MSc in Marketing Communications
Course Overview
The MSc in Marketing Communications at the London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) prepares senior MarComms directors and corporate affairs leaders to run integrated communications strategy, reputation programmes and effectiveness frameworks inside UK PLC and multinational employers. Sitting in the Marketing, Media & Digital Business faculty at master's level, the programme runs one year full-time on-campus in central London, two years part-time online, or by distance learning, closing with a dissertation or sponsor consulting project.
The programme is designed around CIM Diploma-in-Professional-Marketing, IPA Excellence Diploma and CIPR Chartered Practitioner competencies. You will graduate ready to defend an integrated communications strategy to a UK plc board and step into head of MarComms and corporate affairs director appointments. The sections below detail modules, audience and progression.
Key Features
- Curriculum designed around CIM Diploma, IPA Excellence Diploma and CIPR Chartered Practitioner competencies.
- Three study modes — central London campus, fully online with UK / APAC cohort calls, or by distance learning.
- Fortnightly senior clinic with UK MarComms directors, corporate affairs leads and agency planning heads.
- Substantial dissertation, sponsor consulting project or applied capstone defended in front of a working panel.
- Structured executive-application coaching in the final term.
- Assessment blend of exams, an integrated strategy pack and a defended capstone.
What You Will Learn
Marketing communications at master's level are taught as senior craft — integrated strategy, reputation, media architecture, effectiveness — with real UK PLC case material.
- Integrated communications strategy design across paid, owned, earned and creator.
- Reputation programme design and stakeholder mapping.
- PR strategy and crisis playbooks under CIPR Chartered Practitioner standards.
- Effectiveness — IPA Effectiveness principles and long-term brand-effect thinking.
- Media architecture design at UK PLC and multinational scale.
- Content and creator strategy under ASA CAP Code at scale.
- Agency roster design, pitch and management.
- Sustainability, inclusion and purpose in senior UK MarComms.
- Board and CEO conversations about communications investment.
Who This Course Is For
- MarComms managers targeting head-of-MarComms and corporate affairs director roles.
- Senior PR account directors moving into integrated director roles.
- Corporate affairs leads formalising senior strategic craft.
- Agency planning directors deepening client-side thinking.
- International communications leaders planning a UK-based career pivot.
Career Pathways
Graduates typically move into head of MarComms, corporate affairs director and chief communications officer roles across UK PLC and multinational employers. Typical destinations include:
- Head of Marketing Communications
- Corporate Affairs Director
- Chief Communications Officer (small business)
- Head of PR
- Integrated Campaigns Director
- Agency Planning Director
The MSc in Marketing Communications supports CIM Chartered Marketer, IPA and CIPR Chartered Practitioner progression.
Entry Requirements
- A UK 2:2 honours degree in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent international qualification. Applicants with three years of substantive professional experience in marketing communications or PR may apply on a portfolio route.
- GCSE English Language at grade 5/C (or equivalent) is required for domestic applicants; international applicants meet the language rule below.
- IELTS 6.5 overall (no band below 6.0) for non-native English speakers.
- A short statement of intent (600 words) explaining research or applied interests, plus two references (one academic, one workplace or professional-body).
Why Study at LSIBM
The London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a specialist business-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. Postgraduate cohorts run in small tutor-visible groups, are shaped by working senior practitioners (partner-level at a Big Four firm, Fellow-level at CIM or CIPD, CFA charter-holders in investment routes) and close with a substantial dissertation, sponsor consulting project or applied capstone defended in front of a working panel.
London puts the City, Canary Wharf, Whitehall, Companies House, the FCA, the Bank of England, the West End and the major consulting, banking and multinational headquarters within a short tube ride of every classroom. LSIBM postgraduates attend a fortnightly senior-practitioner clinic and a structured executive-application coaching programme in the final term.
Apply for the MSc in Marketing Communications
Step into the senior track with the MSc in Marketing Communications. Click Enrol Now and admissions will reply within one working day with intake dates, dissertation supervisor allocation guidance and the current fee schedule. LSIBM postgraduates are supported by dedicated executive-application coaching in the final term.
