Social Media and Digital Marketing

Entry requirements

We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject that includes some coverage of media studies or other theory-focused media-related course, cultural studies, sociology (or a social science* course - please see list below for details), history, politics, literature, philosophy.

We will also consider applicants with a degree in a non-related subject providing you have at least one year's experience within the fields of media and/or the cultural industries. Additional information may also be requested to consider these applications.

*Accepted social science subjects include:

• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Area and Development Studies
• Criminology
• Demography
• Development Studies
• Economics
• Education
• Economic and Social History
• Environmental Planning
• Human Geography
• International Relations
• Law
• Linguistics
• Management and Business Studies
• Media and Communication Studies
• Philosophy
• Politics and International Studies
• Psychology
• Science and Technology Studies
• Social Policy
• Social Work
• Social Statistics, Methods, and Computing
• Socio Legal Studies
• Sociology

Months of entry

September

Course content

For graduates and professionals seeking a critical and applied understanding of digital engagement, this MA integrates social science perspectives with business and industry-focused training to prepare students for leadership in social media strategy, content creation, and digital marketing analytics. As part of the course, you will learn to conceptualise, design, and launch social media campaigns.

• Gain advanced knowledge and skills in digital marketing and social media management
• Learn how social media and digital platforms are used in contemporary business settings to drive sales and promotional activity, with a focus on precision tracking of interactions, content creation, conceptualising and streamlining e-commerce activities, and critically engaging with techniques such as SEO
• Studying an MA will give you more of a focus on the humanities-based / 'human' and social sciences elements of social media and digital marketing, and user experience. It will give you a greater understanding of how people engage with social media, and how these interactions shape their everyday lives and their behaviour online. You'll also learn how to apply this knowledge to the various areas of social media and digital marketing
• Our vibrant postgraduate community benefits from research-inspired teaching from experts in social media and related subdisciplines, including gamification and critical video game theory, celebrity cultures, promotional cultures, algorithm bias, and user data analysis
• Our MA is industry-focused, and you will graduate uniquely equipped for employment in social media and marketing positions across a range of industries

The MA Social Media and Digital Marketing is industry-focused and centred around e-commerce initiatives.

You will learn how organisations in the public, commercial, and third sectors use social media and digital platforms to brand themselves and use promotional activities to drive up sales and other forms of user and customer engagement. Focusing on precision tracking of interactions, writing and crafting of promotional materials, conceptualising and streamlining e-commerce activities, and critically engaging with techniques such as search engine optimisation (SEO). You will engage in specialist content creation and other relevant practical skills used in industry.

Choose from a range of critical, theoretical, entrepreneurial, and practical modules, taught from a range of pedagogical perspectives, with employability at its core. Compulsory modules in Communications will give you a solid grounding in social media, management and strategy and optional modules are available within Communications, Drama, and Marketing (based in the Business School).

Information for international students

International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B2. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.

Fees and funding

We invest heavily in scholarships for talented prospective Masters students. This is in addition to the UK Government’s Postgraduate Loan Scheme. For information on how you can fund your postgraduate degree at the University of Exeter, please visit the postgraduate study pages on our website.