Key information
Accreditation:
This course is Accredited
Typical offer:
112 -120 points from 3 A levels, or equivalent
Showing content for section Overview
Overview
With technology reshaping marketing every day, digital marketing skills are in demand across industries — and need constant development to keep up with the sector.
This course builds your digital marketing knowledge as you work for an employer, and prepares you to continue developing your skills after you graduate. You'll explore topics like marketing analytics, search marketing, user experience, marketing communications, digital content creation, and more, all of which you can apply immediately in your workplace.
As a degree apprentice you'll be working for a company as you study, so you'll graduate with years of workplace experience in addition to your degree qualification. And with assessments that focus on applying your knowledge with real-life case studies and live-client projects, this degree gives you the skills and experience you'll need to progress your career and prepare for your future in the industry.
When you study a degree apprenticeship, you make an agreement with the University and your employer. You employer pays your tuition fees so there is no fee cost to you as the apprentice, and you agree to spend at least 20% of your time at your job studying.
You'll study mostly through online learning, with both pre-recorded and live sessions so your studying is flexible to suit you, and attend campus for three days per year in either Portsmouth or London depending on where you work. You'll attend one day at the start of each study block in September, January and April.
Accreditation
Top 30
for student satisfaction
(Times Higher Education, 2024)
The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), the world’s leading professional body for marketing, has approved BA (Hons) Digital Marketing (DA) at University of Portsmouth for exemptions on CIM qualifications.
In addition to graduating with a degree, students studying BA (Hons) Digital Marketing (DA) will be able to gain industry-recognised qualifications at an accelerated pace.
The University of Portsmouth has developed strong links with CIM and our teaching content has been developed alongside CIM’s learning outcomes to ensure that course content is aligned to industry requirements.
Find more about CIM’s Accredited Degree programme.
The University of Portsmouth has earned business accreditation from the AACSB in recognition of the outstanding quality of its business and management education. Less than six percent of the world's schools offering business degree programs hold AACSB business accreditation.
This course is accredited by The Institute of Data and Marketing (IDM). The IDM has over 30 years of experience helping marketers reach the next level in their careers by offering a portfolio of qualifications and training courses, all informed by industry and underpinned by core principles and best practice. Students taking an IDM-accredited course are eligible to sit a 2-hour online assessment to achieve the IDM Certificate in Digital and Data-Driven Marketing.
Contact information
Contact Degree ApprenticeshipsEntry requirements
Typical offers
- 112 -120 UCAS points from 3 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
- Applicants with relevant work experience will also be considered.
- All applicants to the Degree Apprenticeship courses must have an acceptable Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics. Acceptable qualifications include GCSE with grade C/4 or above and Functional Skills with Pass - please note that we are not able to accept all kinds of Level 2 qualifications, so if you are unsure whether you have a suitable qualification please get in touch. If you do not have an acceptable qualification you will be required to take an additional assessment during the application process.
Selection process
All applicants will be required to complete a Skills Gap Analysis before completing an application form.
All applicants will be invited to attend an academic interview and may be asked to submit a portfolio of work or undertake additional assessment.
Typical offers
- 112 -120 UCAS points from 3 A levels, or equivalent (calculate your UCAS points)
- Applicants with relevant work experience will also be considered.
- All applicants to the Degree Apprenticeship courses must have an acceptable Level 2 qualification in English and Mathematics. Acceptable qualifications include GCSE with grade C/4 or above and Functional Skills with Pass - please note that we are not able to accept all kinds of Level 2 qualifications, so if you are unsure whether you have a suitable qualification please get in touch. If you do not have an acceptable qualification you will be required to take an additional assessment during the application process.
Selection process
All applicants will be required to complete a Skills Gap Analysis before completing an application form.
All applicants will be invited to attend an academic interview and may be asked to submit a portfolio of work or undertake additional assessment.
Careers and opportunities
This BA (Hons) Digital Marketing Degree Apprenticeship prepares you for a range of careers across digital marketing, whichever sector you work in. You'll build skills to help you progress your career and benefit your current employer.
By applying the knowledge you gain during your studies to your workplace, you'll boost your future employability and skills as you prepare to progress your career — whether you choose to continue with your current employer after you graduate or apply for roles across the industry.
The need for skilled marketing graduates is growing. The Digital Marketing Institute (DMI, 2023) has highlighted a significant digital skills gap within the corporate sector, particularly in topics like data analysis, general digital marketing, social media expertise, digital strategy, and UX design — and the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM, 2023) reports that enhancements in various digital marketing domains remain limited, listing skills related to content marketing, analytics and data, and PPC show modest improvement.
Digital marketing graduates could continue to roles such as:
- campaign assistant
- marketing assistant
- paid social senior account executive
- content creator
- SEO analytics officer
- social media executive
By studying an accredited degree, you'll be eligible to apply for professional registration at associate grade for the Chartered Institute of Marketing, Institute of Direct & Digital Marketing, and BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, when you graduate. The Chartered Institute for IT will recognise this apprenticeship for entry onto the register of IT technicians confirming SFIA level 3 professional competence.
Ongoing careers support
Towards the end of your degree and for up to five years after graduation, you’ll receive one-to-one support from our Graduate Recruitment Consultancy to help you find your perfect role.
Modules
Modules studied
Core modules
You'll discover the foundations of organisational behaviour and its implications for marketing, and gain insights into the dynamic environment in which marketing operates.
You'll build your understanding of digital analytics and how they're used to develop successful digital marketing strategies, and develop practical digital marketing skills to use in your workplace.
