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DIGITAL MARKETING - DIGITAL MARKETER DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP BSc (Hons)

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  4. BSc (Hons) Digital Marketing - Digital Marketer Degree Apprenticeship

Overview

Earn while you learn!

Marketing is disrupted by digital development and transformation which highlights an increasing need for graduates in this area to have an in depth understanding of the role of digital, data analytics and measurement within the marketing function.

Degree apprentices are employed full-time and come to campus one day per week over three years.  During this time, they receive a salary, course is paid for and they gain experience ahead of graduation.  Our Digital Marketer apprentices have a track record of high achievement, academically and professionally.

The BSc (Hons) Digital Marketing Apprenticeship course has been carefully designed to fit the study of marketing firmly into a social science context and provides core marketing skills such as consumer behaviour, research and digital analytics, creative advertising and media planning, social media and brand management. You'll learn to gather relevant data, use digital tools and develop digital-led strategy appropriate for the contemporary marketing world.

The programme culminates in a work-based Digital Marketing Project which completes the degree and provides the basis for the Apprenticeship Assessment.

Completion of this integrated apprenticeship qualifies you with a BSc (Hons) in Digital Marketing as well as a Digital Marketer Degree Apprenticeship Certificate issued by Skills England. After completing this apprenticeship, you will be eligible to apply for professional registration at associate grade for the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

The full apprenticeship standard and assessment plan can be found on the Skills England apprenticeship website.

Apprenticeship Employment Guidelines
Apprenticeship Evidence Pack Guidance

The programme culminates in a work-based project which completes the degree and provides the basis for the End-Point-Assessment (EPA).

Why a Digital Marketing Apprenticeship at LSBU?

  • Excellent academic achievement by our Digital Marketing apprentices
  • Strong connection with industry
  • Taught by industry practitioners and research led academics
  • High qualification achievement rate (far beyond the national average)
  • London location
  • Refreshed modules including AI and more Social Media
  • Business School of the Year Shortlist (THE 2025)
  • 85% of students on this course feel that teaching staff are supportive (National Student Survey 2026)
  • Our graduates succeed at a range of companies including independent creative agencies, local councils, Berkley Group, Samsung, Sanofi and Henkel.
Mode Duration Start date Application code Application method
ModeApprenticeship Duration36 months for the practical period plus 6 months for the EPA (42 months) Start dateSeptember Application code5690 Application method Direct to LSBU

Course Accreditations

  • CIM

    CIM

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Location

London South Bank University student union is located at 103 Borough Rd, London SE1 0AA.

If you are visiting our Southwark Campus, you may wish to use our downloadable campus map (PNG File 466 KB). For information on accessibility, see our DisabledGo access guides. See our location page for more details.

Entry Level Requirements

Need further information? Call us on 0800 923 8888 to discuss entry requirements.

Under UK Government rules, candidates must be employed for a minimum of 30 hours per week and must have the right to live and work in the UK (applies only in England). Candidates cannot be self-employed. The employer must enter into an Apprenticeship Agreement with the student.

All candidates must be employed in a role related to the subject matter of the academic award of the apprenticeship and be sponsored by their employer.

Apprenticeship applicants will have:

  • A Level BCC worth 104 UCAS points or:
  • BTEC National Diploma DMM worth 112 UCAS points or:
  • Access to HE qualifications with 9 Distinctions and 36 Merits or:
  • Equivalent Level 3 qualifications worth 112 UCAS points

Applicants must hold 5 GCSEs A-C including Maths and English, or equivalent (reformed GCSEs grade 4 or above).

We welcome equivalent qualifications from around the world. English language qualifications for international students: IELTS score of 6.0 or Cambridge Proficiency or Advanced Grade C.

Applications can only be made through the sponsoring employer. The university will consider all such applications and will have the final decision whether to accept the candidate for entry to the programme.

An apprentice must receive at least the minimum wage rate and work for at least 30 paid hours a week. The apprentice must be paid for time spent training or studying for their qualifications, whether at work or at a learning institution. Please take a look at How to Apply for more information on the requirements of applying for an apprenticeship.

Accreditation of relevant experiential learning will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Typically, candidates will be invited for an interview to explore the nature of their apprenticeship, their existing skills, knowledge and behaviours and their individual learning plan (ILP).

