final year students with outstanding academic performance
Check eligibility →BA (Hons) Advertising & Digital Marketing (with Foundation Year) Bachelor's degree at Northampton
BA (Hons) Advertising & Digital Marketing (with Foundation Year) at Northampton. You'll earn a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree from the University of Northampton, a university founded in 1975 and currently.
About this course
Discover how technology and digital marketing are transforming the advertising industry with UON From the provider’s course page.
BA (Hons) Advertising & Digital Marketing (with Foundation Year) is a Bachelor's degree (BA (Hons)) at Northampton, based in Waterside Campus, University of Northampton. It runs 4 years, studied full-time.
For Marketing graduates from this provider, 80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 45% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £24,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Business & Management, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 80% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Foundations of MarketingCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to introduce the concept of marketing to students. To explain what marketing is and to show the way in which marketing impacts on organisations, customers and other stakeholders. The idea of 'creating value' is central to a marketing orientation and this module seeks to explain what this means in a rapidly changing external environment.
- Introduction to Marketing CommunicationsCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to provide students with an opportunity to explore current and emerging practices in marketing communications across a range of industries and sectors.
- Foundations of Advertising MediaCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to provide an opportunity for students to learn about a variety of advertising media such as Television, Radio and Out of Home and develop an understanding of the key concepts around media selection, audiences and buying. Students will go on to experience the challenge of creating a campaign, with particular focus on the creative thinking and project management, essential for an advertising environment.
- Digital Marketing EssentialsCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module provides students with a foundation in digital marketing. Students will explore the promotional and brand-community aspects of the discipline via social media platforms and promotional content. They will also develop the skills and knowledge to develop plans, going on to create a digital marketing campaign, selecting the right combination of tools to achieve specific, commercial objectives.
- Understanding ConsumersCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to provide an overview of the importance of consumer behaviour and the relationship between understanding consumers and its impact on business. This module will focus on understanding the basis for consumer behaviour, and the importance to marketers in understanding the factors that affect it, including psychological, personal, social and technological factors.
- Professional Skills for Marketing PracticeCompulsory20 credits
Module details
In this module students will develop practical real-life skills required by professional marketers. There is a strong focus on market research, business environment, communication skills, creativity, academic and professional integrity. Students will also develop numeracy skills required of a marketing professional and apply relevant tools and techniques in a marketing context.
Year 2 9 modules
- E-MarketingCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module will review the customer journey in a fragmented media and device environment, and will examine the new role of the customer in a world where customers can communicate with brands and other customers. We will explore ecommerce and review essential evaluation methods and tools. This module will also provide students with the opportunity to experiment with digital marketing tools to improve their employability. Drawing on scholarly research, as well as current business practice, we wil
- Integrated Marketing CommunicationsCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to develop an understanding of Integrated Marketing Communications theory, and the scope of the integrated communication process in practice as both a philosophy and as a process model. More specifically, the module outlines an outside-in approach that is important to understand and appreciate the context of communication to consumers and stakeholders. It examines methods for creating an insightful overview of the target audience both internally and externally, and
- Professional Practice for the Creative IndustriesCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module will focus on developing students' commercial awareness within the context of the creative industries through the use of academic and practioner sources. Students will be provided with the opportunity to evaluate the interface between academic sources and application in practice, through research and networking activities.
- Managing the Communications ProcessCompulsory20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to focus on the process of campaign planning and execution for an Advertising / Marketing Communications application. This will involve undertaking 'problem-based' projects and selecting messages, tools and media appropriate for an effective campaign. Students will experience managing the communications project from concept to content production.
- Brand ManagementOptional20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to explore the concepts and practice of branding and strategic brand management by providing a framework for comprehensive analysis and reflection.
- Public Relations Management and PracticeOptional20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to explore a range of PR management tools and techniques across the exciting and diverse PR industry. Students will learn about the function of PR as part of integrated marketing communications, as well as examining the role of PR within crisis management, event management, the not-for-profit sector, public affairs, and internal and external communications.
- Marketing Research and InsightOptional20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to enable students to develop a detailed understanding of the way in which research informs a range of key marketing decisions. Students will explore the concepts and practice of marketing research, developing both a methodological understanding and the practical skills required to locate, gather, interpret and apply relevant data to marketing problems and to gain marketing insight
- AI for MarketingOptional20 credits
Module details
This module explores AI's transformative impact on digital marketing. It covers AI concepts, machine learning for analysis and prediction, and generative AI for content creation. Ethical, legal, and operational implications, including bias and privacy, are examined. Students gain practical experience with generative AI tools while upholding ethical standards.
- Influencer and Social Media MarketingOptional20 credits
Module details
This module empowers students to become digital marketers with a strong understanding of the opportunities inherent in social media and influencer marketing. It cultivates a mindset of creative problem-solving and agile decision-making, enabling learners to harness digital platforms to build authentic brand engagement and forge impactful influencer partnerships to deliver on business objectives.
Year 3 5 modules
- Issues in Advertising PracticeCompulsory20 credits
Module details
This module explores current trends and challenges in advertising, with a view to developing a point of view on key issues and a working understanding of the regulations and codes of conduct governing the industry. Topics such as stereotyping, sustainability, consumer power and ethics will be tackled from both a consumer and an industry perspective.
