BA (Hons) Retail Marketing
Study Retail Marketing at the University of Stirling and benefit from our links to business and outstanding employability record.
Key facts
- Award BA (Hons)
- Start date September 2023, January 2024
- Duration 48 months or 36 months
- Mode of study full time, part time
- Delivery on campus
- UCAS Code N550
- Study abroad opportunities
Overview
Shopping is changing. Consumers no longer differentiate between shopping online or visiting the shops on the high street or the shopping centre. The industry has been responding to change for years and recently it has had to respond to the global Covid-19 pandemic.
Retailers are having to adapt to a new competitive reality. Actions by governments and the consumer response to the Covid-19 crisis has required retailers to alter how they operate, resulting in a different retail experience.
Our Retail Marketing course provides a solid grounding in the principles of retail business, including store operations, marketing and consumer behaviour. You’ll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of human resource management, international business, logistics and merchandising. Our staff are high-profile academics with excellent international reputations, and our teaching reflects the very latest research and industry thinking. You’ll also benefit from our extensive contacts with leading retailers, which open the door to invaluable field trips and guest lectures.
The challenges of the rapidly-evolving retail sector mean companies covet skilled, knowledgeable managers who can put theory into practice. With a Retail Marketing degree from the University of Stirling, you could be the difference they’re looking for.
Top reasons to study with us
Entry requirements
Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
SQA Highers
AABB – by the end of S5
AABBB – by the end of S6
GCE A-levels
BBB
IB Diploma
30
BTEC (Level 3)
DDM
Widening access students
Widening access students may be eligible for an adjusted offer of entry. To find out if this applies to you go to our widening access pages.
Care-experienced applicants will be guaranteed an offer of a place if they meet the minimum entry requirements.
Year 2 entry – Three-year honours
SQA Advanced Highers
ABB
GCE A-levels
ABB
IB Diploma
35
Other Scottish qualifications
Scottish HNC/HND
Year one minimum entry - Bs in graded units.
Access courses
University of Stirling access course - for mature students only. You must pass the course with 50% or above.
SWAP access course - for mature students only.
Email our Admissions Team for advice about other access courses.
Foundation Apprenticeships
Considered to be equivalent to 1 Higher at Grade B
Other qualifications
English, Welsh and Northern Irish HNC/HND
Merits and Distinctions
English, Welsh and Northern Irish access courses
Access to Higher Education - 60 credits, minimum 45 at QCF Level 3, pass at 60% or above.
International entry requirements
Advanced entry
Year 2 and Year 3 entry
Entry into Year 2 or Year 3 may be possible depending on your HNC/HND course. To find out more go to our articulation pages.
Other qualifications
Advanced entry may be possible depending on your qualifications. For more information, contact our Admissions Team at admissions@stir.ac.uk.
Other routes of entry
If you don't currently meet our academic requirements, INTO University of Stirling offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore INTO University of Stirling to see the Foundation and International Year 2 routes available.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with 5.5 in each skill
- Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) 169 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE) 180 overall with a minimum of 162 in each sub-skill
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill
- IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
- IBT TOEFL Special Home Edition 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing
- Trinity ISE II Pass overall and Pass in each sub-skill, ISE III Pass overall and in all sub-skills, ISE IV Pass overall and in all sub-skills
- Aptis (4 skills) CEFR B2 overall and B2 in all sub-skills
- LanguageCert International ESOL B2 Communicator - Pass with minimum 33 in each sub-skill
Last updated: 23 August 2022
For more information on ways that you can meet our English language requirements, including options to waive the requirement, please read our information on English language requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses
Course details
You’ll study Retail Marketing as a four-year single honours degree. Your first year will provide a background in business-related subjects, which will be taught alongside students from Marketing, Business Studies and Human Resource Management. In later semesters, core modules in retailing and marketing are studied alongside a selection of elective modules – building up your knowledge in everything from visual merchandising to and multi-channel marketing and supply chains.
Modules
The module information below provides an example of the types of course module you may study. The details listed are for the current academic year (September 2022). Modules and start dates are regularly reviewed and may be subject to change in future years.
Course details
Teaching
Teaching on your course will centre around lectures and tutorials, with considerable emphasis being placed on the analysis of case studies. To give you an all-encompassing view of the retail sector, the theory you’ll hear in lectures is also complemented with site visits and guest speakers from industry.