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Missing English and Maths qualifications?

If you do not have the required English and Maths qualifications needed to satisfy the entry requirements for this programme, we have courses available at our partner College that you can take to upskill in these areas. Find out more at South Bank College.

Funding

The cost of the apprenticeship is paid fully by the employer (sometimes part funded by the government) through apprenticeship levy. The apprenticeship levy is a pot of money some companies pay into, which all businesses have access to spend on the training costs of apprenticeships. Companies fall into two categories: levy-payers (who pay into the pot) and non-levy payers (who do not). You can find out more in our Levy and Funding section, specifically for employers

The apprentice does not contribute toward the cost of study.

Bands

Apprenticeship standards are all assigned a funding band by the Government – these funding bands are the maximum amount the Government will fund via the levy towards a given apprenticeship standard. There are currently 30 funding bands ranging from £1,000 to £27,000.

Incentives

Employers with less than 50 staff sending an apprentice aged 16-18 will have 100% of the training costs paid by the government. All employers who employ an apprentice aged 16-18 on the first day of teaching will receive a £1,000 incentive from the government. You can find out more in our Levy and Funding section, specifically for employers.

Cost

You can find out the funding band for an Apprenticeship Standard on the Government website. To find out how much we are charging, please get in touch with us at apprenticeships@lsbu.ac.uk

Course delivery modes and application methods

Mode Duration Start date Application code Application method
Mode Apprenticeship Duration 36 months for the practical period plus 6 months for the EPA (42 months) Start date September Application code 5690 Application method Direct to LSBU

An Apprenticeship Standard is comprised of a programme of study, an Apprenticeship Assessment and on-the-job learning. This means that in addition to meeting academic requirements, you’ll need to be employed in a role related to your apprenticeship. The process of applying depends on whether you have an employer to sponsor (and support) you.

If you are employed and your employer has confirmed they will support your apprenticeship:

You are welcome to submit an application via our application system. You’ll need to provide details of your employment/employer as part of the application. You’ll also need to ensure you and your employer meet the requirements – find out who can be an apprentice to see if you meet the entry requirements and employer commitments to find out more about your employer’s role.

If you are not employed:

  • You will need to find a job role related to the apprenticeship you wish to apply for, with an employer who is happy to support you. If you would like to find an employer to support your apprenticeship with LSBU, you can search which employers are currently advertising Apprenticeships via the National Apprenticeship Service website searching for ‘London South Bank University’ as keywords.
  • If there are no search results, this means there are currently no vacancies. We update our vacancies regularly, so please do check back regularly.
  • Many employers advertise their apprenticeship vacancies on their websites or via other portals. You could search for ‘find an apprenticeship’ online.

Further information for apprentices

If you’re a prospective apprentice, you can find out more about who can be an apprentice on our student pages.

Further information for employers

If you’re an employer, you can find information about the employer commitments and further related information on the related pages for business.

Prepare to start

There are steps the apprentices, the employer and the University need to complete before you start your course. Take a look at the steps to be completed in the Enrolment section. Employers may also like to look at our steps to offering an apprenticeship.

During the course, you’ll have a chance to develop your communication and presentation skills, creative and advertising management and problem-solving skills, as well as analytical and numerical ability. The course comprises seventeen core modules that includes responsible use of AI, social media management, consumer behaviour, market research, digital analytics, media planning, brand management and digital marketing strategy.

Our newly revalidated course includes more focus on AI and social media as requested by industry and our alumni.

The assessment burden has been reduced with one assignment per module (with exception of the double weighted Digital Marketing Project).  This course offers optionality so you choose the assessment type that suits your development.

Level 4

The Digital Marketing Professional (Apprenticeship Journey) -  Focus on your personal and professional development, learning approaches and career planning within undergraduate study. It will support you to make informed decisions about how you learn, manage your time, and engage with university life as an independent learner. Through structured activities and guided reflection, you will consider your strengths, development needs and aspirations, and learn from both individual and collaborative activities.

Principles of Marketing -  Study the theories and practices of marketing, with a look into the foundation of marketing. This is your introduction to fundamental topics in the marketing discipline, which can be developed further at levels 5 and 6. These principles include the marketing environment, the marketing mix, marketing research, segmentation, targeting, positioning, buyer behaviour and marketplace ethics.

