• Undergraduate

Marketing and Social Media with Foundation Year BSc (Hons)

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Overview

Overview

Why study at the University of West London?
  • Ranked 30th university in the UK - The Guardian University Guide 2025
  • Number 1 London university for overall student satisfaction - National Student Survey 2024**
  • Best university for Student Experience and Teaching Quality in the UK - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024

This course is an ideal way of building up your marketing knowledge and skills in the fast-changing world of interactive platforms.

You will learn about the marketing mix and how to add to it through strategically planned online campaigns as well as how to implement the campaigns and measure them effectively.

In particular, the course offers an insight into the marketing field of social media and performance marketing. This will help you understand how to market brands, products and services online as well as being able to generate and successfully convert leads.

CIM Accreditation

The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has approved this degree for exemptions on CIM qualifications. UWL has developed strong links with CIM and our teaching content has been developed alongside CIM’s learning outcomes to ensure that course content is aligned to industry requirements.

Foundation Year 

The foundation year course is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to continue onto your Honours degree. You will study a range of subjects that will underpin your future study and also gain valuable experience of university life, with full access to campus facilities. Successful completion of the year allows you to progress straight onto Level 4 of this course. Please note that a £2000 Path to Success bursary is available to all UK foundation year students, which is non-repayable.

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Select your desired study option, then pick a start date to see relevant course information:

Study options:
We support flexible study by offering some of our courses part-time or via distance learning. To give you real world experience before you graduate, we also offer some courses with a placement or internship. All available options are listed here. Your choices may affect some details of your course, such as the duration and cost per year. Please re-check the details on this page if you change your selection.
Without Foundation Year
Duration: 3 years

Start date:

If your desired start date is not available, try selecting a different study option.

Why study Marketing and Social Media with Foundation Year with us?

Why study Marketing and Social Media with Foundation Year with us?

A collage of students
A collage of students

What our students say…

This course at CLBS has given me the foundation knowledge of marketing and helped me develop as a specialist. I’ve also been able to grow my business network. I love the level of academic support I’ve received all throughout which really helped me to show my best during my assessments.

Anna H, BSc Marketing and Social Media

The Business School is full of enthusiastic teachers who are ever willing to help, guide, and mentor. The amount of personal support I received from my teachers is remarkable. I have been guided and motivated throughout my degree and I am a much polished, skilled, and confident individual now.

Mubashar Rehan
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Get Ahead with Industry Focused Teaching
CIM
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Course detail & modules

Course detail & modules

Social media marketing is an important tool within digital marketing as it allows its users to utilise social media to advertise, communicate or review products and services. The outcome is to increase brand awareness, increase customer base and improve customer relations.

Social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram) have experienced significant growth as marketing tools and are the fastest-growing field of marketing today.

Throughout the course, you will gain knowledge and understanding of various theories and practices to evaluate and implement marketing strategies. You will gain reflective skills to evaluate your own and others’ professional practice alongside independent learning skills which will help you plan your future development.

This course aims to prepare students for employment as marketing professionals starting in junior positions. Once you have sufficient experience you will be able to progress to higher management roles in a variety of organisations.

The degree will also prepare you for postgraduate studies and further professional development as well as enable you to pursue a career and gain employment in:

  • Marketing
  • social media marketing
  • campaign management
  • consultancy

The course will enable you to look into starting your own business or consultation services in marketing and social media.

Foundation year

There are many reasons for joining a foundation year course; you may not have the exact subjects or grades at A level to meet the entry requirements, you may have been living abroad or want to change direction with your career. Whatever your starting point, the foundation year offers a firm grounding in the skills and knowledge that you will need to get the most from your studies and thrive at University. Successful completion of the foundation year allows you to progress straight onto Level 4 of this course.

CIM Accreditation

This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing. When you graduate, provided you have passed specific accredited modules on your course, you will be exempted on an Accredited Prior Learning (APL) basis from the CIM modules ‘Applied Marketing' and 'Planning Campaigns’. You will be required to pass one further elective module to obtain the CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing or the CIM Certificate in Professional Digital Marketing qualification.

