Consumer Behaviour and Marketing with Placement Year

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

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 14th in the UK for Marketing (Complete University Guide, 2024). While you study, you will have the opportunity to gain insights from outside speakers from industry.

In the final year, you will have the option of completing a marketing consultancy project linked to a live organisation, or an applied independent research project in an area that you're passionate about. Recent projects have explored consumer behaviour and marketing in relation to brands, globalisation, sport, viral advertising, gender, binge drinking, computer games, cosmetics, fashion, product placement, technology and food.

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.

You'll undertake a one-year placement between the second and final year, either in the UK or abroad. 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 placement is dependent on an excellent academic record as well as evidence of a high level of motivation.

For more information, please visit the programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/marketing-ug/bsc-consumer-behaviour-and-marketing-with-placement-year

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2025/26. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Core modules on this course: Consumer Psychology; Global Sustainability: Challenges and Prospects; The Economic Environment; Research and Professional Skills for Business and Marketing; The Fundamentals of Management and Marketing; Applied Marketing and Management; Consumer Attitudes and Behaviour

The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available in the summer of 2024. We suggest that you regularly revisit our course page during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.

Check our website for more details about the course structure.