Marketing vs Media Degree
I'm am applying to university currently and I am stuck between whether to do a marketing degree or a media and communications degree. Is one better than the other? Will one open up to more options in the future? Any help is massively appreciated.
Reply 1
Original post by emmaclaredi
I'm am applying to university currently and I am stuck between whether to do a marketing degree or a media and communications degree. Is one better than the other? Will one open up to more options in the future? Any help is massively appreciated.
I cant speak much on the subjects as a whole, however, from a handful of people I know who have studied media, they all say It is useless unless it is Media with English. Media with other subjects or a standalone does not seem to appeal as much to employers as It does with English. Presumably because it shows you have more analytical skills and grammar to correctly influence your audiences.
But one thing I do know about marketing, it narrows your doors immensely. Marketing will only let you go into marketing on the whole. It is a very targeted degree. Media opens a lot more doors including fields in teaching, marketing, journalism, communication, film (bbc, itv, etc.), researcher, and the list goes on!
Reply 2
Original post by emmaclaredi
I'm am applying to university currently and I am stuck between whether to do a marketing degree or a media and communications degree. Is one better than the other? Will one open up to more options in the future? Any help is massively appreciated.
Neither degrees are required for their respective fields. As far as I know, the employers in the industry would value relevant experience more than qualifications. In this sense, I would say the marketing degree is slightly better than the media degree, but neither are really that much helpful.
I don't know about the prospects for academic teaching and research in media studies, but the scope is relatively big in marketing since it's heavily demanded in business schools. However, I am bias against marketing research in academia.
Should you decide to do a marketing degree, I would do a professional marketing qualification after the degree e.g. CIM or IDM (I prefer CIM because it's more widely recognised in the country, as well as in certain areas in the world). I can't see the need to have more than a master's degree in marketing (or equivalent) should you only wish to go into industry.
Should you do a marketing degree, you will get exemptions from the professional marketing qualifications as it's regarded as the equivalent of a Level 6 diploma. Above that, you would only have the Leve7 diploma left.
Do note: what you would need to excel in marketing in industry is very different to what they teach you in your marketing degree.
I don't know of any officiallly recognised professional qualifications in media.
I am not sure about the knowledge you learn in media studies, but in marketing degrees, at least half of the material would be considered useful in practice.
By default, with either degrees you can go into any job that would accept any or no qualifications e.g. anything in business, media, can pursue a career in education with further studies, go into writing, etc.
Which of these degrees would open up more options for you would depend on where you want to go. I don't know what you plans are, so it's difficult for me to say what would be best suited for you. If you have any idea of what you want to go into, I could better point you in the right direction.
Reply 3
Original post by greentiger
I cant speak much on the subjects as a whole, however, from a handful of people I know who have studied media, they all say It is useless unless it is Media with English. Media with other subjects or a standalone does not seem to appeal as much to employers as It does with English. Presumably because it shows you have more analytical skills and grammar to correctly influence your audiences.
But one thing I do know about marketing, it narrows your doors immensely. Marketing will only let you go into marketing on the whole. It is a very targeted degree. Media opens a lot more doors including fields in teaching, marketing, journalism, communication, film (bbc, itv, etc.), researcher, and the list goes on!
But one thing I do know about marketing, it narrows your doors immensely. Marketing will only let you go into marketing on the whole. It is a very targeted degree. Media opens a lot more doors including fields in teaching, marketing, journalism, communication, film (bbc, itv, etc.), researcher, and the list goes on!
no degree is "useless" whatsoever. Media is a degree where you can take to lots of jobs when finished and they'll take you on with a starting salary of £35,000 and continuing up.I was speaking to a family friend of mine today who works in media and sales, she told me lots of people at her place of work who took media are on more than her! upwards of £50K. If you're not so much bringing money into it then you can still think of it as companies just being happy that you have a degree. Regardless of what it is, companies don't really care what you've done because a degree demonstrates that you're able to complete work related to Literature and assignments, and everything else at uni that requires competence
Reply 4
Original post by annabortion
no degree is "useless" whatsoever. Media is a degree where you can take to lots of jobs when finished and they'll take you on with a starting salary of £35,000 and continuing up.I was speaking to a family friend of mine today who works in media and sales, she told me lots of people at her place of work who took media are on more than her! upwards of £50K. If you're not so much bringing money into it then you can still think of it as companies just being happy that you have a degree. Regardless of what it is, companies don't really care what you've done because a degree demonstrates that you're able to complete work related to Literature and assignments, and everything else at uni that requires competence
Completely agree, however i’m talking about which degree opens up more opportunities and gives more chance of getting a job in that specific field
Reply 5
3
Original post by MindMax2000
Neither degrees are required for their respective fields. As far as I know, the employers in the industry would value relevant experience more than qualifications. In this sense, I would say the marketing degree is slightly better than the media degree, but neither are really that much helpful.