Digital Marketing Foundations - Build on the knowledge gained in Principles of Marketing by studying the foundations of digital marketing within a contemporary, platform-based environment. Learn to use the industry-standard tools used to analyse, plan, and evaluate digital marketing activity, supporting your progression into more specialised study at Levels 5 and 6. You will develop hands-on skills across areas such as content creation, social media marketing, digital planning, SEO and the responsible use of AI-enabled marketing technologies. Strong practitioner input is embedded throughout the module to support your employability and alignment with current industry practice.

Data for Decision Making - Learn the essential quantitative skills for handling, analysing, and presenting numerical information in business contexts. Interpret data, identify underlying patterns and narratives, and use evidence-based reasoning to justify and support business decisions, with an emphasis on practical application using industry-standard tools such as Microsoft Excel, preparing you for the data-driven demands of modern workplaces.

Management and Organisations - Explore the foundations of business management within modern organisations. This module is designed to give you an appreciation of the complexities of organisations that affect employee behaviour within them in a local and global context. It will introduce you to key human resource management concepts.

Finance and the Economy - Discover the elementary principles of finance and economics that are relevant for business decision making, including the practical application of these principles in making optimal business decisions.

Level 5

Psychology of Consumer Behaviour - Explore theories and principles of consumer behaviour, examining how individuals and groups select, acquire, and consume goods, services, and experiences to satisfy their needs. As an applied look into interdisciplinary social science, this module integrates insights from psychology, sociology, economics, and cultural studies to unpack the complexities of purchasing decisions. The module provides an essential foundation for advanced marketing studies, bridging theory and practice in the context of rapid digital transformation.

Integrated Marketing Communications - This module introduces you to theoretical concepts related to developing and implementing an integrated communications plan across multiple platforms, online and offline, as well as the practical application of theory and data to real world situations. The role of marketing communications management within the business environment is examined as well as measure for controlling and measuring campaigns against stated objectives.

Social Media Management -  Learn to harness the power of social media. This is your students to the practice and strategy of social media marketing. It focuses on developing practical skills in planning, creating, and managing social media campaigns, as well as understanding how to measure and evaluate their effectiveness. Through interactive, hands-on activities and exercises using social media management tools, students gain experience applying concepts in realistic scenarios and learn to make data-informed decisions. By the end of the module, students will have the knowledge and confidence to develop, implement, and assess social media strategies in a professional context.

Market  Research and Analytics -  Explore the data, tools and insights managers rely on to make effective decisions in a rapidly evolving digital environment. Insights are marketing’s core currency and comes from interpreting data through knowledge and context. You will learn modern market research methods, key data sources and essential digital analytics. They will also gain hands on experience with industry standard platforms. By transforming data into clear, evidence-based insight, you will strengthen your analytical capability and learn to communicate compelling, persuasive stories that support strategic marketing decisions in today’s data driven world.

Creative Advertising and Media Planning - Develop your understanding of creative advertising and media planning within contemporary marketing communications. Look at how creative strategy, media selection, and audience insight combine to deliver integrated campaigns aligned to client objectives. Through applied case studies and industry-standard frameworks, you'll learn to develop creative briefs, media plans, and measurement approaches, while considering the evolving role of digital platforms, data, and AI in creative and media strategy.

Level 6

Brand Management - Brands can be worth up to 50% of an organisation’s value, therefore, understanding strategic brand management is essential.  This module covers theory and practical understanding of live brands (chosen by the student). Through the use of market data to establish a gap in the market, then to apply their own creativity in the application of module materials to ensure the strategic development of the brand.

Global Marketing - Develop your strategic understanding of global and digital marketing within international, multichannel and socially responsible contexts. It examines how organisations and agencies design, manage, and optimise global marketing strategies while addressing ethical, cultural, regulatory, and sustainability challenges. Through applied learning students critically evaluate international market opportunities, digital  environments, and content strategies, using evidence-based analysis to support responsible decision-making and employability in global marketing roles.