Assessment
Assessment is through a combination of coursework and formal examinations. You’ll also be graded on your final-year dissertation – a comprehensive body of work focused on a particular aspect of retail you’re interested in.
Study abroad
You have the option of spending Semester 5 or 6 studying abroad under our exchange programme, or take part in exchanges administered by the University’s Study Abroad Office to destinations in the USA, Canada, Australia and elsewhere. The Institute for Retail Studies also offers an undergraduate Retail Marketing programme at the Singapore Institute of Management, which means you have the option of spending an entire semester of your course in Singapore.
Contact
Fees and funding
Fees and costs
| Academic year: | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
|---|---|---|
| Scottish students | £1,820* | £1,820 * |
| Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland | £9,250 | £9,250 |
| European Union students | £15,900 | £16,400 |
| Overseas students (non-EU) | £15,900 | £16,400 |
Scottish students
* This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change.
You will be charged the annual tuition fee each year when you enrol.
Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, students domiciled in Scotland can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on their behalf. If you’re unsure of your fee status, you can check your eligibility.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you’ll be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
You can apply for financial assistance, including a loan to cover the full cost of your tuition fees, from your relevant funding body. Students from the Republic of Ireland are eligible for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,250 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
We also offer additional funding – such as our Honours Year Scholarship – for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities below for more information.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
European Union students
Eligible EU students will automatically receive our EU Undergraduate Scholarship, which is worth up to £30,000 over the duration of your course.
Students from the Republic of Ireland should see the fee and funding information under England, Wales, NI and Republic of Ireland.
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Overseas students (non-EU)
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol. Your fees will be held at the same level throughout your course.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding opportunities
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Students domiciled in Scotland
Use our scholarship finder to find funding opportunities for Scottish-domiciled students.
EU students
Eligible students will automatically receive our automatic scholarship of up to £30k, which is worth up to £30,000 over the duration of your course.
Students domiciled in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Eligible students will automatically receive our Undergraduate Choice Scholarship, Undergraduate Merit Scholarship, and our Honours Year Scholarship, which are worth between £1,000 and £9,250.
Students domiciled overseas
The University of Stirling offers generous undergraduate funding opportunities for overseas students. To find out if you're eligible to apply for an award, use our scholarship finder.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
EU and overseas students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods - including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
After you graduate
What jobs can I get with a Retail Marketing degree?
Our Retail Marketing course gives you a comprehensive range of analytical, problem-solving and professional skills. These are not only valued in the retail industry, but increasingly in other areas of commerce, education, government and non-profit-making organisations. Our Retail Marketing degree can prove key in pursuing a specialised retail career or a more general management career. Many of our Retail Marketing graduates are now in senior industry positions. We also seek to give you an edge in the job market via a range of specialist career services that you can access during – and after – your studies.
Find out more about how we prepare you for the world of work.
- We’re members of the Marketing Society Scotland – strengthening our bond with industry and business.
- Retail Marketing graduates from Stirling are working for leading organisations such as Tesco, Primark and Amazon.
Retail Marketing graduates from the University of Stirling are playing their part in shaping businesses around the globe, and can currently be found working in roles such as:
- Department Manager, Primark
- Managing Director, Lothian Stores
- Fashion Buyer, Tesco
- Graduate Management Scheme, Marks and Spencer
Employability skills
Your employability is one of our highest priorities, and we want to make sure you have every possible advantage when you enter the job market. Our module in Professional Development and Practice places a special focus on preparing you for the workplace, and our overall focus on personal and professional development is designed to help you achieve your career ambitions.
Your studies will equip you with skills in the following areas, plus many more:
- Problem-solving
- Research and analysis
- Industry insight
- Time-management
- Teamwork
- Independent learning
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What our students said
United Kingdom
BA (Hons) Retail Marketing
Read Chloe's storyI was attracted to Stirling as the University was ranked 2nd in Scotland for Marketing (and the beautiful campus helped a lot too). I enjoyed how enthusiastic all the staff are about their subjects and the wide range of module options available.
Read Kaixin's storyI'm spending one semester here in Stirling as part of my Retail Marketing degree. The beauty of the campus is postcard-worthy, making it a great environment to relax as well as study. The staff and students are so helpful; this place feels like home.
Scotland
BA (Hons) Retail Marketing
Read Jenna's storyThe flexible degree structure was also something that drew me towards applying. I liked the fact that there were so many elective modules throughout all divisions I could study.
Flexible study
This course is not available as a combined degree.