I don't know about the prospects for academic teaching and research in media studies, but the scope is relatively big in marketing since it's heavily demanded in business schools. However, I am bias against marketing research in academia.
Should you decide to do a marketing degree, I would do a professional marketing qualification after the degree e.g. CIM or IDM (I prefer CIM because it's more widely recognised in the country, as well as in certain areas in the world). I can't see the need to have more than a master's degree in marketing (or equivalent) should you only wish to go into industry.
Should you do a marketing degree, you will get exemptions from the professional marketing qualifications as it's regarded as the equivalent of a Level 6 diploma. Above that, you would only have the Leve7 diploma left.
Do note: what you would need to excel in marketing in industry is very different to what they teach you in your marketing degree.
I don't know of any officiallly recognised professional qualifications in media.
I am not sure about the knowledge you learn in media studies, but in marketing degrees, at least half of the material would be considered useful in practice.
By default, with either degrees you can go into any job that would accept any or no qualifications e.g. anything in business, media, can pursue a career in education with further studies, go into writing, etc.
Which of these degrees would open up more options for you would depend on where you want to go. I don't know what you plans are, so it's difficult for me to say what would be best suited for you. If you have any idea of what you want to go into, I could better point you in the right direction.
I don't know about the prospects for academic teaching and research in media studies, but the scope is relatively big in marketing since it's heavily demanded in business schools. However, I am bias against marketing research in academia.
Should you decide to do a marketing degree, I would do a professional marketing qualification after the degree e.g. CIM or IDM (I prefer CIM because it's more widely recognised in the country, as well as in certain areas in the world). I can't see the need to have more than a master's degree in marketing (or equivalent) should you only wish to go into industry.
Should you do a marketing degree, you will get exemptions from the professional marketing qualifications as it's regarded as the equivalent of a Level 6 diploma. Above that, you would only have the Leve7 diploma left.
Do note: what you would need to excel in marketing in industry is very different to what they teach you in your marketing degree.
I don't know of any officiallly recognised professional qualifications in media.
I am not sure about the knowledge you learn in media studies, but in marketing degrees, at least half of the material would be considered useful in practice.
By default, with either degrees you can go into any job that would accept any or no qualifications e.g. anything in business, media, can pursue a career in education with further studies, go into writing, etc.
Which of these degrees would open up more options for you would depend on where you want to go. I don't know what you plans are, so it's difficult for me to say what would be best suited for you. If you have any idea of what you want to go into, I could better point you in the right direction.
Hey, thank you so much for all your help! My ultimate dream would be to work in some form of role in F1 (or other motorsports) marketing, communications, sponsorship, digital media, hospitality or something within that field of work. Although I know this is such a well sort after job and a very competitive/ saturated market I'm looking for any way that would steer me in the correct direction. Even if i cannot reach this level I believe aiming for something I love will hopefully land me somewhere, doing something I still enjoy whether its the exact thing I planned for.
Reply 6
Original post by emmaclaredi
Hey, thank you so much for all your help! My ultimate dream would be to work in some form of role in F1 (or other motorsports) marketing, communications, sponsorship, digital media, hospitality or something within that field of work. Although I know this is such a well sort after job and a very competitive/ saturated market I'm looking for any way that would steer me in the correct direction. Even if i cannot reach this level I believe aiming for something I love will hopefully land me somewhere, doing something I still enjoy whether its the exact thing I planned for.
Then you're bettter off trying to work in F1 from the ground up. If you can, try to network with as many people in the sector as possible; it will siginificantly give you a leg up on the competition, provided you know how to network well.