Marketing Strategy and Planning -  Integrate prior marketing learning and apply it to understand an unfamiliar commercial setting and assess the strategic position of a chosen brand. They examine competitive advantage and value creation within a hierarchy of strategic options, before considering how these are implemented through structured marketing planning. Working with their selected brand, students plan and conduct research, develop relevant insight and translate this into an actionable marketing strategy. The strategy will be designed to achieve clear, evidence-based objectives that position the brand for sustained competitive success.

Apprenticeship Digital Marketing Project - This module enables apprentices to undertake a substantial work-based investigation that integrates academic research with real organisational practice. Building on their learning across the programme, you'll explore a significant digital marketing challenge within their workplace and with the help of supervisors, apply relevant theory to generate insight and deepen understanding of professional practice. The module develops your capability to design and conduct independent research, critically evaluate evidence, and produce original, practice-focused insight. Bringing together academic study and industry experience, the module supports apprentices in demonstrating advanced digital marketing knowledge, strategic thinking and the ability to create meaningful organisational impact. The module includes the apprenticeship assessment as part of the integrated degree apprenticeship.

AI & Contemporary Issues in Digital Marketing - Explore the key issues and opportunities shaping contemporary digital marketing practice in a rapidly evolving global economy. Drawing on your professional roles and workplace contexts, this module examines a range of current and emerging themes affecting marketing across different industry sectors at national and international levels. You will focus on marketing futures, including technological change, media convergence, and shifting industry dynamics, critically assessing the challenges and implications these developments present for marketing practitioners and organisations.

Careers

Employability Service

At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. By completing the apprenticeship route, you’ll have the advantage of having real-world work experience, working in a role related to your area of study. This will give you a competitive edge among other graduates when you complete your apprenticeship standard.

During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, who can help you develop your skills through the Careers Gym workshops and presentations. Our JobShop advisers support students and graduates with finding the right job for them.

All the way through the course, employability skills are promoted – with guest speakers from industry, business insights, graduate start-up and entrepreneur schemes. Digital marketers lead on the creation and execution of a digital marketing strategy. They recognise and respond to business opportunities and customer requirements through a range of digital channels (such as social media, websites, email). They actively employ content marketing and campaign management principles, and financial and analytical tools, to deliver successful initiatives that meet the needs and aspirations of their organisation.

    Jobs directly related to a degree in Digital Marketing include:

    • Digital Marketing Executive/Officer
    • Digital Marketing Account Manager
    • Digital and Social Media Executive
    • Digital Marketing Analyst
    • Digital Marketing Campaign Manager
    • Online and Digital Marketing Lead
    • Online and E-commerce Marketing Specialist
    • Social Media Specialist
    • Content Marketing Executive
    • Pay Per Click Analyst
    • Search Engine Optimisation Executive
    • Display Advertising Executive
    • Digital Producer

    Continuing your studies

    When you graduate from this course, you’ll be able to apply for further study at postgraduate level, and the academic strength of this course means that you can also consider entering the field of academic research.

    The CIM Graduate Gateway programme will provide our BSc (Hons) Digital Marketing Apprenticeship graduates with an important opportunity to gain a professional qualification alongside their degree.

    To be awarded the CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing or Professional Digital Marketing, our Marketing graduates are awarded two exemptions from CIM modules (Marketing and either Integrated Communications or Applied Marketing and Planning Campaigns) and need only pass one CIM elective to gain the CIM Certificate.

    Our graduates are also exempted from one CIM module on the CIM Diploma in Professional Marketing or Professional Digital Marketing and therefore only need pass two CIM modules instead of three to gain that higher award.

    This course has been developed following extensive consultation with industry practitioners and key marketing recruiters.

    Most of the Marketing teaching team have industry experience across a wide range of roles and specialisations including Advertising, PR, Leadership in Marketing Execution, Marketing Strategy, B2B Marketing and Digital Communications. Many are still actively involved in working with organisations either via applied marketing research or marketing consultancy.

    Since its introduction, the marketing programme has enjoyed strong links with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). This award is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing as part of their Dual Award Programme. Only a limited number of universities in the UK hold such accreditation. As a result, our graduates are allowed direct entry with exemptions onto the CIM Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing.

The CIM Graduate Gateway programme will provide our Digital Marketing Apprenticeship BSc (Hons) graduates with an important opportunity to gain a professional qualification alongside their degree.

