Location

Canterbury, Epsom & Farnham

Start date

Sept 2026, Sept 2027

Duration

3 years full-time

UCAS logo

UCAS codes

Course: P304
Institution: C93

+1

Foundation year

Optional extra year of study

+1

Placement year

Optional extra year of study

Entry requirements

Check qualifications

Digital Marketing & Social Media at UCA

Creative thinkers become marketing leaders on our BA (Hons) Digital Marketing & Social Media degree course.

For 2026 entry this course is only available at our Epsom campus but for 2027 entry it will be available at all our campuses in Canterbury, Epsom and Farnham.

Please note, if you choose to study the Integrated Foundation Year this will be taught at Epsom and once completed you move to your chosen campus for your degree course.

Creative instinct. Commercial strategy

You'll develop a thorough grounding in marketing strategy, consumer behaviour, audience insight, and data-driven decision-making – but always through the lens of the creative industries. Your projects, briefs, and assignments are rooted in media, branding, and culture, so you graduate with both the business knowledge and the creative fluency that employers look for.

Taught by real marketing professionals

Your tutors live and breathe marketing and social media. They bring experience in agencies, fashion, publishing, brand strategy, content creation, and digital consultancy. Guest lecturers include influencers and creative directors – and your final major project is judged by an industry panel, not just academics.

Real briefs. Real clients. Real momentum

From the first year, you're pitching to clients, producing campaigns, and creating work with real-world application. There are lots of opportunities to work with businesses looking for creative talent, giving you the chance to build the kind of skills, experience, and network that will set you up for success in your career.

A campus built on creativity

Collaboration happens naturally at UCA Epsom. Fashion students run their ideas past marketers, business pitch decks are as common to see as mannequins. And with screen printing, photo studios, and other creative facilities all in one place – you’ll come out with an open mind to what creativity can look like for you.

What you'll study

The content of the course may be subject to change. Curriculum content is provided as a guide.

UCA’s Integrated Foundation Year is designed to give you the skills you’ll need to start your degree in the best possible way – with confidence, solid knowledge of creative practice, study skills and more.

You’ll explore a range of creative techniques and develop your portfolio, with your chosen subject in mind. We’ll work with you throughout the year to ensure you’re on the right track and give you the tools to achieve your highest potential on your degree.

The Integrated Foundation course is taught at Epsom and once completed you move to your chosen campus for your degree course.

Find out more about the Integrated Foundation Year

In Year 1, you will develop a strong foundation in marketing, digital communication, and professional practice within contemporary digital and social media environments. The year introduces core concepts, tools, and ways of thinking that underpin digital marketing and social media practice, while embedding sustainability, employability, and digital skills from the outset.

Foundations of Marketing: 30 credits
You will be introduced to key marketing concepts, theories, and models used in contemporary marketing and communications. You will explore the role of marketing within organisations, develop an understanding of audience research and insight generation, and examine how marketing strategies support business goals. The module develops analytical and creative approaches, incorporating research methods, digital communication, and industry-relevant outputs.

Career Catalyst: Skills & Capability: 30 credits
This module supports the development of essential creative, technical and digital skills aligned to professional standards needed across the course. This module introduces social media as a strategic and creative marketing tool. You will explore how campaigns are researched, planned, and delivered across social media platforms, developing professionally aligned skills in concept development, content creation, scheduling, and audience engagement. Ethical, sustainable, and inclusive approaches to social media practice are introduced alongside an awareness of platform dynamics.

Understanding Consumers and Audiences: 30 credits
This module places the consumer at the centre of the digital marketing process. You will explore social, cultural, and psychological factors that influence consumer behaviour and decision-making, examining how audiences interact with brands, content, and platforms. The module develops skills in audience research, insight generation, and interpretation, supporting the development of effective and responsible marketing communications.

Campaign Management: 30 credits
Acting in the role of an emerging digital marketing professional, you will respond to a live or simulated industry brief. You will engage in professional practices such as client meetings, presentations, and pitching, applying research, insight, and creative development skills in a digital marketing context. This module serves as the capstone for the year, drawing together learning from across the year.

