfactory comparability of modular content at level 4 and 5. A transcript will be required.
Applications are considered on an individual basis.
If you are an EU/international student, please see 'Additional information' below.
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £9,250 in 2024/25
- Apply via Clearing
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: BA (Hons)
Starting: Sep 2024
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 1 year
- £16,085 in 2024/25
Places available to start in September 2024
If you'd like to start this course full-time this September, you can apply through Clearing.
International and part-time students can apply online as normal using the links above.
Want to start in September 2025? You can start your application via UCAS now.
Personal statement
UK / EU students are required to submit a personal statement as part of their application for this course.*
The personal statement gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:
- Course choice - Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?
- Career plans - If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.
- Work experience - Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.
- School or college experience - Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.
- Non-accredited skills or achievement - eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Worried about Personal Statements?
If you've got no idea where to start or just want to check you're on the right track, we’ve got expert advice and real examples from our students to help you nail your personal statement. You can even download our ultimate personal statement guide for free.
*Non-EU students are not required to submit a personal statement when applying for this course.
Course in Depth
Year One
In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits).
Marketing is usually involved in providing information used in strategic decision-making and is often in the forefront of executing such decisions. It is very important for marketers to have an understanding of strategy and planning as it enables marketing activities to be directed to the specific needs of that organisation. You must appreciate the complexities of preparing and implementing longer-term, customer-focused plans and the significant role of marketing and management in contributing to the core vision of the organisation and the achievement of its plans.
Let me ask you something... Could you tell me the main benefits of the next smartphone that you're hoping to buy? Is it the 256GB of storage? The HD retina display? Perhaps the pixel resolution on the camera? Now, could you tell me the impact that the production of that phone has on the environment and on society? Would you consider giving up your smartphone for the greater social good?
These types of questions, and the issues of ethics, social responsibility and sustainability in business, have moved from the marginal to the mainstream during the last 50 years. As such, society is increasingly looking to develop a long-term, sustainable vision for the future that considers the social and environmental impact of business decisions, not just the financial gains.
Whilst Marketing has contributed to the problem of over-consumption, this module aims to provide you with an understanding of the role that marketing has to play in meeting the needs of the sustainability agenda. It identifies the nature and extent of the challenges facing organisations and considers potential approaches for addressing these. In doing so, it aspires to create a vision of the future in which organisations, consumers and government can realise a one planet business strategy.
This module aims to equip you with the conceptual knowledge needed to develop your understanding of Digital Analytics for Marketing. It explores a diverse range of activities that comprise Marketing Analytics as it pertains specifically to Digital Marketing campaigns in order to enable you to appreciate the major differences between traditional and Digital Marketing analytics at a strategic level.
Creative marketing communication tools and techniques are continuously evolving. In line with the programme aims you will use both academic theory and current industry to develop a full advertising proposal and pitch, mirroring the work that advertising agencies do. This distinct opportunity to develop the skills need to both develop and present advertising concepts is vital for a successful career in this area. Taking this comprehensive view of the industry, you will critique current practices and theoretical concepts in order to create your own campaign.
Culture is generally accepted by marketing researchers as one of the most important underlying determinants of consumer behaviour. Geert Hofstede himself has stated that if there is one aspect of business that is culture-dependent, it is consumer behaviour. Considering that marketing is about consumers to begin with, it is crucial for marketers to understand and predict the behaviour of consumers in all markets they serve. As businesses expand into new national and international markets, dealing with differences in cultural values amongst consumers can be quite challenging, which in turn has implications on the development of viable marketing strategies.
The module provides you with an introduction to the main issues of international business. This module deals with the cultural, administrative, geographical and economic differences around the world and how these differences shape businesses today. Three fundamental issues that this module addresses are: (i) the differences among domestic, international and global firms; (ii) the attributes of multinational corporations (MNCs) and finally; (iii) the determinants of success in international business.
Download course specification
Download nowEmployability
This course allows you to tailor your study around the job role and the career you want. By teaching you to apply what you learn to real business scenarios, you can walk into employment, having already dealt with many situations you find in the working world.
You’ll have many opportunities to work with actual businesses and build your CV. These arise through The Link, our very own marketing agency, and university competitions, Employability Challenge Week, the Leadership Challenge, well as activities and competitions further afield.
The specialist marketing modules will give you the opportunity to strengthen and prepare you to move towards a career in the marketing industry.
International
Welcome to Birmingham City University, home to students from over 70 countries all around the world!
Our Business programmes are practice based and many have an international focus, which means your course will be entirely relevant to today’s business world. Almost all of our courses, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level, are open to international students.
We also have links with universities across the world, including Europe, the USA, China, India and Malaysia.
International ServicesOur international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Facilities & Staff
Our Facilities
We are constantly investing in our estate and have spent £400 million on new learning facilities.
The Curzon Building
This course is based at our City Centre Campus – and specifically The Curzon Building, alongside other Social Sciences, Law and Business students.
The £63m building offers students a unique social learning space, including a dedicated student hub incorporating student support services, in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside development.
The Business floors house an extensive number of IT facilities, breakout areas, and specialised rooms. The Marketing Link Agency is designed to replicate a modern marketing firm, allowing students to get real-life experience of working in the marketing sector. There is also the City Trading Room, which features state of the art stock market tracking equipment, keeping you up to date with all the financial comings and goings of the London Stock Exchange and Wall Street.
The Curzon building is also conveniently close to Birmingham’s business and financial centre, allowing for strong links between your studies and the real world.
The Curzon Building also features:
- An impressive library with access to over 65 million full text items and stunning views of Eastside City Park
- Your Students’ Union which is located in a beautifully restored 19th century pub, The Eagle and Ball
- A modern 300-seat food court with space to study and socialise
- Accessible IT facilities with full Office365 for all students for free
- Shared facilities with the wider campus including the Parkside Building and Millennium Point
Our staff
David Cashmore
Senior Teaching Fellow, Course Leader for Undergraduate Marketing Programmes
David joined BCU in 2017 as a Senior Teaching Fellow in Marketing. With 20 years' experience in industry, David has held senior marketing roles in a diverse range of B2B companies, ranging from SMEs through to large global corporations.
More about David