Strategic Marketing MSc

Gain essential strategic marketing skills and knowledge on our accredited MSc. Learn how sustainable practices can be used to foster business growth.

Key information

  • Duration

    1 year full time

  • Start date

    January 2027

  • Apply by

    1 August 2026 (international), 1 September 2026 (UK)

  • Location

    On campus - in person

Why choose this course at Sussex?

In an evolving digital landscape, businesses face greater competition and changing consumer preferences. Organisations need professional marketers who can interpret complex data and make strategic decisions.

Our MSc will prepare you to drive competitive marketing strategies. You’ll learn innovative, evidence-based techniques. We’ll also teach you sustainable practices that can be used to foster business growth.

You’ll join a Business School of leading academics who are shaping policy and practice. Our culture of research excellence includes expertise in areas such as brand authenticity, AI in marketing and technological innovation. We also have established industry connections, inspiring facilities and enhanced careers support.

By studying at Sussex, you will:

  • explore theories, concepts, models and techniques to develop marketing in a global environment
  • gain insights into the world of marketing, including ethical and social perspectives
  • study core areas including marketing strategy, market research, brand management and buyer behaviour
  • develop essential skills to measure success and improve decision-making through advanced marketing analytics
  • learn how to navigate the challenges of socially responsible marketing decisions
  • understand the role of marketing in influencing sustainable behaviour.

When you graduate, you’ll be ready to innovate within global organisations. Or you could launch your own company. You could also work in areas ranging from advertising and digital marketing, to brand management and market research.

Guaranteed internship

Give your career a head start and gain real-world experience with our Guaranteed Internship Scheme.

  • 17th in the UK for Marketing 
  • 8th in the UK for Marketing 
  • Top 100 in the world 

Accreditation

You’ll join the EQUIS and AMBA-accredited ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« Business School. Find out more

  • Accredited by The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) for the purpose of gaining CIM qualifications through the Graduate Gateway.
My degree helped me pursue my career goals by providing me with the tools and information to understand my sector.”Hayley Brown
Suzy Q Designs, Marketing and Social Media Content Manager

Masters events

Find out the essentials of Masters study at one of our online Masters events.

Find out more and book a place

On campus - in person

You’ll study for this degree on our campus, joining our academics and fellow students. With in-person contact time, digitally supported educational resources, library collections and independent study, this course is designed to give you an inclusive education. Your learning experience may also include work placements, field trips, studying abroad and internationalisation experiences.

Find out about our beautiful campus

Take our virtual tour

Be inspired by our beautiful campus and buzzing Brighton in this immersive 360° experience.

Begin your tour

ResearchPlus

As a founding partner of ResearchPlus, a collaboration of research-focused universities, we engage with government, industry and civil society to support economic growth, prosperity and wellbeing across the whole of the UK.

Find out more

Modules

Find out how you’ll learn, and get support with your study or English language skills, as part of your Masters degree in our Guide to Masters study

Paid project opportunities with UK employers

Gain work experience by tackling a real-life challenge faced by an organisation. Learn how to develop a project, work in a team and deliver your findings to a client in a supportive setting. Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

This course is currently subject to validation, in line with our procedures for assuring the quality of our degrees. This means that some course detail may change. The validation process will be concluded before the course starts.

Spirit of Sussex Award

Feel involved in life at the University, make friends and enrich your experience with us – the Spirit of Sussex Award is our way of recognising your extracurricular and voluntary achievements.

  • Video transcript

    Hi everyone! As I'm sure you've all heard by now, the Spirit of Sussex Award is now live.

    Students across the Sussex community are already earning their points

    What will you do to earn yours?

    There's so many ways to get involved.

    Head over to the website to start your Spirit of Sussex journey.

    Text: The Spirit of Sussex Award is an exciting new programme designed to recognise and celebrate the things you do outside your course.

    Participating in the Award makes it easy and fun for you to get involved and make the most of university life.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2026/27. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

Our experts

This degree is a window onto the world – the range of topics, international student body and experienced faculty create an exciting learning experience.”Nilay Bicakcioglu-Peynirci 
Associate Professor in Marketing

Careers

  • 91% of Sussex postgraduates have completed work experience by the end of their course (ÑÇÖÞÇéÉ« Career Readiness data at point of graduation 2023/24)

On this course, you gain the essential strategic marketing skills and knowledge for employment in today’s global and dynamic world.

When you graduate, you may choose to progress into areas such as:

  • advertising, brand and product management
  • brand management
  • product management
  • digital marketing
  • international marketing
  • market research
  • market consultancy
  • new business development
  • sales management.

 

A Masters was invaluable toward me securing my dream job. Learning global reach skills and presentation skills were incredibly valuable.”Matthew Dawson
Conversion Rate Specialist, Brandwatch

Design your future at Sussex

Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.

As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:

  • one-to-one appointments with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
  • entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.

Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

  • The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services logo Winner Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
  • National Enterprise Educator Awards logo Winner Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award

Working while you study

Our Careers and Employability Centre can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

Entry requirements

Please select your country from the list.

Argentina

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Australia

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Azerbaijan

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Bahrain

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Bangladesh

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Brazil

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Brunei

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Canada

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Chile

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

China

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Colombia

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Cyprus

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Denmark

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Ecuador

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Egypt

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

France

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Germany

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Ghana

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Greece

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Hong Kong

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India

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Indonesia

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Iran

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Italy

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Japan

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Jordan

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Kazakhstan

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Kenya

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Kuwait

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Lebanon

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Malawi

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Malaysia

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Mexico

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Nepal

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Nigeria

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Norway

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Oman

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Pakistan

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Palestine

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Paraguay

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Peru

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Philippines

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Qatar

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Russia

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Saudi Arabia

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Singapore

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South Africa

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South Korea

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Spain

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Sri Lanka

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Switzerland

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Taiwan

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Thailand

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Turkey

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United Arab Emirates

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USA

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Uzbekistan

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Vietnam

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Zambia

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Zimbabwe

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Our entry requirements are guidelines and we assess all applications on a case-by-case basis.

My country is not listed

If your country is not listed, you need to contact us and find out the qualification level you should have for this course. Contact us

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

Application deadlines

1 August 2026 (international), 1 September 2026 (UK)

We strongly recommend an earlier application where possible, as some courses are in high demand and may close before the above dates. Find out more at How to apply for a Masters course

Fees

Fees are not yet set for the academic year 2026/27 – please check back soon. Note that your fees, once they’re set, may be subject to an increase on an annual basis.

Living costs

We know the rising cost of living is on everyone’s mind, and affects us all in different ways. Our guide to living costs has been designed to help you plan and budget for life as a Sussex student.

Learn more about typical living costs

Scholarships

Our goal is to ensure that every student who wants to study with us is able to regardless of financial barriers, so that we continue to attract talented and unique people.

Details of our scholarships are not yet set for entry in the academic year 2026/27.

Meet us

Masters Open Days

Join us at our Masters Open Days to learn more about Masters study, explore our distinctive campus, and meet our teaching and support staff.

Online Masters sessions

Join a live webchat or meet masters students at our online events.

Information by country

See our country guides and meet us at an event in your country.

Legal information

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Find out about our terms and conditions, including the student code of conduct and your cancellation rights

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