Developing creative communities, platform knowledge, and professional identity Year 2 deepens your creative, technical, and strategic capabilities, with a focus on content creation, storytelling, platform-based marketing, and data-driven decision-making. You will explore how digital marketing operates within complex ecosystems shaped by platforms, algorithms, communities, and technologies. Employability, collaboration, and professional identity are embedded throughout the year.

You will study four core 30-credit modules:

Principles of Content Creation: 30 credits
In this module you will explore how digital brand content is researched, planned, and produced across platforms. You will develop skills in content planning, copywriting, visual storytelling, and media production, supported by an understanding of platforms, channels, and audience behaviours. Emerging technologies and AI- informed tools are introduced as part of contemporary digital marketing practice.

Career Catalyst: Communities & Influence: 30 credits
This module focuses on the strategic planning and delivery of digital marketing campaigns across multiple platforms and channels. You will examine how content is adapted for different platforms, audiences, and contexts, developing an understanding of platform affordances, performance, and optimisation. The module emphasises strategic thinking, coordination, and professional workflows.

Brand Storytelling and Narrative: 30 credits
In this module you will focus on the role of storytelling and narrative in shaping meaning, engagement, and persuasion within digital marketing contexts. You will explore narrative structures, audience interpretation, and storytelling techniques across digital platforms, applying these insights to develop conceptually strong and culturally aware digital marketing outputs.

Branding, Marketing and Data Technology: 30 credits
This module examines how branding and digital marketing strategies are shaped by data, analytics, and emerging technologies. You will explore how brands use data to understand audiences, inform marketing decisions, and optimise communication across channels. The module develops strategic thinking alongside practical skills in digital marketing tools, data interpretation, and professional visibility.

An optional Professional Practice or International Year may be undertaken between years 2 and 3, allowing you to gain industry experience or global exposure before your final year of study.

If you opt to complete a professional practice year, this will take place in year three. You will undertake a placement within the creative industries to further develop your skills and CV.

While on the Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee for that year. This fee will be determined using government funding regulations. Based on current regulations, we expect this to be a maximum of 20% of the tuition fee rate that you are charged for your second year of study. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during this year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this as you approach your Professional Practice Year.

Critical thinking, strategic insight, and future-facing digital practice Year 3 supports you in becoming an independent, critically informed marketing practitioner, capable of responding to global industry challenges and shaping your own professional direction. You will be encouraged to think strategically about the future of digital marketing, social media, data, and technology within a global context.

You will study three core modules:

Creative Business Futures: 30 credits
You will examine constant change in business by exploring innovation and entrepreneurial practice. It focuses on understanding barriers, evaluating challenges and opportunities, and developing original solutions for future-focused decision-making across various business contexts, including post-consumption and product lifecycles.

Career Catalyst: Futures & Direction: 30 credits
In this module you are encouraged you to engage with emerging trends, global industry shifts, and future-facing practices within fashion, media, and creative industries. You will explore sustainability, innovation, technology, and evolving professional roles, using this insight to support the development of your Major Project.

Major Project: 60 credits
In your final module, you will produce an independent body of work that demonstrates your creative, strategic, and critical capabilities. Your Major Project allows you to define a specialist direction aligned with your interests and career ambitions, supported by research, professional context, and reflective practice. Outcomes may be creative, entrepreneurial, or research-led, preparing you for graduate employment, further study, or self-directed professional pathways.

This course is designed to offer you (if eligible) the opportunity to study part of your degree aboard at a UCA partner university, while still earning credits towards your UCA degree.

For more information please visit the Study Abroad section

Integrated foundation year

  • Independent study: 72%
  • Scheduled teaching: 28%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Year one

  • Independent study: 72%
  • Scheduled teaching: 28%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Year two

  • Independent study: 74%
  • Scheduled teaching: 26%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Year three

  • Independent study: 76%
  • Scheduled teaching: 24%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 20%

Professional placement or International year (if undertaken)

  • Independent study: 98%
  • Scheduled teaching: 2%
  • Maximum percentage of scheduled delivered online: 100%

Please note: these details are for 2026 entry and could be subject to change for other years of entry.