On this module you'll build the key skills you need to to understand the sources of data, and turn it into useful and actionable insights to support managerial decision making.
During this module you'll explore the the theory and processes involved in creating engaging digital content.
Build the skills and knowledge to apply your marketing understanding in your workplace.
You'll explore marketing concepts and prepare to apply them to a variety of real world scenarios and case studies, both individually and in groups.
Core modules
You'll gain the knowledge and practical experience to create engaging and informative digital narratives that resonate with your target audiences. You'll complete workshops and practical assessments as you develop the skills and knowledge you need to produce responsible, sustainable, and ethical marketing messages, campaigns, and brand guidelines.
The module has a strong practical focus. You'll apply your marketing theory and practical skills to build your creative portfolio, and enhance your practical digital marketing skills ready for the workplace.
You'll apply academic research methods in a practical piece of research for a live client.
When you finish this module you'll understand the role of PR in managing stakeholder relationships, and understand the tools and techniques used in PR.
You'll build the skills and knowledge you need to understand search marketing, which is core to several digital marketing strategies.
You'll learn the basic principles of planning and conducting UX research, and explore the pros and cons of a range of attitude versus behaviour-focused methods, and qualitative versus quantitative research methods.
Core modules
You'll learn about the key tools and technologies used to engage audiences and how to identify, understand and evaluate key digital marketing metrics.
You'll use a data set to address a real consumer, business or societal issue as you learn to apply your understanding. This module does not assume any prior technical skills.
You'll use theoretical concepts, practical case studies, interactive exercises, and insightful guest lectures featuring industry professionals, to grow your understanding of the core principles of marketing and digital marketing.
You'll cover key concepts, tools, and techniques that are essential for formulating and implementing effective digital marketing strategies that align with global business objectives.
You'll explore the dynamic nature of the global digital landscape — highlighting issues of responsible, sustainable, and ethical marketing approaches and how these contemporary marketing issues impact organisations strategic digital marketing decision making.
You'll learn to conduct independent research and complete a project on a topic you choose.
Core modules
Your report will focus on your Work Based Project, and explore your learning outcomes and personal reflections.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
How you'll spend your time
Most of the teaching on this course is online. We use a combination of scheduled sessions and online learning in your own time.
You'll attend the University campus for three days a year, for one day at the beginning of each teaching block in September, January and April. Depending on your location you'll attend our Portsmouth or London campus.
When you study this course you can expect:
-
to study part-time
-
the course to be delivered over 3 teaching 'blocks'
-
to attend one day on campus at the start of each teaching block
You’ll need the full support of your current employer to study for one day a week — otherwise you could apply to work for an employer which is seeking to recruit degree apprentices.
Teaching
On-campus teaching for this course may include:
- workshops
- tutorials
How you're assessed
Your degree modules will be assessed through multiple methods, which may include:
- presentations
- reports
- essays
You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do the academic assessments that count towards your final mark.
Term dates
The academic year runs from September to June. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter regardless of whether you start your studies in September or January.
Supporting you
The amount of timetabled teaching you'll get on your degree might be less than what you're used to at school or college, but you'll also get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you'll also have access to our student engagement officers. They can give you confidential, impartial advice on anything to do with your studies and personal wellbeing, and refer you to specialist support services if you need extra help or support.
The Maths Cafe offers free advice and help with maths skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop, or use our online resources.
You'll have help from a team of study support tutors. Based within the Faculty of Business and Law, these tutors are familiar with the specific requirements your assignments and work closely with faculty academics. This means they can give you focused support with the specific study skills you need to be successful on your course. They're available face-to-face, by phone, email, and by video call.
They can help with:
- academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations, projects and literature reviews)
- reflective writing skills
- critical thinking skills
- delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
If you're a mature student, specialist support to help you return to learning is available.
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
The payment of the course fee is shared between the Government and some employers, meaning no cost to you as the degree apprentice. Total tuition fees are £21,000 paid over 3 years.
Please see our Degree Apprenticeships page, or contact us, for further information.
The payment of the course fee is shared between the Government and some employers, meaning no cost to you as the degree apprentice. Total tuition fees are £21,000 paid over 3 years.
Please see our Degree Apprenticeships page, or contact us, for further information.
Additional course costs
These course-related costs aren’t included in the tuition fees. So you’ll need to budget for them when you plan your spending.
Additional costs
Our accommodation section show your accommodation options and highlight how much it costs to live in Portsmouth.
You’ll study up to 6 modules a year. You may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module.
You can borrow most of these from the Library. If you buy these, they may cost up to £60 each.
We recommend that you budget £75 a year for photocopying, memory sticks, DVDs and CDs, printing charges, binding and specialist printing.
If your final year includes a major project, there could be cost for transport or accommodation related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Apply
How you apply depends on whether you’re currently employed or not.
How to apply
You can apply to do a degree apprenticeship with your current employer, or a new employer if you're not employed full-time.
If you’re in full-time employment and would like to do a degree apprenticeship with your current employer, ask them to contact us so we can discuss with them how we can work together.
You might find it useful to share our information for employers page with them.
If you’re not employed full-time or not working for a company that can fund and support your degree apprenticeship, you'll need to apply for a degree apprenticeship with a company that offers them.
You'll follow their standard recruitment process and we'll assess your academic suitability for the course once you've applied.
We can let you know when there are degree apprenticeship vacancies available with companies we work with – contact us to give us your details.
If you have questions about degree apprenticeships, please get in touch with us.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.