To be awarded the CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing or Professional Digital Marketing, our Marketing graduates are awarded two exemptions from CIM modules (Marketing and either Integrated Communications or Applied Marketing and Planning Campaigns) and need only pass one CIM elective to gain the CIM Certificate.

This course has been developed following extensive consultation with industry practitioners and key marketing recruiters.

Chartered
Since its introduction, the marketing programme has enjoyed strong links with the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). This award is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing as part of their Dual Award Programme. Only a limited number of universities in the UK hold such accreditation. As a result, our graduates are allowed direct entry with exemptions onto the CIM Professional Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing.

Teaching and Assessment

You’ll complete a total of 17 modules on the programme including a final digital marketing project which, together with your apprenticeship E-Portfolio, form the basis for the integrated Apprenticeship Assessment.  Each module is assessed once with optionality so you can choose the right type of assessment for your development. Examples include presentations, marketing campaigns, pitchbook, management report etc.

Lectures will deliver key topic areas across the academic levels. Guest speakers from business and academia will bring additional specialist knowledge.

Interactive seminars and workshops support the lectures with a strong focus on small group activities to encourage the active participation, develop peer learning, and the sharing of knowledge and support amongst our diverse student body. These sessions aim to encourage your development in the respective topic areas with the application of knowledge to business case studies and practitioner-driven live cases to develop critical evaluation of relevant information and problem-solving skills. In-class debate allows the sharing of ideas amongst peers and the evaluation of opinions within a diverse student body to enable development and evaluation of logical argument.

At Level 4 in particular, support is given to basic cognitive skills development and student research practice via the Management & Organisations module. Research skills are further developed at Levels 5 via coursework application and extensively through live case study analyses at Levels 5 and 6 and the Digital Marketing Project at Level 6.

An integrated formative and summative assessment and feedback process is a key component to your independent acquisition of knowledge and understanding in every module on this course.

The key practical skills are embedded in module delivery and built throughout each level demonstrating progressive development. As you move through the programme your ability to evaluate and synthesise information, and problem-solving skills are developed through application to rather more complex case study problems through which independence of thought and practice are developed.

Developing Your Apprentice E-Portfolio

Part of an apprenticeship pathway is the demonstration that knowledge gained throughout the course has been applied in the workplace. The Digital Marketer Apprenticeship Standard comprises Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours, and it is the responsibility of the apprentice to demonstrate each of these learning outcomes is achieved by providing appropriate workplace evidence.

LSBU provides apprentices with a platform to develop their e-Portfolio Apprentices receive a general introductory training on what, where and when to log, and what is considered appropriate evidence. Further 1-2-1 training sessions are frequently available offering continuous end-to-end support.

Apprentices will be asked to log university attendance, effort put in working towards assignments (summative and ideally also formative) and time spent on applying the gained knowledge in the workplace all of which in need of supporting evidence (i.e. documents, etc.).

Developing this e-portfolio is your responsibility and it is a key requirement to be allowed to take your Apprenticeship Assessment (EPA). We monitor apprentices’ progress (academic and in the workplace) regularly thereby encouraging a step-by-step approach of e-portfolio development.

Apprenticeship Assessment

The Digital Marketer Degree Apprenticeship includes the successful completion of the integrated Apprenticeship Assessment. Requirements are outlined here by Skills England (ref: ST0481).

Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

Digital technology is used to increase academic support for students and improve the efficiency of the teaching and assessment processes - to transform student learning so that the student experience becomes truly ‘blended’ extending beyond a document repository.

Support and Personal Tutoring

As an undergraduate student in the Business School, your personal development and wellbeing is very important to us.

Firstly, you will be allocated a personal tutor who will be available to you on a 1:1 basis as well as facilitating group personal tutoring sessions which will be designed to enhance your academic and personal development within your degree programme.

We pride ourselves on our apprenticeship support.  Each apprentice has a Personal Tutor, academics in each module, Skills Review for progress, Cohort Lead for student experience and a Course Leader.  This was noted as ‘outstanding’ in our recent Ofsted Inspection.

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Apprentice Guide

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Contact information

Course Enquiries - UK

Tel: 0207 815 7500