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BSc Consumer Behaviour and Marketing with Foundation Year

  • UCAS code
    CN88
  • Typical offer
  • Year of entry
    2023/24 See 2022/23 entry
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  4 Years

We live in a consumer-driven society. This BSc Consumer Behaviour and Marketing with Foundation course enables you to develop core academic skills and understand how consumers think, and how this is essential to marketing and the formulation of policy.

This four-year programme includes a foundation year that leads directly into the three-year BSc Consumer Behaviour and Marketing course. It provides an excellent route to a degree in marketing if you do not have the typical entry requirements.

Foundation year

The foundation year will provide you with the skills and knowledge to succeed at university. You’ll develop core skills in academic study, writing and research.

Your subject-specific studies will focus on basic principles in:

  • mathematics
  • business management
  • economics
  • psychology.

Your learning will be delivered through a combination of lectures, tutorials, practical classes and workshops.

A foundation year is more than just a stepping-stone to a degree. You will also benefit from:

  • access to our full range of facilities and resources
  • full integration into university life, before your degree year begins
  • experience of an academic environment, and the ability to work independently
  • specialist support and guidance.

After successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll progress onto our three-year BSc Consumer Behaviour and Marketing degree.

It was one of the first of its kind in the UK, bringing together the disciplines of consumer behaviour, business and marketing, applied psychology and applied economics. You will be taught by specialists, including strong collaborations with staff from Henley Business School. 

The University of Reading is ranked 13th in the UK for Marketing (Complete University Guide, 2022). While you study, you will have the opportunity to gain insights from outside speakers from industry.

An important part of the degree is a consumer-based market research project. You will work in groups alongside a real-life commercial or public sector client to develop a research proposal to address their business challenges. 

In the final year, you will also work on a larger-scale individual project conducting applied research in an area that you’re passionate about. Recent projects have discussed consumer behaviour and marketing in relation to brands, globalisation, sport, viral advertising, gender, binge drinking, computer games, cosmetics, fashion, product placement, technology and food.

Accreditation

This course is recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) as an Accredited Degree, enabling graduates to receive exemptions from all but one module of the Certificate in Professional Marketing or Certificate in Professional Digital Marketing qualification, or exemptions from all but two CIM modules for the Diploma in Professional Marketing qualification or Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing.

Placement

If you would like to complete a placement year between the second and final year, either in the UK or abroad, you should consider studying BSc Consumer Behaviour and Marketing with Placement Year. Organisations are increasingly looking to employ graduates with a comprehensive set of relevant knowledge and skills and this course offers an ideal opportunity to gain or build on existing experience. Recent students have undertaken placements with companies such as BMW, Microsoft, Disney, L’Oréal and Samsung.

While on placement, our students have undertaken activities as varied as conducting social media competitor analysis, brand development and working on developing communications strategies and sales. Successful selection for industrial placement is dependent on an excellent academic record as well as evidence of a high level of motivation. 

For more information, please visit the Marketing website.

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £9,250

New international students: £20,300

*UK/Republic of Ireland fee changes

UK/Republic of Ireland undergraduate tuition fees are regulated by the UK government. These fees are subject to parliamentary approval and any decision on raising the tuition fees cap for new UK students would require the formal approval of both Houses of Parliament before it becomes law.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional Costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

This degree can lead to jobs in consumer marketing, branding, advertising and communications, customer services, public relations and market research sectors. Potential employers include business consultancy and market research agencies, advertising and media companies, multinational/domestic food manufacturing companies, automotive companies, mobile telecommunications, beauty and personal products companies, financial institutions, retailers of all types, trade and consumer organisations, food industry organisations, government/civil service/trade bodies, and health and social services. Employers of our graduates include Mars, Waitrose, Microsoft, Mercedes, Unilever and Disney.