Course specifications

Please note, syllabus content indicated is provided as a guide. The content of the course may be subject to change in line with our Student Terms and Conditions for example, as required by external professional bodies or to improve the quality of the course.

Explore our gradshow

Each year, we’re privileged to be able to share our graduates’ incredible work with the world. And now’s your chance to take a look.

Visit the online showcase

Two minute stories


Discover the stories of our Marketing students

Upcoming webinars

We offer a range of webinars throughout the year that you may be interested in.

You can also view recordings of all previous sessions through the UCA webinar archive.


Fees & financial support

Tuition fees - 2026/27

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £5,760
  • BA course: £9,790

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee, for 2026/27 this is £1,955. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this.

Government guidance indicates that tuition‑fee caps will rise annually with inflation from 2026, subject to legislation, so tuition fees are likely to increase each year of study. 

Tuition fees - 2026/27

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £5,760 (see fee discount information)
  • BA course: £9,790 (see fee discount information)

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee, for 2026/27 this is £1,955. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this.

Government guidance indicates that tuition‑fee caps will rise annually with inflation from 2026, subject to legislation, so tuition fees are likely to increase each year of study. 

Tuition fees - 2026/27

  • Integrated Foundation Year: £18,000
  • BA course: £18,000

If you opt to study the Professional Practice Year, for 2026 you will be required to pay a reduced tuition fee of £3,490. You will also incur additional travel and accommodation costs during your Professional Practice year. The University will provide you with further advice and guidance about this.

The fees listed here are correct for the stated academic year only, for details of previous years please see the full fee schedules.

UCA scholarships and fee discounts

At UCA we have a number of scholarships and fee discounts available to assist you with the cost of your studies.

Financial support

There are lots of ways you can access additional financial support to help you fund your studies - both from UCA and from external sources. Discover what support you might qualify for please see our financial support information.

Additional course costs

In addition to the tuition fees there may be other costs for your course. The things that you are likely to need to budget for to get the most out of a creative arts education will include books, printing costs, occasional or optional study trips and/or project materials.

These costs will vary according to the nature of your project work and the individual choices that you make. Please see the Additional Course Costs section of the Course Information Document for more details of the costs you may incur.

Find out what's included in your tuition fees.

Student in UCA Epsom library

Facilities & equipment

All of our campuses feature dedicated studios, study areas and digital media suites equipped with Macs and PCs which are programmed with specialist software including Adobe Creative Suite. On each campus there's a library with a wealth of books and publications, and open access photography and print studios.

Launch the Virtual Tour View our facilities

Digital Marketing & Social Media career opportunities

Digital Marketing & Social Media graduates leave with an extensive knowledge of industry fundamentals that enable them to develop their careers in a variety of different roles. These could include:

  • Marketing and social media manager
  • Digital marketing and events co-ordinator
  • Digital marketing assistant
  • Social media officer
  • Digital brand manager
  • Marketing and content executive.

Your training on this course will prepare you for a wide range of postgraduate courses.

We offer postgraduate opportunities and we will help you find the correct course for you and support you in your application should further study be for you.


Digital Marketing & Social Media entry requirements

These courses don't require a portfolio but, if you're UK-based and you receive an offer, we'd still like to meet you at an Applicant Day. Further information will be provided once you have applied.

UCAS applicants should also check our UCAS personal statement guide for marketing applicants.

Select your country to find the equivalent requirements
Overhead shot of students working at computers in a Games Studio

What our digital marketing students say

“There’s so many chances to do more than just your course. I did the Students’ Union’s social media, I won Volunteer of the Year, I won Society of the Year. I worked at Howbout, the social calendar app, I worked at Wiser Academy. All super useful as experience when looking for marketing jobs, I’m so experienced already.”

Read Carlotta's story Chat to UCA students

Apply to BA (Hons) Digital Marketing & Social Media

Please use the following fields to help select the right application link for you:

UCAS codes

  • UCA institution code: C93
  • Three year degree: P304
  • Plus professional practice year: P305
  • Plus integrated foundation year: P30A
  • Plus integrated foundation year and professional practice year: P30B

Key statistics

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