Master of Science in Strategic Marketing Management

at Aston University United Kingdom

Explore some of the biggest topics in the world today, from gender, race, and sexuality, to how we behave as a society, with our British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited Psychology and Sociology BSc at Aston University, Birmingham.

You’ll investigate and analyze how the human mind works, in terms of how it responds to various stimuli, and how our views on relationships and the wider world are shaped by societal structures, culture, and our collective experiences. In addition, you will have the opportunity to research why these societal structures exist in the first place; giving you a rounded view of human behavior and the impact we have on each other as fellow citizens.

Our Biochemistry course is focused on preparing you for a future career that makes a big difference. Studying at Aston gives you unrivalled hands-on experience, world-class facilities and specialist teaching.

In addition, your integrated placement year will give you the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice. You can undertake placements in hospital, industrial or research laboratories, as well as non-laboratory settings.

As a biochemist, you’ll help to comprehend and resolve biological problems through the use of molecular expertise and processes. You will help to lead the way in developing new thinking, techniques and technology in the fields of:

• Medicine
• Pharmaceutics
• Biotechnology
• Agriculture
• Nutrition

The BSc Human Resources and Business Management course draws on psychology, human resources and general management theory to develop insight into the world of work, preparing students with key skills in communication, negotiation and effective decision-making.

What you’ll learn
During your studies you will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience through your placement. You will develop a deeper understanding of psychological mechanisms that play a role in decision-making and team work, as well as how leaders can strategically bring about change processes, and why individual employees play an important role in organisational productivity. Your placement will also help you to develop key skills in decision-making, negotiation and communicating effectively.

In the first year, you will develop an understanding of the historical context within which work has developed and changed in the last century. This will equip you with an appreciation of how information technology and globalisation have altered business structures. You will also develop knowledge of key elements of business management such as economics, marketing, law and accounting.

The second year shifts focus to a deeper understanding of the issues around individual attitudes and behaviours. You will study modules on ‘Creativity in Organisations’ and the ‘Psychology of Work’, alongside continuing to develop knowledge of the wider business management issues through modules including ‘Employee Resourcing’ and ‘Digital Marketing’. In addition, you will develop skills such as data analysis, contributing to your decision-making and negotiation acumen.

At the end of your second year you begin your placement year, where you will have an opportunity to practice and apply the knowledge and skills you have so far developed.

The final year brings all of your learning together with a study of strategy and management, where the combination of human resources and business management takes focus through modules such as ‘Strategic HR and Leadership’.

You will develop specialised knowledge of employment law and the skills to use evidence to make persuasive arguments. You will draw on your placement experiences to make sense of critical HR issues like productivity, work engagement, burnout and stress at work. All this will prepare you to start either a specialised career in HR or a more general management role within organisations across a range of different sectors. On successful completion of your degree you will be able to apply for Associate CIPD membership.

Mechanical engineers help to solve some of the world’s trickiest problems and we’ll equip you with the tools you need to craft fantastic work and transform your ideas into reality in a wide array of industries. This Mechanical Engineering masters course aims to develop the performance prediction skills that are required in modern engineering environments, especially design, estimation and optimisation processes. This course takes the BEng and develops it to a full masters programme, meeting all the academic requirements for Chartered Engineer status.

Our programmes introduce a full range of core engineering science modules coupled to practical projects, ensuring a highly integrated and industry-relevant degree programme.

This masters degree is either four years full-time, or five years if you choose to take a year in industry, building your employability skills and establishing a professional network as you progress.

What you’ll learn
In your first year you’ll develop a fundamental understanding of mechanical engineering, through classes in engineering, science and maths. You’ll also be working on major projects, partnering with colleagues, staff and engineers from industry to develop real solutions to live problems.

During your second year you’ll begin to develop the skills and technical knowledge you need to become a professional engineer. Then, in your third year, you’ll undertake a major project, involving design, experimental or analytical work which can be tailored to suit your own interests, or aligned to your target vocation.

If you choose to take a year in industry in year three, we’ll support you to find a paid, professional placement of direct relevance to your studies. This placement will give you invaluable practical experience in a real work environment and will further enhance your career prospects.

Study the BSc (Hons) Politics and Sociology degree course at Aston University to get an in-depth understanding of some of the biggest political topics in the modern era, alongside social processes, social change, organizational dynamics, and inter-group relationships.

What you’ll learn
You’ll have the opportunity to explore major political topics going beyond the UK and Europe, covering North America, South Asia, China, Japan, or the emerging global powers. You will not only study the traditional subjects of the discipline, such as security, political economy, or democratization but also have the chance to delve into ethics, sports, gender, protests, or religion.

