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BA (Honours) Marketing Communications and Advertising with Foundation Year

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Year of Entry 2024/25
BA (Honours)

Marketing Communications and Advertising with Foundation Year

Full-time Marketing

Gain a degree in business studies, with an initial foundation year to prepare for the course.


Everything you need to know...

What is the fee? Home: See fees section below
International/EU: £16,655 per year
How long will I study? 4/5 Years
Where will I study? City Campus
What are the entry requirements? 64 UCAS Points
What is the UCAS code? A078
When do I start? September 2024
Placement year available? Yes

Student satisfaction

This course scored 93% for teaching satisfaction in the 2023 National Student Survey.

Course summary

  • Study your foundation year, then progress to a degree with industry accreditation from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
  • Gain the skills and attributes for a career in marketing communications and advertising.
  • Learn to use contemporary multimedia solutions to develop integrated marketing communication strategies.
  • Develop an in-depth understanding of up-to-date marketing communication concepts and techniques.
  • Learn the intellectual and practical knowledge of a wide range of integrated on and off-line communication skills.
  • Create a portfolio of work to show future employers a creative and innovative skill set.

Embrace the changing nature of contemporary business and the marketing communications environment. Develop your intellectual knowledge of marketing communications and advertising, balancing theory and practice.

Sheffield Business School accreditation

Sheffield Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), placing us in the top 5% of business schools globally.

How you learn

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

The course is suitable if you don't meet the entry requirements for our BA (Hons) Marketing Communications and Advertising course, or you want extra preparation before starting degree-level study. You share the first year with other Sheffield Business School foundation year students, then move on to the degree.

You are taught by experienced professionals with a range of advertising, public relations, sales and marketing communications experience. You are provided with an academic and professional advisor in each year of your studies who will support you with personal and professional development planning and review.

You learn through

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • problem solving exercises
  • case studies
  • individual and group presentation

In the foundation year, you'll study wider business topics, while specialising in your chosen subject area. You'll learn useful skills such as academic writing, work in diverse teams and learn to utilise a wide variety of data sources. In doing so, you'll fully prepare yourself for undergraduate study.

Course leaders and tutors

Tilahun Mekonnen
Tilahun Mekonnen
Senior Lecturer

Currently working as a Senior Lecturer in Business Economics and the International Business Development Manager for Sub Saharan African Countries

Applied learning

Work placements

The course incorporates and actively encourages work-based and work-related learning. Work-based learning is primarily through optional placements, where the course allows you the opportunity to undertake an industry placement. This is typically 48 weeks long in your third year of study.

Due to our strong relationships with regional, national and international employers, we can help you to secure a great placement opportunity and support you while you are there. There are no tuition fees for the placement year and salaries of up to £22,000 are possible. If you are doing your work placement in another European country, there may be a possibility of funding through the Erasmus+ programme (until 2023) or the Turing Scheme.

Live projects

In the third year of the course, you undertake a comprehensive set of activities focussed on employability, and in particular placements to support you in a year in industry. Work-related learning involves exercises that simulate the workplace and are run as part of modules on the course.

Networking opportunities

We are one of the few universities in the UK to have a student chapter linked to the CIM. This is a student learning community that complements and enhances your academic studies and allows you to link up with local professionals. Another way to prepare for your career is to make the most of your automatic membership of the Sheffield Hallam Student Marketing Society, which runs regular events with local and national employers.

Teaching Quality

Sheffield Hallam University is ranked 11th amongst UK providers for marketing and public relations in the Guardian University Guide 2023 league table.


Future careers

This course prepares you for a career as a

  • communications assistant executive
  • digital communications assistant executive
  • advertising assistant or executive
  • agency account executive
  • promotional manager
  • assistant brand manager
  • creative team leadership
  • event and exhibition management
  • sales and promotional management
  • public relations assistant or executive

Previous graduates of BA (Honours) Marketing Communications and Advertising have gone on to work for

  • Google
  • Microsoft
  • McCann Erikson
  • WDMP
  • Uber Agency
  • Tesco
  • Morrisons
  • Disney
  • Homebase
  • Wilkinsons
  • Go Outdoors
  • Boots
  • ESPN
  • Harrods

Where will I study?

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour | Keeping safe on Campus


City Campus map
Location

Howard Street
Sheffield
S1 1WB

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Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

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Entry requirements

All students

UCAS points

  • 64

This must include at least 32 points from one A level or equivalent BTEC National qualifications excluding general studies For example:

  • CC at A Level
  • MPP in BTEC Extended Diploma.
  • Pass overall from a T level qualification with D or E from core
  • A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels and EPQ.

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

GCSE

  • English Language at grade C or 4 or equivalent
  • Maths at grade C or 4 or equivalent

• Access to HE Diploma from a QAA recognised Access to HE course. Normally we require 15 credits at level 2 and 45 at level 3. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 6.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.

Additional information for EU/International students

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.


Modules

Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.

Important notice: The structure for this course is currently being reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment are all likely to change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Once the changes have been confirmed, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

Year 1

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Contemporary Issues Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Introduction To Business Credits: 20 Assessment: Practical
Module: Organisation Management And Delivery 1 Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Organisation Management And Delivery 2 Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Self And Stakeholder Management Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: The Practice Of Business Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework

Year 2

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Advertising, Promotion And Creativity Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Market And Digital Analysis Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Marketing Environment And Media Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Marketing Research And Employability Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: People And Organisations In Context Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Exam
Elective modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Foreign Language Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Global Business Environment Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework

Year 3

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Campaign Management Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Customer Psychology And Culture Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Marketing Communications Planning Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Marketing Metrics Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Sales And Business Skills Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Elective modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Foreign Language Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Language And Specialist Cultural Studies Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Service And Retail Marketing Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework

Year 4

Optional modules
Module Credits
Module: Placement Year Credits: -

Final year

Compulsory modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Building Brand Value Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Corporate Public Relations Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Marketing Innovation And Creativity Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Project And Event Management Strategies Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Strategic Communications In The Digital World Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Elective modules
Module Credits Assessment
Module: Communication Concepts For Marketers Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Foreign Language Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework
Module: Relationship Marketing Management Credits: 20 Assessment: Coursework

Fees and funding

Home students

Our tuition fees for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2024/2025 are regulated by the UK government and are yet to be confirmed. For an indication, our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time undergraduate study in 2023/2024 is £9,250 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.

International students

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2024/25 is £16,655 per year. During your placement year you will pay a reduced fee of £1,200.
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Financial support for home/EU students

How tuition fees work, student loans and other financial support available.

Learn more

Additional course costs

This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Additional costs for Marketing courses (PDF, 237.6KB)

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.

 

How do I apply?

Apply now via UCAS

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Why choose us?

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Teaching

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

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Accommodation

We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included

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Employment

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

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