The international food supply industry requires high calibre graduates with an understanding of how food can be preserved throughout the distribution chain to ensure the supply of safe, wholesome food. Research has identified that food business priorities focus on increasing marketing, developing new products and investing in new machinery. This course prepares you for a career within the food sector, specialising in food product development, food consumer marketing or retailing roles.
The course is designed to ensure you graduate ready to help food businesses develop. As the food industry grows worldwide, so does the need for staff who demonstrate functional knowledge and skills in combination with managerial and leadership capability. Food organisations need well qualified managers to develop, commercialise and deliver their products to the marketplace efficiently and effectively. This course gives you the skills and experience to meet this need.
You build your knowledge of food processing and safety, product development, marketing and the food chain. You also have opportunities to develop managerial skills, practical skills and behaviour change theories relevant to the food sector.
The work-related learning module gives you a valuable insight into the roles of process or product development technologists, or product account technologists, and the importance of continuing professional development. It also allows you to practically apply the skills you learn during the course.
The placement is an additional opportunity for you to develop your practical skills, either in the UK or abroad. You are supported in securing a placement through a series of employability workshops offered by specialist academic staff. There is also a dedicated postgraduate placement team who manage placement opportunities.
The course is designed around the principles of
Postgraduate certificate modules
Postgraduate diploma modules
MSc modules
Assessments include
This course gives you the specialist skills and knowledge to develop career opportunities in • food product and process development • food consumer and market research • food merchandising and marketing • consumer insight • food safety and quality management • food innovation.
You can also continue with further study by completing a PhD or Doctorate in Business Administration.
This masters degree offers the perfect starting point for a career in strategic marketing, particularly in an international business environment.
You’ll learn to appreciate modern developments in marketing management theory and practice and explore essential areas including international marketing, marketing strategy and marketing research. You’ll also examine key topics such as international services marketing, consumer behaviour across cultures and global supply chains.
The course has a practical focus and you’ll develop professional skills through in-company assignments and case studies examining genuine business scenarios.
Our academics are experts in their field with extensive teaching, research and consultancy experience of international standing. As such, this course is globally recognised and attracts students from all over the world. You’ll gain cross-cultural experience and an understanding of the skills required to work in an international environment.
Academic excellence
The Marketing division at Leeds University Business School is one of the leading centres of research in marketing in Europe. As part of our research, we engage with companies, senior executives and academics across all five continents.
Our research makes an important contribution to your learning on the MSc International Marketing Management; our academics bring their world-leading expertise to you in the classroom. The Global and Strategic Marketing Research Centre is the Business School’s established and esteemed centre of excellence for scholarly research work.
This course is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), giving you the opportunity to gain professional qualifications through CIM Graduate Gateway. This means you can work towards CIM qualifications during your studies and will receive exemptions from selected assessments.
CIM is the leading professional body for marketers worldwide and exists to develop the marketing profession, maintain professional standards and improve the skills of marketing practitioners. CIM qualifications are highly sought after by employers, and map alongside our own degrees, which ensures you are equipped with the best opportunities for a successful marketing career.
The course is also accredited by the Institute of Export and International Trade (IOE), the professional membership body representing and supporting the interests of everyone involved in importing, exporting and international trade.
Core modules will develop your understanding of international marketing in theory and practice.
You’ll learn how organisations use marketing research to understand their audience and complement this with an awareness of consumer behaviour in different cultures. Then you’ll examine how this information is turned into practical marketing strategies, with modules focusing on marketing communications and strategy as well as the challenges of international marketing.
From there, you’ll develop your knowledge by focusing on international services marketing and considering practical solutions to the problems of global supply chains. You’ll also choose an optional module in an area that interests you, such as social media marketing or corporate social responsibility. During the company marketing project, you’ll have the chance to work alongside an external organisation to research and develop strategies to address their marketing problems.
You can apply your research skills and knowledge to a dissertation which you submit by the end of the year, or you can take a different route. Our third semester consultancy projects give students the opportunity to work with a live business situation, make links with industry and gain work experience that can be exceptionally rewarding.
Throughout the course you’ll also benefit from a Professional Skills and Employability module, dedicated to developing the key skills employers are looking for when recruiting marketing graduates. Read what our current students say about the opportunities for professional development.
Compulsory modules
You’ll take nine compulsory modules, plus either a research dissertation or consultancy project.
