Business & Digital Marketing BSc(Hons)

During the first year of your Business & Digital Marketing degree, you’ll gain a firm understanding of the commercial landscape and how industry can impact communities, economies and the environment. You’ll explore the key frameworks of the commercial business environment, including the core elements of markets and market research. You will then use these insights to reflect on how data management is evolving and the impact of future technologies on privacy and data ethics.

Modules

Wellbeing

You will address the importance of wellbeing within an organisation and, crucially, you will explore the importance of wellbeing for your own personal and professional development.

Market Intelligence

In this module you will gain a working knowledge of robust market research methods. You will be introduced to types of market research, including primary and secondary modes, and learn how to segment markets and analyse trends, as well as different analytical methods. This will enable you to carry out research and analysis that will help you to identify market trends and gaps, using robust data to inform business decisions.

Fundamentals of Business

You'll explore the inter-relationships of functions that make up a successful business operation. You will learn about financial systems and their impact on national economies, commercial environments and national policy. You will learn about the concepts, frameworks and legal structures of the commercial business environment.

Exploring Sustainability

The module will take a proactive stance and focus on contemporary practices and positive change across a range of topics including responsible consumption, production and economic development. You will also explore potential criticisms of the concept of sustainable development, and ask whether it is truly the most appropriate way forward.

Data Management

In this module you will build knowledge of cultural contexts around Big Data, examples of data as a resource and a product and considerations for mitigating risks associated with privacy and data ethics. This will culminate in a data-centric activity where teams will aim to manage, integrate and use different forms of data to achieve specific outcomes.

Principles of Marketing

You will explore what marketing is all about in business. You will build on your existing knowledge and focus on a real business, looking at the interrelationship of how it is viewed and perceived through its marketing. This module provides a foundation on which future study of marketing can be built, particularly within the digital and social marketplaces.

You’ll build on your knowledge and application of digital marketing and key business management disciplines including financial management and project management. You’ll further develop your skills in finding and applying information sources as well as hear from expert industry speakers who will add context to your studies. You’ll have the opportunity to work in teams on live briefs, helping to develop your collaborative skills and put business theory into practice.

Modules

Research Methods

You will develop a research project that employs both primary and secondary research methods and then present that project visually, through a poster presentation.

Social Media Marketing

You'll be introduced to the principles of content and social media marketing, looking at the platforms available and their place in the wider marketing context. You’ll explore a series of case studies that demonstrate how these platforms can be used to influence and develop product and brand awareness, increase brand loyalty and business growth. You will also learn how to accurately measure growth in these marketing channels.

Consumer Psychology

You will apply critical thinking to examine the relationship between theory and evidence from consumer psychology scenarios. You’ll also build a systematic knowledge of the application and limitations of various research frameworks and techniques in relation to consumer behaviour.

Collaborative Working

In this module, you’ll learn about the concept of ‘design thinking’. In multi-skilled teams you’ll work on a live brief and deliver a practical project, which you’ll then evaluate through a team performance review.

Financial Management

In this module, you will acquire knowledge of financial terminology to the level where you can confidently debate the financial health of a business. You will explore differences between financial accounting and management accounting and understand the central role of cash and how finance impacts business operations.

Project Management

This module provides you with the rationale, approach, techniques and essential tools to lead or be an effective member of a project team. You will take a critical view of alternative and often complementary project management approaches, such as Waterfall and Agile, and you will be given the opportunity to ‘learn through doing’, through managing a project.

You can choose to take an optional professional placement after your second year on a three-year programme. 

You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the Employability Team. 

Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. 

How you’ll study during your professional placement

You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. 

You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. 

Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. 

By the end of your Business & Digital Marketing degree, you will have the confidence and skills to organise and deliver your most complex, original project. You’ll build on your understanding of how digital marketing events are conducted and further develop your leadership capabilities, producing a portfolio that reflects all of your learning from the course. Through guest lectures, workshops and live project briefs, you’ll connect with industry both on and off campus, building valuable networks to launch your career upon graduation. You will also broaden your strategic awareness of the commercial environment and the important areas of branding.

Modules

Professional Development

You will reflect upon your ongoing professional development journey and build a portfolio that is designed to document a wide range of skills, attributes, and experiences.  This will enable you to understand the value of reflective practice to inform professional development.  You will also learn how to apply effective reflective practice, informing personal and professional development.

Strategy

You will learn to think strategically about business objectives, engaging with a number of approaches and frameworks. You’ll engage with a variety of case studies across sectors, industries, geographical and cultural landscapes, making links among common strategic practices.

Digital Marketing Events

You'll explore key phases of both in-person and digital event management processes and practices. These include project risk, the application of new technologies, and the ability to create inclusive and sustainable digital marketing events.

Leadership

You will explore and review a range of leadership models, styles and frameworks, enabling you to understand leadership practice and its impact in organisations. You will complete a leadership self-assessment, and be encouraged to seek external feedback to engage in a comprehensive reflection and development process.

Digital Marketing Research Project

This module provides an opportunity for you to research a topic of interest, of your choice, in relation to your course. You will produce a consultancy or transformation plan for any business or industry, using skills developed throughout your degree.

Branding

You’ll explore the key elements of branding and brand identity, learning to distinguish between product identity and personal brand in relation to larger company and corporate branding. You’ll examine the functions of brand assets and measures of brand value, helping you to build practical skills in brand communication in a variety of forms.

The Business & Digital Marketing degree includes a variety of different teaching methods ranging from ‘content delivery’ sessions to more discussion-based seminars and workshops. This combination of teaching methods will allow you to explore relevant frameworks and concepts in business and marketing. You’ll have the opportunity to enhance your understanding through discussion and can then put theory into practice through practical applications.  

You will work in teams on a number of live projects over the duration of the course and this will mirror likely ways of working in your career. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to take part in micro-internships with a variety of businesses and draw knowledge and experiences of guest speakers that bring their own industry expertise to your learning journey.

At Falmouth, we use a 'digitally enhanced learning & teaching' approach. Your experience will always be predominantly in-person, including seminars, tutorials and studio teaching, with some, more targeted elements, being online either live (synchronous) or pre-recorded (asynchronous). You can read more here.

The Business & Digital Marketing course includes a varied range of assessments. These include:   

• Reports and essays 
• Research projects 
• Case studies 
• Presentations  
• Collaborative activities 
• Portfolio reviews

There are no formal written examinations on this course.

There will be a single summative assessment for each module. Coursework assessments reflect real world situations, outputs and associated skills. You will engage with a wide range of topics and investigate areas of specific interest to you through the completion of research projects.

Assessments are distributed across the duration of the course to avoid unnecessary overlapping of deadlines. Developmental and formative feedback will be provided on your work within modules to help you build confidence, add knowledge and improve your personal skills. Feedback will be given both in class and within a more informal environment.

Each summative assessment (the final assessed work) will also be accompanied by formal feedback, providing an opportunity to reflect on your own work.