About this course
- 14th in the UK for Marketing and Public Relations (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
- Top 20 in the UK for Marketing and PR Student Satisfaction (Complete University Guide 2025)
- Top 20 in the UK for Business, Management and Marketing Student Experience (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)
- Top 20 in the UK for Business, Management and Marketing Teaching Quality (The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025)
Behind every successful business, there’s great marketing. The most iconic companies blend savvy strategies with attention-grabbing creative campaigning — so why choose between these two exciting areas, when you can master both?
On our business management and marketing course, you’ll learn how the best brands drive performance and profits; how they find and reach their customers in busy markets; how they recognise there’s more to business management than numbers, and more to marketing than celebrity endorsements; and how they’re developing new, ethically responsible strategies for a better future. Explore the industry’s best-kept business secrets, and then apply them for yourself in hands-on projects with ambitious, real-world companies.
Pick your own specialist modules; complete a year-long placement with companies of every size and type, from L’Oreal and New Balance to Google; study abroad with one of our international partners, anywhere from Sweden to South Korea. Business is built on choice, and at NTU, those choices start with you.
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Complete a paid placement — some students have secured experience with major brands like Disney and Adobe. -
Learn from the experts — we’re a UK top-15 university for Marketing (Guardian University Guide 2025). -
Our students get great jobs — we’ve been ranked 1st in the UK for employability (Uni Compare 2025). -
Study in the heart of Nottingham — one of Europe’s top 25 student cities, and home to over 75,000 learners.
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What you’ll study
How do we build and grow a business? How do we turn market research, customer insights and competitor analysis into the kinds of creative campaigns that leave a lasting impression on consumers? How has tech revolutionised business management and marketing across the decades — and where are things headed next?
Learn how to build and market a powerful, successful, sustainable enterprise that stands out from the crowd. We offer a personalised experience that’s tailored to your needs, interests and ambitions; at every stage of this business and marketing degree, we’ll invite you to consider who you are and what you want to achieve. More than just a bolt-on, this kind of personalisation is a unique and wholly different approach to university-level study.
On our business marketing degree, you’ll:
- get to grips with the basics of business management — from accounting and economics, to budgeting, HR, and strategy
- pick your own specialist modules as the course progresses — choose from digital entrepreneurship, international tourism, worldwide management styles, and more
- learn how to research and interpret data, make great decisions, and communicate effectively with stakeholders
- analyse how bold new marketing strategies can help companies of all sizes to reach new customers
- explore the business landscape for different companies and sectors — from local SMEs and independents, right up to global corporations
- analyse the AI revolution to uncover what algorithms can (and still can’t) do for modern business marketing, and how new tech can be used responsibly
- broaden your horizons on sustainable business to learn what it really entails — from greener product policies, to diversity and equality, to ethical leadership
- grow your vital ‘soft skills’ (things like resilience, confidence and communication), attend business marketing events, and build your CV, portfolio and general employability with the support of genuine industry experts.
Here’s a full breakdown of the modules you’ll be studying:
Principles of Marketing
This module aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of the basic tools and concepts of marketing. More specifically, you will be introduced to the core marketing functions and develop an understanding of the key concepts, frameworks and models encountered in marketing. You will also gain the knowledge and skills required to identify differing marketing orientations, in particular how organisations identify, understand and satisfy customers and develop the skills required to produce a blended marketing mix that will satisfy the needs of the target customer.
Personal and Academic Development
Helps you recognise the personal skills, behaviours and attributes you currently have, and supports you in formulating a continuous personal and professional development plan to develop the skills and knowledge you need to achieve your future ambitions and realise your full potential.
Essentials of Business Development
This module introduces you to the dynamics of business and enterprise in the context of organisational growth, blending operations management theory with real-world challenges. You’ll explore how different types of organisations—start-ups, SMEs, large businesses, and the public sector—navigate decision-making, operational development, and strategic challenges. Emphasis is placed on the role of enterprise and entrepreneurship skills to design, deliver, and improve products and services, particularly in response to evolving customer preferences and sustainability pressures in a global landscape characterised by uncertainty and constant change.
