What Is a Marketing Degree?

A marketing degree may not always be necessary to get a marketing job, but earning one could open new career opportunities. 

With companies and organisations prioritising their marketing efforts in a digital world, skilled marketing professionals are increasingly in demand. By studying marketing and pursuing a career in this field, you can engage your creativity and strategic thinking, learn marketing foundations and principles, and explore new technologies and platforms while taking on the ever-evolving business world in 2024 and beyond. 

Continue reading to learn what a marketing degree is, the different types of marketing degrees, what they require, the careers they can lead to, and the steps for getting a degree in marketing.

What is a marketing degree? 

A marketing degree is an academic course of study on how to promote products and services to a target audience. Marketing students learn how to find out what people want, understand the needs of different customer segments, communicate how a product or service fills those needs, and guide potential customers to take action. 

Marketing degree coursework combines theory and practice so graduates can enter careers equipped to help companies increase their profitability and brand recognition. 

Marketing degrees share some similarities with business administration, advertising, and public relations, but some key differences exist that you’ll need to know as you consider getting a degree in marketing:

• Business administration is broader in scope than marketing and covers topics such as management, accounting, and business strategy, as well as marketing. When you study for a business administration degree, you might specialize in marketing or other fields, such as finance, human resource management, or international business. 

• Advertising is part of marketing, but more narrow in scope. An advertising degree focuses on learning how to promote a brand and its products through paid channels and effective storytelling. 

• A public relations degree focuses on learning how to maintain a positive reputation for a company, while a marketing degree focuses on generating leads and promoting products to a target audience. In this degree programme, you will study sociological, cultural, and psychological aspects of marketing and how to best communicate with consumers and stakeholders.

Types of marketing degrees

You can get a marketing degree at different levels of education, each with its own requirements and areas of emphasis. Understanding these different types can help you make the best decision for your education and career as a whole. 

Foundation year in marketing 

A foundation year course is considered a “year zero” option that provides the opportunity to learn the skills you need to qualify for a traditional three-year undergraduate degree. This degree can provide a path to earning a bachelor’s degree or higher. In an undergraduate degree programme with a foundation year, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the foundations of market research, how to select a target market, consumer behaviour, and product promotion. 

An undergraduate degree in marketing with a foundation year might be the best path for you if you want to enrol in a post-secondary programme and gain a firm understanding of this field, but you don’t yet qualify. 

Undergraduate degree in marketing

An undergraduate degree helps you prepare for an entry-level position in marketing, as well as jobs with more responsibilities and advancement opportunities. 

A bachelor’s degree in marketing may be the best path for you if you want to obtain the level of education that many employers require of marketing job applicants. 

The two main types of bachelor’s degrees in marketing are a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science (BSc). In both, you'll typically learn the fundamentals of market research and strategies. The main difference between these two four-year programmes is their focus:

• A BA in marketing entails a broad study of the marketing industry and can help you prepare for a variety of roles. Some BA in marketing programmes may focus more on the humanities components of this field, such as communications and brand management. This path would be ideal for you if the creative aspects of marketing appeal to you.

• A BSc in marketing can also cover a broad survey of marketing while focusing more on the economics, finance, and business side of this field. This path would be ideal for you if the scientific and technological aspects of marketing appeal to you.

Master’s degree in marketing 

A master’s degree in marketing is a graduate course of study. This might be a good path for you if you have a bachelor’s degree in marketing or a related field and want to pursue more advanced or managerial job opportunities. 

Two types of master’s degrees in marketing are a Master of Science in Marketing (MSc Marketing) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a marketing concentration. These programmes run for one to two years, and in both, you’ll build upon the concepts, theories, and strategies learned in your bachelor's course. Some core differences between these two programmes include the following: 

• The MSc Marketing focuses on advanced marketing topics, theories, and decision-making strategies rather than business management or leadership. This degree path would be a good option for you if you want to study a specific area of marketing, such as analytics or digital media, and focus your career specifically on marketing. 