You may also be exempted on an Accredited Prior Learning (APL) basis from the CIM module 'Marketing and Digital Strategy'. You will be required to pass two further CIM modules, including 'Innovation in Marketing' and an elective module of your choice to obtain the CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing. Alternatively, if you pass the CIM modules 'Digital Optimisation' and 'The Digital Customer Experience', then you would be able to obtain the CIM Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing; if you pass the CIM module ‘Innovation in Marketing and Sustainability’, then you would be able to obtain the CIM Diploma in Sustainable Marketing.

*Eligibility for the CIM exemptions would be conditional upon attempting and passing the relevant modules on this UWL course and graduating with a degree classification of 2:2 or higher. CIM also requires that you send evidence of graduation to the CIM Qualifications Team, sign up to study with CIM and pass the additional units within five years of graduation for exemptions to be valid.

Compulsory modules

  • Introduction to Business

    During this module you will gain a basic knowledge and understanding of business organisations and the way they operate in the UK economy.

  • Recording Business Transactions

    During this module you will cover the methods of bookkeeping and financial accounting used by organisations to record their financial transactions.

  • Data Handling and ICT

    You will develop skills and confidence in the use and application of numerical data and analysis. 

    You will also prepare, present and process data using business software.

  • Managing People and Systems

    In the course of this management module you will explore people management within business structures and how they lead to the fulfilment of business goals.

    You will learn about recruitment, different personalities, team dynamics, people assessment systems and understand basic theories of motivation and leadership.

  • Personalised Learning

    The Personalised Learning module is intended to equip you with the study skills needed to successfully progress onto level 4, the first year of undergraduate study. Tutor group sessions are an integral part of the module, where you will consolidate your learning and frame it in the context of your subject area. The module will focus on various aspects of study skills, such as those skills related to reading and writing, learning approaches, problem-solving techniques, critical thinking, researching, referencing, plagiarism, legal research and time management.

  • Study Skills for Success

    This module will enable you to read critically, present an argument, and distinguish between the quality and suitability of materials. It will prepare you to use and evaluate a range of evidence sources throughout your degree.

Compulsory modules

  • Principles of Marketing

    On this module you'll study the products that customers want and ways to inform customers of product benefits and convenient locations for sale. Through this you will come to understand the value of keeping customers happy and of doing so more effectively than the competition.

  • Professional Skills

    In this module, you will learn to outline academic writing skills and presentation skills, show effectively working with others towards the completion of a task (teamwork skills), present skills in oral and written communication in the business environment, as well as duplicate the importance of business etiquette and the importance of rules and values in an organisation. 

  • Principles of Advertising

  • Principles of Digital and Social Media Marketing

    You will be introduced to digital marketing and its impact on marketing. You will learn about the online marketplace and conduct micro analysis as well as learn about the macro environment of digital marketing. You will gain an overview of digital marketing strategy and learn how to use digital marketing and social media tool to create effective digital experiences.

  • Workplace Employability Skills

    The module will focus on preparing you for the workplace and equipping you with the skills required to gain employment and to work effectively in a professional environment.

  • Market Data Analysis

Compulsory modules

  • Marketing and Brand Management

    On this module you will explore issues such as designing processes, making decisions about location, layout and capacity management, managing the supply chain, and managing quality. In particular, you will focus on practical examples and case studies. This will involve assessments in groups and/or individually in which you will present your research findings, before a final written exam.

  • Web Design and Development

  • Social Media and Analytics

  • Enterprise and Business Development

    You will evaluate the skills and approaches the entrepreneur brings to the process of value creation and the factors that encourage the move to entrepreneurship.

    You will understand how to locate, analyse and evaluate sources of information related to the development of a business plan which demonstrates the commercial viability of a proposed business start-up.

  • Marketing Campaign Planning

  • Research Methods

Compulsory modules

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

72 UCAS points required from level 3 qualifications

These can include:

  • A-Levels at grades B and C (if you have two A-Levels) or grades D, D and D (if you have three), or above
  • BTEC Extended Diploma with Merit, Merit, Pass
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • T-Levels

You also need GCSE English and Maths (grade 9 – 4 / A* - C) or Level 2 equivalents.

Looking for BSc (Hons) Marketing and Social Media without Foundation Year?

View course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.

Looking for BSc (Hons) Marketing and Social Media without Foundation Year?

View course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.
5.5 IELTS or above

You need to meet our English language requirement - a minimum of IELTS 5.5 for each of the four individual components (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening). Visit our English language requirements page for information on other English language tests we accept.