Foundations of Managing and Organising
Both work and management are carried out by people, the human resources of the organisation. The focus of this module is on the management of work in organisations, and will provide a holistic understanding from the viewpoint of both the workers and management. You will be introduced to key applications, policies and practices involved in the management of human resources and will analyse their underlying theoretical basis and the effects on the organisation and society in general.
Accounting and Finance for Managers
Through this module you will develop the skills and competencies needed to make effective use of accounting information, especially for control and decision making purposes. You will explore how business organisations are financed and the constraints and limitations that financing imposes on them. You will also learn about the calculation of accounting profit and its importance to an organisation. You will develop skills that will allow you to identify relevant cash inflows and outflows of a proposed business project and learn about utilising the techniques of even analysis in project decision making.
The importance and use of budgeting for forward-planning, communication, coordination and control within an organisation will be covered, as well as the importance of cash and liquidity within an organisation and the construction of cash and working capital budgets. You will learn how to use cash and working capital management models and techniques and how to construct financial statements. Other areas covered in this wide-ranging module include financial appraisal of long term capital investment proposals and valuation of company shares.
Economics and Data Analysis for Managers
This module will introduce you to a range of skills, methods and knowledge that are applied by professional economists. It will enable you to offer a distinctive contribution to business and management decisions involving the deployment of globally scarce resources. The module will enable you to demonstrate a range of applications of economic ideas, principles and techniques, and to identify resource consequences of business and managerial decisions in a national and international context.
First half of Year Two – Core modules
Buyer Behaviour
This module explores, in depth, the core theories relating to Consumer Behaviour (both pre-and post-consumption) and applies them in a range of differing marketing contexts. You will develop a deeper knowledge and awareness of consumer behaviour in a variety of contexts – such as being a ‘customer’ of a charity. You will study as well consumer behaviour across all consumption stages (pre-consumption, consumption, post-consumption, and disposal). The module looks at various ‘cognitive’ and ‘experiential’ models of behaviour as well as discussing the ethics of manipulating buyer behaviour and the importance and influence of children. The module will also cover buyer behaviour in business markets as organisational buying can be fundamentally different to personal buying.
Research for Marketing
During this module you will explore the core theories relating to Marketing Research and Marketing Planning, applying them to a range of differing marketing contexts. You will study the marketing planning process and how it supports the development of marketing strategies and tactics. The module will also take a practical approach, teaching you how to develop appropriate methods for conducting marketing research and understand the more practical issues. You will be asked to develop a research questionnaire or hold interviews with fellow-student ‘consumers’, to experience the process of research first hand.
Campaign and Content Management
Want to master the art of creating powerful marketing campaigns? This module equips you with the skills to design, plan, and execute strategic marketing communications. You’ll explore how to analyse market trends, craft compelling content, and coordinate different promotional tools to reach an audience. Through real-world case studies and hands-on projects, you’ll learn how to develop a strategic marketing communications plan, set clear objectives, and measure success. You’ll also dive into the role of both internal and external communications, gaining insights into how businesses use marketing strategies across local, international, and global markets. Whether you’re working solo or collaborating in a team, this module will prepare you to think strategically and execute campaigns that make an impact.
Second half of Year Two
You can either select one of our unique opportunities initiatives below or continue with your taught modules.
Option 1 – Study Abroad
Experience life in another country by studying at one of our partner universities. Choose from a host of countries in Europe or go further afield and study in the USA, South America, Australasia and South East Asia. This is a great opportunity to develop your independence and explore another culture.
Option 2 – Enterprise Project
Explore your entrepreneurial side and start to develop the meaningful and practical skills needed to run your own business. Supported by NTU Enterprise, NTU's centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, during this opportunity you'll work alongside other young entrepreneurs and a dynamic network of mentors and advisors, to develop your own ideas into a live enterprise project.