However, if you want to do a marketing degree, so be it. A marketing degree would provide you with the basic marketing knowledge, but F1 would very likely be looking for people with either exceptional talent or a lot of professional experience. A marketing degree would give you exemptions from CIM and IDM, but it's a side note.
If PR is more of your thing, I recommend looking at the CIPR qualifications (note, there are bachelor's and master's degrees that are accredited by CIPR, and the entry requirements are pretty much any A Levels/degree in any subject so long you have the right grades; see: https://www.cipr.co.uk/CIPR/Learn_Develop/Qualifications/Recognised_university_courses.aspx).
Reply 7
3
Honestly thank you so much for your help! I massively appreciate you taking time to do so. I'll definitely have a look into all the things you mentioned right now! I've had a few people mention to me networking as a vital step, what kind of people should i be getting in touch with?
Original post by MindMax2000
Then you're bettter off trying to work in F1 from the ground up. If you can, try to network with as many people in the sector as possible; it will siginificantly give you a leg up on the competition, provided you know how to network well.
However, if you want to do a marketing degree, so be it. A marketing degree would provide you with the basic marketing knowledge, but F1 would very likely be looking for people with either exceptional talent or a lot of professional experience. A marketing degree would give you exemptions from CIM and IDM, but it's a side note.
If PR is more of your thing, I recommend looking at the CIPR qualifications (note, there are bachelor's and master's degrees that are accredited by CIPR, and the entry requirements are pretty much any A Levels/degree in any subject so long you have the right grades; see: https://www.cipr.co.uk/CIPR/Learn_Develop/Qualifications/Recognised_university_courses.aspx).
However, if you want to do a marketing degree, so be it. A marketing degree would provide you with the basic marketing knowledge, but F1 would very likely be looking for people with either exceptional talent or a lot of professional experience. A marketing degree would give you exemptions from CIM and IDM, but it's a side note.
If PR is more of your thing, I recommend looking at the CIPR qualifications (note, there are bachelor's and master's degrees that are accredited by CIPR, and the entry requirements are pretty much any A Levels/degree in any subject so long you have the right grades; see: https://www.cipr.co.uk/CIPR/Learn_Develop/Qualifications/Recognised_university_courses.aspx).
Reply 8
Original post by emmaclaredi
Honestly thank you so much for your help! I massively appreciate you taking time to do so. I'll definitely have a look into all the things you mentioned right now! I've had a few people mention to me networking as a vital step, what kind of people should i be getting in touch with?
People in F1's marketing department (junior staff, line managers, or someone slightly senior). If they have a PR department, people of similar positions.
Getting in contact with people in their HR department wouldn't hurt either, but it's usually easier if you get directly in contact with the people who you specifically want to work for.
The tier below that would be anyone who works in F1, or people who have connections to those in F1. These people would at least provide you introductions to those mentioned above.
Reply 9
3
Original post by MindMax2000
People in F1's marketing department (junior staff, line managers, or someone slightly senior). If they have a PR department, people of similar positions.
Getting in contact with people in their HR department wouldn't hurt either, but it's usually easier if you get directly in contact with the people who you specifically want to work for.
The tier below that would be anyone who works in F1, or people who have connections to those in F1. These people would at least provide you introductions to those mentioned above.
Getting in contact with people in their HR department wouldn't hurt either, but it's usually easier if you get directly in contact with the people who you specifically want to work for.
The tier below that would be anyone who works in F1, or people who have connections to those in F1. These people would at least provide you introductions to those mentioned above.
Okay perfect, I'm going to get into writing out some emails and contacting some people now, appreciate you! thanks again
Reply 10
Original post by emmaclaredi
I'm am applying to university currently and I am stuck between whether to do a marketing degree or a media and communications degree. Is one better than the other? Will one open up to more options in the future? Any help is massively appreciated.
Hi @emmaclaredi,
It looks like you've already got lots of good advice on this topic. If this is your area of interest, I just wanted to make you aware of the BA in Digital Marketing which is being offered for the first time this year at Oxford Brookes University. For more information, take a look at the following link: https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/digital-marketing/. I understand you may have already submitted your UCAS application, but this is a course to be aware of! Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.