Optional modules
You’ll choose one further optional module.
We use a range of teaching methods so you can benefit from the expertise of our academics, including lectures, workshops, seminars, simulations and tutorials. Company case studies provide an opportunity to put your learning into practice.
Independent study is also vital for this course, allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.
Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including exams, group projects, written assignments and essays, in-course assessment, group and individual presentations and reports.
This masters degree will prepare you to pursue a career in marketing management within an international or domestic environment. You’ll develop the professional skills to work within a range of business situations, from large multinational corporations to smaller organisations, or within your own business.
You’ll be able to pursue a career in many areas including international marketing, export marketing, marketing research, marketing consultancy, services marketing, social media marketing, direct, digital and interactive marketing, or supply chain management.
Top graduates who aspire to a research or academic career will also be prepared to pursue a PhD in marketing.
Our dedicated Professional Development Tutor provides tailored academic and careers support to marketing students. They work in partnership with our academics to help you translate theory into practice and develop your interpersonal and professional business skills.
This means you will develop the academic skills to successfully progress through the course, and also the professional skills you will need to secure employment and start a successful career.
You can expect support and guidance on career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, as well as one-to-one coaching on interpersonal and communication skills.
Read more about our careers support.
The digital revolution has led to an unprecedented volume of information about consumers, which progressive organisations are eager to understand and use. This innovative masters degree will give you the practical skills to analyse consumer data and provide insights for successful marketing strategies.
Taught by leading academics from Leeds University Business School and School of Geography, you’ll explore a range of analytical techniques including applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and retail modelling, consumer and predictive analytics and data visualisation. You’ll also develop the softer skills to use the results of these analyses to inform decisions about marketing strategy.
Thanks to our connections with businesses worldwide, you’ll have access to emerging trends in topics such as consumer behaviour, decision science and digital and interactive marketing. You’ll further develop your practical skills with the opportunity to work on a live data project provided by a company.
Academic excellence
This courseoffers you a rare combination of teaching expertise; the Business School’s academic excellence in Marketing alongside world-class teaching from the School of Geography, which draws on the knowledge of the Centre for Spatial Analysis and Policy.
The University of Leeds is a major centre for big data analytics and you’ll benefit from affiliation with the UK’s Consumer Data Research Centre. The centre aims to make data that are routinely collected by businesses and organisations accessible for academic purposes. Coordinating and analysing this large and complex data has the potential to increase productivity and innovation in business, as well as to inform public policy and drive development.
Read an interview with the academic team to learn more about our expertise and the growing importance of this emerging subject area.
Core modules will introduce you to a range of analytical methods, ensuring you develop a solid foundation in the essential skills for consumer analytics and marketing strategy.
You’ll learn how to analyse geographic data using GIS software and understand the application of this in retail modelling, to evaluate new markets and locations. You’ll study predictive analytics, big data and consumer analytics, business analytics and decision science, and learn how to communicate results through data visualisations.
Alongside this, you’ll learn how to deploy data to inform decisions about marketing strategy. Marketing modules include marketing strategy, consumer behavior and direct, digital and interactive marketing. You’ll also deliver your own data-driven marketing research project for a company.
Optional modules allow you to further your knowledge in a related area of interest, either corporate social responsibility, internal communications and managing change, or applied population and demographic analysis.
By the end of the course, you’ll submit an independent project. You can either research a topic in-depth and submit a dissertation, or gain practical experience through a consultancy project working with an external organisation.
Compulsory modules
You’ll take the nine compulsory modules below, plus your dissertation, which can be a choice of either a research dissertation or marketing consultancy project.
Optional modules
You'll take one further optional module.
We use a range of teaching methods so you can benefit from the expertise of our academics, including lectures, workshops, seminars, simulations and tutorials. Company case studies provide an opportunity to put your learning into practice.
Independent study is also vital for this course, allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.
Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including exams, group projects, written assignments and essays, in-course assessment, group and individual presentations and reports.
As a graduate of this course you will be equipped with advanced skills in consumer analytics and marketing strategy, ideal for those wishing to pursue a career in consumer data analytics, marketing and/or management.
Due to the digital revolution, companies from around the world and in many industrial sectors have access to greater amounts of data.
The most progressive companies in the world are particularly interested in marketing graduates with strong analytical skills, and typical roles could include marketing or consumer data analyst, direct marketing manager, marketing manager, retail manager, or marketing or management consultant.