Option 3 – Internship
Get a taste of the working world and gain some essential industry insight with a 16-18 week work placement. The experience will allow you to put your learning in to practice, with the experience gained improving your future career prospects, and sharpening your interpersonal and professional skills.
Option 4 – Continue with taught modules
If you didn't fancy doing any of the above options then you can continue your studies at university. With a mixture of both compulsory and optional modules, the first will enhance your knowledge and skills set in your area of study, with the later allowing you to tailor your learning experience.
Students on Sandwich courses are eligible to choose the Enterprise project or continue with taught modules in the second half of their second year. They are not eligible for options 1 and 3. However, they are able to use their sandwich year to study or work abroad.
Core modules
Applied Professional Development
Following on from the Personal Development module in Year One, this module supports you to build upon and reflect on your personal and professional skills, attributes and behaviours. You will attend a conference with a varied programme of events focused on the future of work, and later in the module you will immerse yourself in a period work or work-like experience to develop a range of skills designed to enhance your employability.
People, Organisations and Society
This module aims to explore and evaluate several contemporary business aspects affecting individuals and organisations from a practical perspective. It seeks to assess the theoretical perspectives of managing people, human behaviour and the evolving nature of work.
Plus one optional module from:
International Business in a Changing Global Landscape
This module will provide you with an overview of how international business is conducted, with a particular focus on what makes international business different from domestic business. You will examine the major theories that explain international business transactions and the institutions influencing those activities. You will also study the financial exchange systems and institutions that measure and facilitate international transactions and the dynamic interface between countries and companies attempting to conduct foreign business activities. Reference will be made throughout the module to the strategy, behaviour and management of multinational corporations and the actions and policies of international regulatory bodies and agencies.
Managing the Global Supply Chain
Covering various areas of marketing and operations, this module will provide you with a practical understanding of the structure and organisation of supply chains, including sustainability and ethical issues. You will be introduced to aspects of operations, logistics and procurement and further develop your understanding on the importance of the flow of goods and information in providing value through global delivery systems.
Digital Entrepreneurship
The aim of this module is to develop your critical awareness of digital entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship within a global marketplace. Using both a critical and practical perspective, the module examines the process of developing a digital business, enabled and/or enhanced by internet technologies, smart and mobile phones and their applications, and other emerging technologies.
Using theory, analytical frameworks and practical examples, the module will provide you with the cognitive and practical skills and capabilities to explore a market opportunity, develop a digitally enhanced business idea and the requisite considerations of implementing such an idea in either a start-up, or a new (channel to) market for an existing firm.
Placement year
In year three, you have the option to take a placement year. This time spent working in business provides our students with crucial work experience, which is highly prized and much sought after by employers upon graduation. We have links with a wide range of sectors, firms and organisations that offer student placements. If you have decided to undertake a placement year then this will last for a minimum of 48 weeks during your third year.
Our Employability Team is here to inspire and enhance every stage of your career planning and as a graduate of NTU, you will be able to access their services for three years after your course has finished.
Services they provide include:
- finding placements, internships and part-time work
- pursuing self-employment
- taking gap years and time out
- getting into volunteering
- providing advice on further study.
Or
Taught modules
If you have decided to continue with your studies please view the 'final year' tab for your list of modules.
Developing Professional Impact
This module is designed to expand your horizons and challenge your attitudes and behaviours both in relation to subject specific issues and wider business concerns such as global citizenship and sustainable business practices. It will encourage you to build on your strengths and explore a range of possibilities as you embark on your next steps.
Market Driven Strategies
How do businesses stay ahead in a fast-changing world? This module explores the powerful connection between strategic management and entrepreneurship. You’ll discover how companies develop winning strategies, adapt to global trends, and foster an entrepreneurial mindset to seize new opportunities. By examining different markets and cultures, you’ll gain a practical understanding of how strategy-making and innovation go hand in hand. Whether you see yourself leading a business, launching a start-up, or shaping corporate strategy, this module will help you think like a strategist and act like an entrepreneur—key skills for a dynamic career in business.