-Daniel
Admissions Office
Oxford Brookes University
Reply 11
Original post by MindMax2000
Neither degrees are required for their respective fields. As far as I know, the employers in the industry would value relevant experience more than qualifications. In this sense, I would say the marketing degree is slightly better than the media degree, but neither are really that much helpful.
I don't know about the prospects for academic teaching and research in media studies, but the scope is relatively big in marketing since it's heavily demanded in business schools. However, I am bias against marketing research in academia.
Should you decide to do a marketing degree, I would do a professional marketing qualification after the degree e.g. CIM or IDM (I prefer CIM because it's more widely recognised in the country, as well as in certain areas in the world). I can't see the need to have more than a master's degree in marketing (or equivalent) should you only wish to go into industry.
Should you do a marketing degree, you will get exemptions from the professional marketing qualifications as it's regarded as the equivalent of a Level 6 diploma. Above that, you would only have the Leve7 diploma left.
Do note: what you would need to excel in marketing in industry is very different to what they teach you in your marketing degree.
I don't know of any officiallly recognised professional qualifications in media.
I am not sure about the knowledge you learn in media studies, but in marketing degrees, at least half of the material would be considered useful in practice.
By default, with either degrees you can go into any job that would accept any or no qualifications e.g. anything in business, media, can pursue a career in education with further studies, go into writing, etc.
Which of these degrees would open up more options for you would depend on where you want to go. I don't know what you plans are, so it's difficult for me to say what would be best suited for you. If you have any idea of what you want to go into, I could better point you in the right direction.
I don't know about the prospects for academic teaching and research in media studies, but the scope is relatively big in marketing since it's heavily demanded in business schools. However, I am bias against marketing research in academia.
Should you decide to do a marketing degree, I would do a professional marketing qualification after the degree e.g. CIM or IDM (I prefer CIM because it's more widely recognised in the country, as well as in certain areas in the world). I can't see the need to have more than a master's degree in marketing (or equivalent) should you only wish to go into industry.
Should you do a marketing degree, you will get exemptions from the professional marketing qualifications as it's regarded as the equivalent of a Level 6 diploma. Above that, you would only have the Leve7 diploma left.
Do note: what you would need to excel in marketing in industry is very different to what they teach you in your marketing degree.
I don't know of any officiallly recognised professional qualifications in media.
I am not sure about the knowledge you learn in media studies, but in marketing degrees, at least half of the material would be considered useful in practice.
By default, with either degrees you can go into any job that would accept any or no qualifications e.g. anything in business, media, can pursue a career in education with further studies, go into writing, etc.
Which of these degrees would open up more options for you would depend on where you want to go. I don't know what you plans are, so it's difficult for me to say what would be best suited for you. If you have any idea of what you want to go into, I could better point you in the right direction.
There is currently a move away from recruiting people with a marketing degree, as they do not have the wider knowledge required by organisations, such as critical thinking and lateral thinking. All UK universities offer a marketing qualification at some levels due to insatiable demand and the perception that a university qualification in marketing is essential to break into it.
Media vs Marketing - English Literature and Film / Theatre / Drama / Journalism degree vs Marketing - but to a very large extent it depends on you and your personality. Do you like analysing numbers and using them to tell a story? Do you like writing short stories, doing drama, etc? for example could you turn a letter of the alphabet into a product / character / object and get an audience engaged wanting to learn more about it? Could you discuss it? Listen to a stand-up comedian to get an idea. Are you creative or journalistic? Are you visually orientated - think about graphic design. Don't forget there are also Photojournalism degrees to consider too!
Just think...... if all marketing departments just recruited Marketing degree graduates, then they wouldn't have the essential 'Competitive Advantage' that is required to be successful in UK and overseas markets.
Look at the degree subjects that the university tutors and professors did and you will see that very few, if any of them, did a marketing degree at undergraduate level.
•
Data Science, Economics, Economics & Finance, and Maths & Statistics degrees - trump the so-called Digital Marketing degrees.
•
English Literature, History, *English Literature & Film/Theatre*, Graphic Design, Advertising, and Modern Languages - trump the Marketing Communications degrees.
•
PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics), Philosophy, Law & Accounting/Business, Maths & Statistics, Natural Sciences (Chemistry/Physics), Physics & Philosophy, Engineering Management, Modern Language & Economics, and History & Economics - trump all Marketing degrees.