- Advertising Consultancy ProjectOptional40 credits
Module details
Students will learn how to formulate, implement, and manage client based integrated advertising and brand communication projects. Students will create an integrated marketing communications plan that responds appropriately to an external agency client brief and is of an industry standard.
- Content Creation for MarketingOptional20 credits
Module details
The purpose of this module is to focus on the development and building of professionally relevant content on a variety of platforms which will enable the student to develop skills in real time, relevant marketing communications and content creation. The creation of content will be linked to relevant academic theory in communication and visual language which will underpin the student's choices.
- Digital EntrepreneurOptional20 credits
Module details
To remain competitive in today's digital world, businesses need to move fast. Digital entrepreneurship module will focus on issues related to creating and doing business in the Digital Era. Main emphasis of the module is on practical aspects of digital entrepreneurship, including digital entrepreneurship skills, tools, practices and processes.
- Consumerism and SustainabilityOptional20 credits
Module details
This module will cover issues relating to consumer behaviour in the globalised marketplace that defines the world today. Issues that will be covered will include the emergence of a consumer culture, the 'cult of consumerism' and its effects on the planet. Topics including the ecological footprint of co
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This course explores how technology and digital marketing are transforming the advertising industry. You'll usually start with foundations in management, organisations and marketing principles, then move through business economics and data skills. In your second year, you'll study operations, organisational behaviour and strategy. From year three onwards, a course like this normally moves into specialist options such as entrepreneurship, digital business, marketing, international business, consulting, and people & HR. You'll typically complete innovation and entrepreneurship modules, culminating in a capstone project, often a real client brief or dissertation that integrates the whole degree.
Who it's for
Most entrants to this course held A-levels or equivalent qualifications; 68% of accepted students came in with these. The typical UCAS tariff among accepted students was 80–95 points.
Careers & job market
Across Business & Management courses nationally, 87% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 60% were in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National earnings data shows starting salaries (at 15 months) typically fell between £24,000 and £32,000, rising to £26,350–£37,200 after five years. The course covers specialisations such as Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations, Strategy, International Business, Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain and Consulting.
University & format
The University of Northampton is a university located at Waterside Campus. The course is a 4-year full-time bachelor's degree taught in English, including a foundation year. It leads to a BA (Hons) award and is a recognised UK degree-awarding body, so your degree is nationally recognised. The university achieved a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
Provider-published requirement; check the linked course page before applying.
Optional work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 68% |
| another higher-education qualification | 28% |
| an Access course | 2% |
| No / unknown prior qualifications | 2% |
| a Baccalaureate | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students came in with a broad spread of qualifications and UCAS points. If you're worried about grades, this course has historically taken a wide range, and contextual offers may apply.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Northampton →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Business & Management graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £24,000 | £22,500 – £26,000 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £25,500 | £20,500 – £29,000 | 75 |
| 5 years after | £29,500 | £25,000 – £38,000 | 75 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate / AnalystOn a scheme or first role · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / ManagerOwning an area, marketing, finance, ops · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / Head ofLeading a function and a team · 5–10 yrs
- 4Director / FounderRunning a business unit or your own company · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Business & Management nationally
National figures for Business & Management graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Business & Management courses at the same study level.
Compared with 3,421 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Business and public service associate professionalsSOC 2020 35 · 30% of published destinations · ASHE median £38,760
- Administrative occupationsSOC 2020 41 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £27,006
- Process, plant and machine operativesDiscover Uni category · 10% of published destinations
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 65; response rate: 55%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Is BA (Hons) Advertising & Digital Marketing (with Foundation Year) worth it?
Weigh it carefully. On these figures graduates of BA (Hons) Advertising & Digital Marketing (with Foundation Year) earn close to non-graduate pay, so on cost alone the course is slow to pay off.
Cumulative earnings vs. going straight to work at 18, counting tuition and 4 years of wages given up while studying. The line clears zero around year 27.1. This is a simplified gross-earnings comparison, not a forecast of cash loan repayments.
Model: this course’s own median graduate earnings (Graduate Outcomes / LEO) above the £24,000 non-graduate baseline (ONS), net of £9,790/yr over 4 years (published course home fee). Eligible England-domiciled students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan; repayments are 9% only on income above the threshold, with anything left written off after 40 years. That makes the cash flow different from conventional commercial debt. Opportunity cost assumes £18,000 gross earnings forgone in each study year; figures are nominal and exclude tax, living costs, investment returns and loan interest. A simplified estimate. Earnings and actual fees vary by graduate, provider, fee status and UK nation.
Job market & outlook
How Business & Management graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine reporting and data pulls
- First-draft decks and copy
- Standard forecasts and reconciliations
- Scheduling and admin workflows
More human than ever
- Strategy and judgement under uncertainty
- Leading, negotiating and selling
- Sense-checking and owning what AI produces
- Relationships with clients and teams
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Business & Management graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Consultancies
- Corporate graduate schemes
- Retail & FMCG
- Startups & scale-ups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Business & Management graduates.
Is this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
Published home tuition is £9,790/year for this course. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
80% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £24,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.7 out of 10: NSS 89.6% · in work or study 80% · continued 90%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
The University of Northampton
Business and management across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Waterside Campus, University of Northampton
2,220 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Business & Management right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Northampton from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £17,000 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Northampton’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Northampton and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Northampton
Business & Management at other universities
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
Request information about BA (Hons) Advertising & Digital Marketing (with Foundation Year)
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