Digital Marketing Strategy
Customer behaviour has dramatically changed with the digital revolution. This module provides you with insights into the digital customer experience and highlights ways to adapt to this changing market, allowing you to fulfil customers’ strategic needs. It will provide the knowledge and skills to select appropriate channels to market to meet objectives. It will also help to ensure you provide the desired customer experience, by understanding the customer's journey while complying with relevant legislation and regulation.
Improving the Customer Experience
This module will develop your understanding of service, service value, and service experience in a global context. You will explore the impacts these concepts have on business performance and how they can be improved. You will explore how service delivery can be improved, and examine the situational factors that have an impact on relevant customer and supplier relationships. You will also study the roles of the consumer, employee, inanimate environment and technology within a services marketing context. You will also develop a critical perspective on post-purchase consumer behaviour; examine the industrialisation and commodification of services; explore service failure, recovery and complaints management and ethical and social concerns.
Plus one optional module from:
Applied Business Research Project
For this module you will undertake a purposeful, individual, in depth study of a relevant topic, developing your independent learning, critical thinking and knowledge of research techniques relevant to your subject area. The project will develop your ability to manage a major piece of work, for which you will be completely responsible, and will be completed over a period of several months. You will learn to utilise and improve your time management and communication skills, as well as test your initiative and resourcefulness. To support your development during this module you will study essential skills such as critical thinking, conducting a literature review, understanding the appropriate research framework, practical research methods and skills, report and academic writing skills.
Sustainability Impact Project
Sustainability is one of the most pressing challenges facing modern organisations, influencing every aspect of business strategy and leadership. This module equips you with the critical skills and knowledge to navigate the complex social, economic, environmental, and managerial dimensions of sustainability. You'll explore how businesses are adapting to global challenges, balancing profit with purpose, and driving long-term success through responsible decision-making. By applying theory to real-world scenarios, you'll develop the problem-solving and analytical abilities needed to shape sustainable strategies, preparing you to be a future leader in an ever-evolving business landscape.
Plus one optional module from:
Global Supply Chain Strategy
Working at a strategic level, this module will clarify how marketing, design, distribution, logistics and project management may be integrated and help you to develop a broader and deeper understanding of how supply chain performance can be strategically improved.
You will cover a number of areas during the module including; ·
- looking at supply chains from a strategic and global perspective
- key concepts in supply chain improvement
- interpreting lean and agile supply
- supply chain dynamics – Forecasting, information flow and bullwhip
- design for the supply chain – postponement, mass customisation, product life cycle, sustainability
- managing CSR in the supply chain – sustainability, environment and transport
- managing risk in a supply chain.
Comparative International Management
Influences of culture on management, and managing within and across diverse cultures, have become increasingly relevant in today’s business world. This module aims to address the issues of cultural differences, and practical implications of the internationalisation of management, the organisation and its people. Personal experiences of national and organisational cultures – either through work in multinational corporations or travel far and wide – provide a rich pool of experiences, stories and ordeals that can serve as important inputs into discussions and debates about management, organisations, people and cultural diversity. This module adds to this experience through theoretical and conceptual knowledge and frameworks concerning different management styles and philosophies from an International Human Resource Management perspective. It uses practical experience and current topical research and case studies to explore key debates and issues central to the international organisations. During this module you will examine and explore problems that arise from these matters and the solutions that are needed.
International Tourism: Sustainability, Developments & Impacts
This module aims to provide an insight into the global patterns of tourism development and the impacts (economic, environmental and social) that can result, particularly in a heritage tourism context. You will explore the relationships between tourism and local communities, the importance of sustainable development and models and patterns of international tourism demand and supply.
We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.
Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves
Video Gallery
How you're taught
NTU is TEF ‘Gold’-rated for teaching and learning, and one of the UK’s top 15 universities for Marketing and Public Relations (Guardian University Guide 2024). One of our biggest assets is our team of lecturers and researchers — experts who’ve worked with major names like Boots, EoN, JP Morgan, USC, Marston’s and Moto Hospitality, and even run their own PR agencies. You’ll be learning from the best in the business, alongside a rollcall of exciting guest lecturers. See our Business Leaders Lecture series and podcast to find out more.
On this Business Management and Marketing course, our doors are constantly open — whether you’re looking for help finding a placement, some guidance on your CV, or simply wanting a chat about your studies. This one-to-one support isn’t typical in big business schools, but we’re proud to provide it.
As well as lectures, seminars, presentations and roleplaying, you’ll learn by:
- Working as a researcher and consultant, through a huge range of credit-bearing projects. Explore specialist areas of business marketing, collaborate with students from other courses, and help companies solve real-world problems — from growing their market share to operating more sustainability.
- Experiencing business marketing beyond the classroom. Visit PR agencies, test your skills in national industry competitions, and attend prestigious events like the ‘Future of Work’ conference — an NBS conference which is a key part of your studies.
- Completing internships and placements. You’ll have the chance to take on a 16-18-week internship in Year Two, and a paid, 48-week professional placement in Year Three. It’s an opportunity to get noticed in your day-to-day life and work with employers — and some of our students have received job offers before they’ve even graduated!
- Making your own choices. As the course develops, so too will your options. If you dream of studying abroad, you could attend one of our summer schools, or complete an extended stay with one of NBS’ global partners — anywhere from Australia to Brazil. Looking to stay local? If the internship or consultancy project pathways don’t appeal, you can simply continue with your taught modules. It’s a versatile offer, built around your own preferences.
How you're assessed
People learn in different ways, and we want each one of our students to have the best possible chance of success. Our diverse range of assessment methods includes pitches and presentations, blogs, group poster showcases, business reports, and consultancy and research projects. You’ll also complete ’On the Day Timed Assessments’ — a requirement of accrediting bodies in business marketing.
Careers and employability
Our graduates get great jobs
NBS’ business management and marketing students have earned fantastic careers with organisations all around the world — from creative agencies and multinational pharmaceutical houses to market leaders in audiovisual tech. Today, they’re employed by prestigious brands like Beats by Dre, Microsoft, iThinkMedia, Red Bull Marketing, and GlaxoSmithKline, working as Marketing Communications Managers, SEO and Social Media Executives, Copywriters, Marketing and Engagement Officers, and more!
Bringing your management and marketing skills to the wider world
Unsure of where in business and / or marketing you’d like to work? If so, this course is a great (and sensible) bet; you’ll be developing skills across two very distinct but complementary disciplines, making worldwide contacts, and testing the waters of real-world business to find your best fit. Rule yourself into everything, and out of nothing.
As well as plenty of industry-specific content and opportunities, this business and marketing degree is also packed with transferable skills, such as time management, research and analysis, and critical thinking and problem-solving. These skills will open doors everywhere and are welcomed in any line of work.
Personalisation at NBS — what it means for you
NBS is a community of over 8,500 learners, drawn from countries, cultures and academic backgrounds around the world. We’re big in every sense — from our industry reputation to our global community of ambitious students and successful graduates, to the sheer range of opportunities we provide. Study with NBS, and you’ll benefit from our partnerships with universities and businesses on every continent.
We’re proud to provide our learners with a very personal experience. Each student’s experience is uniquely theirs, built around their own specific needs, interests, and ambitions. It’ll be the same for you: whether choosing your own specialist modules or picking your preferred means of hands-on, experiential learning, we’re here to help you gather the skills, knowledge and experience to gain that vital competitive edge. Your future and employability comes first, and everything you’ll experience at NBS has a purpose — from industry networking events and prestigious guest speakers, to the personal and professional development modules that’ll support each step of your university journey.
Book on to an NTU open day to find out more.