As a masters student you will be able to access careers and professional development support, which will help you develop key skills including networking and negotiating, and put you in touch with potential employers.
Our dedicated Professional Development Tutor provides tailored academic and careers support to marketing students. They work in partnership with our academics to help you translate theory into practice and develop your interpersonal and professional business skills.
You can expect support and guidance on career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, as well as one-to-one coaching on interpersonal and communication skills.
Read more about careers support at the Business School.
Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), our Masters in Advertising and Marketing allows you to gain specialist knowledge in marketing communications and advertising, alongside comprehensive understanding of key areas of marketing such as strategy, consumer behaviour and research.
Taught by specialists with professional experience and research expertise, you’ll gain the skills and knowledge to prepare for a successful career in marketing communications.
The course offers a balanced academic and practical programme, giving you the opportunity to apply your knowledge to genuine business situations. You’ll explore contemporary developments in marketing and marketing communications theory and practice.
Dedicated modules will introduce you to key concepts, frameworks and approaches, whilst equipping you with the skills you need to work in a professional marketing communications or advertising environment. You’ll also select optional modules allowing you to focus on areas that suit your career plans.
Academic excellence
The Marketing division at Leeds University Business School is one of the leading centres of research in marketing in Europe. As part of our research, we engage with companies, senior executives and academics across the globe.
Our research makes an important contribution to your learning on the MA Advertising and Marketing; our academics bring their world-leading expertise to you in the classroom. The Global and Strategic Marketing Research Centre is the Business School’s established and esteemed centre of excellence for scholarly research work.
This programme is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), giving you the opportunity to gain professional qualifications through CIM Graduate Gateway. This means you can work towards CIM qualifications during your studies, and will receive exemptions from selected assessments.
CIM is the leading professional body for marketers worldwide and exists to develop the marketing profession, maintain professional standards and improve the skills of marketing practitioners.
CIM qualifications are highly sought after by employers, which ensures you are equipped with the best opportunities for a successful marketing career.
Throughout the year you’ll study core modules covering different aspects of advertising and marketing.
You will build your understanding of the ways in which brands communicate with their audiences with modules in marketing communications and PR and corporate communications. From there you’ll explore theories and practices of different types of advertising, and examine how organisations plan and develop their media strategies in a changing media landscape. In addition you’ll also gain an insight into important marketing functions of marketing which support brand communications.
Optional modules will give you the chance to shape the programme to suit your interests or career plans. You could focus on sales promotion, brand management and other fields such as social media, digital and interactive marketing.
The course culminates in a final project, which allows you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you’ve gained while focusing on a single topic in-depth. Two options are available – you could complete either a standard research dissertation on a topic of your choice, or a consultancy project, allowing you to work with an external business on a real marketing problem.
Throughout the course you’ll also benefit from a Professional Skills and Employability module, dedicated to developing the key skills employers are looking for when recruiting marketing graduates. Read what our students say about the opportunities for professional development.
Compulsory modules
You’ll take eight compulsory modules, plus your dissertation, which can be either a research dissertation or marketing consultancy project.
Optional modules
For more information on typical modules, read Advertising and Marketing MA in the course catalogue
We use a range of teaching methods so you can benefit from the expertise of our academics, including lectures, workshops, seminars, simulations and tutorials. Company case studies provide an opportunity to put your learning into practice.
Independent study is also vital for this course allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.
Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. You’ll be assessed using a range of techniques including exams, group projects, written assignments and essays, in-course assessment, group and individual presentations and reports.
Graduates of the MA Advertising and Marketing can expect to have a wide and varied range of career opportunities in marketing communications agencies and in-house marketing departments.
Previous graduates have become brand managers, research managers, account executives, business development specialists, sales managers and even started their own businesses. Employers include marketing agencies within the advertising and communications sector, retailers, communications groups, commercial banks, education and recruitment agencies.
An increasing number of graduates are working within the rapidly expanding digital, direct and interactive marketing industry.
Our dedicated Professional Development Tutor provides tailored academic and careers support to every student. This means you will develop the academic skills to successfully progress through the course, and also the professional skills you will need to secure employment and start a successful career.
You can expect support and guidance on career choices, help in identifying and applying for jobs, as well as one-to-one coaching on interpersonal and communication skills.
Read more about our careers support.