Marketing degree students are often taught historic ways of doing marketing, so are at almost an immediate disadvantage when trying to get a job, and build a career, as they are a "one trip pony". If you choose one of the other degrees suggested above you have a range of career paths open to you if you decide whilst doing your degree that marketing isn't the career for you.
Also, just think marketing is currently undergoing a technical revolution due to A.I. and machine Learning (ML), which will reduce the useful life-span of the knowledge gained on a marketing degree. AI and ML have already reduced the number of marketing jobs available, as many marketing processes can be done by marketing automation platforms (salesforce, Eloqua, etc) and generative artificial intelligence platforms, such as ChatGPT. The trend is for this to continue and for there to be further erosion of marketing jobs.
If you are still super keen on doing a marketing degree then there are 4 key universities to go to:
1) Strathclyde (one of the largest and oldest marketing departments in Europe),
2) UAL (London College of Fashion (Fashion Marketing - internationally renowned), Central Saint Martins (Graphic design - very strong int'l reputation) and London College of Communications (renowned in the Advertising sector - Advertising and Graphic Design degrees are targeted)),
3) Heriot-Watt (Scotland & N.I.) or Reading (England & Wales) - Food Marketing - very strong industry links to both food and drinks industries,
and
4) Aston (very well-regarded by industry) - also offer a unique degree in Logistics at undergraduate level which is a target degree for many supply chain companies in the UK and internationally.
Other universities have jumped on the marketing degree band wagon / university degree bubble.
Universities have promoted Marketing degrees, as being essential for a career in marketing, but that is far from true. The ability to write in an engaging way, motivation to keep learning and improving, ability to understand numbers combined with a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and being a team player are key.
Good A-level subjects and gaining good grades PLUS a 'marketing' acumen are better than a marketing degree. Many Marketing degree students have weak A-level subjects (best are the so-called 'facilitating subjects') and many marketing degree students have a tendency to have weak grades, poor motivation, and weak acumen for that career path, as a consequence marketing degrees are easier to get accepted on to, but provide little or no value for students on those courses. University league tables - if you look at them note how the stats for Career and further study are combined - this hides how useful the degree course actually is - "massaging of the numbers!", so the naïve and unwary think a degree course is better than it actually is.
Going through the CIM's qualification hierarchy is better than a degree, as so many universities offer marketing degrees, and the quality of graduates those courses produce even with a 2:1 or 1st is highly variable, unlike CIM, IDM, or some of the other communication focused professional bodies, such as CIPR and even NCTJ.
If you still want a marketing career and to get a degree, then do a degree apprenticeship, as that way you get a qualification, work experience, no debt, and you'll be taking the first step on the corporate career ladder, etc. just think when most graduates will be looking to start their marketing career you would be 3 or 4 years into yours! Also, the employers that offer these apprenticeships are some of the very best employers that you can work for. The students that do these sort of apprenticeships are some of the most motivated, career-focused, mentally mature, and best personnel at the junior level that organisations recruit. the universities involved in these apprenticeships are some of the best: Warwick, Birmingham, Newcastle, Nottingham, Manchester, Southampton, Glasgow, Aston, Strathclyde, Reading, HWU, UCL, and UAL.
(edited 9 months ago)
Reply 12
Original post by emmaclaredi
I'm am applying to university currently and I am stuck between whether to do a marketing degree or a media and communications degree. Is one better than the other? Will one open up to more options in the future? Any help is massively appreciated.
Hey there! I’ve been in your shoes, so I totally get how tricky this decision can be. The truth is, neither degree is better, it really depends on your interests and career goals.
A marketing degree is great if you’re into branding, consumer behavior, and analytics. It’s more business-focused and ties directly to roles in advertising, sales, or digital marketing. On the flip side, media and communications is broader, focusing on storytelling, content creation, and how media shapes society. It’s ideal if you’re drawn to PR, journalism, or social media.
In terms of future options, marketing might offer a more structured path in business, while media and communications gives you flexibility and creative opportunities. Check out the course details for each program. Some degrees overlap, so you might get the best of both worlds!
Ultimately, go with what excites you most. You can always pivot later. Good luck with your decision, you’ve got this! 😊
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