What our students are doing now
Harry Collinson
Alumni profile of Harry Collinson, BA (Hons) Business Management and Marketing student.
Campus and facilities
You’ll mainly be studying in the Newton building, at the centre of our vibrant City Campus. As well as a range of classrooms and lecture theatres, our facilities include dedicated market research reporting platforms and digital resources (e.g. Mintel, Passport, SPSS, and Adobe Creative Cloud) and the Business Lab — a trading floor equipped with Bloomberg terminals, which enables you to delve into the global markets for real.
NTU’s City Campus has everything you’ll need to keep occupied between lectures. As well as the Boots Library and its beautiful roof garden, there’s our superb Students’ Union building and two-storey, 100-station gym; a whole host of cafés, bars, restaurants and food outlets catering to every taste; our much-loved Global Lounge; performance and rehearsal spaces for musicians; and so much more!
If that’s not enough, just take a few steps off campus, and you’ll find yourself in the beating heart of Nottingham — one of the UK’s top 10 student cities, and one of the top 25 in all of Europe. It’s a city stuffed with history, culture, and well-kept secrets to discover at your leisure: enjoy lush green spaces, galleries, hidden cinemas and vintage shopping by day, and an acclaimed food, drink and social scene by night. For more details, why not take a Virtual Tour?
Entry requirements
UK students
Standard offer: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.
Contextual offer: 104 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications.
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Additional requirements for UK students
There are no additional requirements for this course.
Contextual offers
If you don’t quite meet our entry requirements, we might be able to make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (such as where you live and the school or college you attended), your experiences and your individual circumstances (you may have been in care, for example). This is called a contextual offer, and we get data from UCAS to help make these decisions. We do this because we believe everyone with the potential to succeed at NTU should have the opportunity to do so, no matter what barriers you may face.
Meeting our entry requirements
Hundreds of qualifications in the UK have UCAS Tariff points attached to specific grades, including A-levels, BTECs, T Levels and many more. You can use your grades and points from up to four different qualifications to meet our criteria. Enter your predicted or achieved grades into our Tariff calculator to find out how many points your qualifications are worth.
Other qualifications and experience
NTU welcomes applications from students with non-standard qualifications and learning backgrounds, either for year one entry or for advanced standing beyond the start of a course into year 2 or beyond.
We consider study and/or credit achieved from a similar course at another institution (otherwise known as credit transfer), vocational and professional qualifications, and broader work or life experience.
Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route. If you wish to apply via Recognition of Prior Learning, please contact the central Admissions and Enquiries Team who will be able to support you through the process.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
International students
Academic entry requirements: 112 UCAS Tariff points from up to four qualifications. We accept equivalent qualifications from all over the world. Please check your international entry requirements by country.
English language requirements: See our English language requirements page for requirements for your subject and information on alternative tests and Pre-sessional English.
Additional requirements for international students
If you need help achieving the academic entry requirements, we offer a Foundation preparation course for this degree. The course is offered through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC) based on our City Campus.
English language requirements
View our English language requirements for all courses, including alternative English language tests and country qualifications accepted by the University.
If you need help achieving the language requirements, we offer a Pre-Sessional English for Academic Purposes course on our City campus which is an intensive preparation course for academic study at NTU.
Other qualifications and experience
If you have the right level of qualifications, you may be able to start your Bachelors degree at NTU in year 2 or year 3. This is called ‘advanced standing’ entry and is decided on a case-by case basis after our assessment of your qualifications and experience.
You can view our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy which outlines the process and options available, such as recognising experiential learning and credit transfer.
Sign up for emails
Sign up to receive regular emails from the International Office. You'll hear about our news, scholarships and any upcoming events in your country with our expert regional teams.
Getting in touch
If you need advice about studying at NTU as an international student or how to apply, our international webpages are a great place to start. If you have any questions about your study options, your international qualifications, experience, grades or other results, please get in touch through our enquiry form. Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world.
Policies
We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.