You also need academic qualifications at the same level as UK applicants. In some countries where teaching is in English, we may accept local qualifications. Check for local equivalents. 

We offer pre-sessional English language courses if you do not meet these requirements.

Find out more about our English Language courses.

Looking for BSc (Hons) Marketing and Social Media without Foundation Year?

View course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.

Looking for BSc (Hons) Marketing and Social Media without Foundation Year?

View course
Whether you are changing career or don't have the exact subjects and grades required for this course, you might want to choose this course with a foundation year. This will give you an extra year's study to prepare you for the standard degree programme, where you can go on to graduate with a full Honours degree. Follow the link to see full details of the course with foundation year.
Fees & funding

Fees & funding

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September 2025 tuition fees


Foundation Year 1 - full-time UK (Home) student: £5,760, full-time international student: £16,250

Year 2 onwards (subject to change) - currently full-time UK (Home) student: £9,250, full-time international student: £16,250 

Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

Funding your studies

You may be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees, or a maintenance loan. Additional funding is available to some types of students, such as those with dependants and disabled students.

Foundation year bursary

If you are a UK student joining a foundation year course with UWL, you will receive a £2000 Path to Success bursary to support your studies. This is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. You will receive £500 per year subject to your attendance, engagement and progression through your studies. 

To find out more, explore our Undergraduate scholarships and bursaries page.

Funding your studies
{{ formatCurrencyValue(currentVariantData.field_p_cv_int_main_fee.name) }} per year*

September 2025 tuition fees


Foundation Year 1 - full-time UK (Home) student: £5,760, full-time international student: £16,250

Year 2 onwards (subject to change) - currently full-time UK (Home) student: £9,250, full-time international student: £16,250 

Please note:

  • Fees for the 2026/27 academic year and onwards may be subject to Government regulation and change.
  • Tuition fees are charged for each year of your course. If your course runs for two years or more, you will need to pay the fee for each academic year at the start of that year.
  • If your course runs for less than two years, the cost above is for your full course and you will need to pay the full fee upfront.
  • If no fee is shown above then the fees for this course are not available yet. Please check again later for updates.

International students - funding your studies

We offer scholarships for international students including International Ambassador Scholarships. 

Further information about funding and financial support for international students is available from the UK Council for International Student Affairs.

 

Financial support for international students
Teaching staff

Teaching staff

Gidraph Michuki

Dr Gidraph Michuki

A qualified higher education lecturer (PGCAP - HE), Dr Michuki is an experienced lecturer with a keen interest in marketing theory and practice. He holds the higher-level professional qualification in marketing (from The Chartered Institute of Marketing) and several post-graduate academic qualifications in marketing and management. He was awarded the Chartered Marketer status in 2007 by The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CMktr)

A qualified higher education lecturer (PGCAP - HE), Dr Michuki is an experienced lecturer with a keen interest in marketing theory and practice. He holds the higher-level professional qualification in marketing (from The Chartered Institute of Marketing) and several post-graduate academic qualifications in marketing and management. He was awarded the Chartered Marketer status in 2007 by The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CMktr)

Study & career progression

Study & career progression

A female woman in an open work space

There are several career progression routes you can pursue upon successful course completion including:
marketing

  • social media marketing
  • campaign management
  • consultancy
  • market research.

Further study that can be undertaken upon course completion:

  • MSc Marketing
  • MSc International Marketing
  • MSc Digital Marketing.
How to apply

How to apply

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Important notes for applicants

Disclaimer

*Modern universities - defined as higher education institutions that were granted university status in, and subsequent to, 1992.

**The National Student Survey 2023 and 2024 - Average of answers to all questions by registered student population. Excludes specialist institutions.

Testimonials - our students or former students provided all of our testimonials - often a student from the course but sometimes another student. For example, the testimonial often comes from another UWL student when the course is new.

Optional modules - where optional modules are offered they will run subject to staff availability and viable student numbers opting to take the module.

Videos - all videos on our course pages were accurate at the time of filming. In some cases a new Course Leader has joined the University since the video was filmed.

Availability of placements - if you choose a course with placement/internship route we would like to advise you that if a placement/internship opportunity does not arise when you are expected to undertake the placement then the University will automatically transfer you to the non-internship route, this is to ensure you are still successful in being awarded a degree.