You will also learn about international politics, as well as investigating the forces which influence policy and give rise to conflicts between the achievement of economic, environmental, and social objectives.

The sociology strand of the course is about real-life experiences and how they relate to bigger social problems. We explore the social constraints we encounter in our everyday lives and how they are reinforced by class, race, religion, and gender. To understand how these issues perpetuate existing inequalities and unequal life chances, we analyze what impact official politics has on such processes, how politics is intertwined with the profit-making aims pursued by big corporations and how their combined interests dominate our social imaginations. We assess public policy responses and where they are problematic.

Our Transport Management programme, which is part of the civil engineering and infrastructure cluster here at Aston, examines the economic, operational, societal and environmental issues related to the transport and distribution industries.

The skills you will gain are in high demand and, as a graduate, you will be able to work on developing and building transport solutions that are more efficient, more sustainable and future-proof.

What you’ll learn
Health and safety considerations are implicit throughout, and the science and mathematical skills behind infrastructure will underpin your studies. Gaining project management knowledge and building professional relationships are other key areas of your studies.

The course includes examples, illustrations, visits and case studies from the transport sector, with your studies incorporating all the relevant management skills: accounting, marketing, human resources and operations management. All are set within the context of the transport related industries, with a focus on including passenger and freight modes.

Health psychology investigates how the way we behave influences health, illness, and how we care for people living with long-term conditions.  

A health psychologist uses their knowledge of psychology to understand health behaviours and to develop psychological interventions to support behaviour change. They perform a vital role in a variety of areas such as:

Assisting patients with their emotional and psychological needs.
Working alongside healthcare professionals to help them establish clear communication and productive relationships with patients.
Working with health and social care organisations to develop protocols to engender good health and wellbeing.
 
From health inequalities and public health, to psychobiology of illness and long term conditions, our full-time, on-campus Health Psychology MSc will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the theory underpinning health psychology. This course has been designed to give you an ideal base for a rewarding career in health psychology and related fields.

Understanding the potential of technology is key to modern life and our programmes are designed to address the latest business needs.

You’ll develop expertise in software development and the key applications of computing science through each year of the programme with particular emphasis on its use in industry and commerce.

You’ll be given a grounding in computer science early in your course, specialising and developing more advanced and unique expertise in later modules, for example computational intelligence, game development or computer animation.

What you’ll learn

You’ll learn how to run software projects, developing the skills to be a designer, programmer and project manager and understanding how to create usable and accessible software.

If you choose our four year programme, you’ll spend your third year in a paid professional placement of direct relevance to your studies. This placement will give you invaluable practical experience in a real work environment and further enhance your career prospects.

Develop your understanding and application of core theories in marketing analytics and how different methods can inform strategic decision-making and interventions in a breadth of business settings.

The MSc Marketing and Analytics will develop your understanding and application of core theories in marketing. You will learn how to undertake and apply marketing analyses using appropriate marketing theories and techniques, which will allow you to make appropriate strategic and operational marketing decisions.

The course will also help you develop the ability to make strategic decisions by advancing your understanding and application of how business analytic methods can support interventions in the decision-making process of organizations. 

This course aims to provide a program of study that meets your needs if you are a local, national or international student, enabling you to learn by the exchange of experience as well as formal academic study. It is designed for recent graduates and those already in employment. 

Engineers are in demand and our Electrical and Electronic Engineering course will provide you with the analytical skills, design expertise and flexibility you’ll need to stand out from the crowd. Our courses are developed in collaboration with a wide range of industry sectors to give a broad but relevant degree so teaching won’t just be standard lectures and you’ll be encouraged to discover how science fiction becomes fact. Designing your own products and working with cutting-edge equipment will be a core part of the course.

What you’ll learn
You’ll begin by covering the fundamental principles of the field, such as digital and analogue electronics, computing, mathematics and project management.

In the second and final year, you’ll specialise by selecting from a broad range of career-focused options, including systems analysis, data acquisition and control, digital system design, telecommunications systems, optoelectronics and signal processing. In your final year you’ll undertake an in-depth project, based on your areas of specialism.

You’ll have access to an extensive network of computer facilities throughout your course, including high performance PCs for industrial standard ECAD, Unix workstations and a large number of embedded processors for lab work. These resources are complemented by specialist electronics, telecommunications and networked laboratories and research facilities.

You may choose to spend your third year in industry and we can support you to find a paid, professional placement of direct relevance to your studies. This placement will give you invaluable practical experience in a real work environment and further enhance your career prospects.