• An MBA with a marketing concentration offers a broader business education than the MSc Marketing. It might include topics such as leadership, economics, and finance while also offering coursework in marketing management and strategy. An MBA is a good option if you want to pursue marketing positions and other leadership positions while applying your advanced skills to a variety of areas in the business world. 

If you’re ready to begin a graduate programme in business, consider an online programme, like the Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois. You can gain leadership skills in innovation, globalisation or digitalisation and earn a degree in two to three years.

Doctoral degree in marketing

A doctorate in marketing is the most advanced degree you can get in this field and represents the highest level of academic achievement. The two types of doctorate degrees in marketing are a PhD and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA). Both programmes build on concepts, theories, and strategies you’d learn in a bachelor’s or master’s degree programme, but some core differences exist:

• A PhD in marketing is a course of study for developing the skills to conduct original research on topics in marketing. As an academic degree, the coursework intersects with research methods in psychology, economics, statistics, and management science. This degree path might be a good fit if you want to teach at a college or university and publish scholarly research.

• A DBA, like an MBA, focuses more on real-world business applications than on theory. A DBA in marketing could lead to a marketing leadership role within a company. Some DBA graduates go on to become marketing executives or CEOs. 

What jobs can you get with a marketing degree? 

As you’re thinking about getting a degree in marketing, consider the career opportunities that may be available to you, from entry-level to managerial positions, as well as average salaries and job outlooks. Marketing professionals, especially those with strong digital marketing skills, will continue to be in demand as companies and their consumers shift online. 

Statista reports that marketing professionals have seen a steady increase in employment over the last decade [1], and this is expected to continue across many sectors, including technology, retail, e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and telecommunications.

Some of the jobs you can pursue with a marketing degree and their average salaries include:

• Advertising account executive: £34,138

• Market researcher: £27,403

• Marketing executive: £29,825

• Media buyer: £30,261

• PPC specialist: £31,856

• Public relations officer: £36,732

• Social media manager: £33,221

• Business adviser: £32,422

• Business development manager: £40,963

• Digital copywriter: £23,689

• Event manager: £33,528

• Product manager: £55,622

• Retail merchandiser: £24,931

• Talent agent: £32,984

• UX designer: £47,887

• Web content manager: £39,027

• Content marketer: £27,403

• SEO manager: £38,749

*All salary data represents average base pay in the UK from Glassdoor as of April 2025.

Is studying marketing in the UK worth it?

It depends on your career goals. While a marketing degree might give you an advantage when applying for positions, some companies hire candidates with degrees in fields other than marketing as long as they possess the desired skill set and have relevant experience. Taking courses that specialise in different areas of marketing or earning other professional credentials can be viable alternatives to getting a degree. A great strategy for advancing your career in marketing is to monitor job boards for open positions and review the job requirements of each one.‎

How to get a marketing degree 

Every degree programme, from a foundation to a doctorate, is an investment of time and money. Take time to consider how a programme might fit your professional and personal goals. For each degree programme you’re considering, look at its flexibility, location, cost, application process and requirements, coursework, and graduate job placement information. 

To get a foundation or bachelor’s degree in marketing, you may need:

• At least one A level or equivalent

• English language GCSE

• Mathematics GCSE

Graduate degree programmes typically require:

• Undergraduate degree or equivalent in marketing or other subject

• Research proposal

• Professional experience 

Entry requirements for a doctorate degree in marketing may include:

• Honours bachelor's degree

• MBA or other master's degree

• Seven or more years of senior management experience

Get started in marketing

A marketing degree introduces you to key marketing concepts and helps you develop skills for a successful career. Still not sure if you should get a marketing degree? Taking an online course is a great way to build job-ready marketing skills and decide if a degree path is right for you. Explore the Meta Social Media Marketing Professional Certificate to learn how to create ad campaigns and navigate Facebook’s Ads Manager or the Meta Marketing Analytics Professional Certificate to discover marketing analytics methods and how to evaluate the effectiveness of ads.