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MSc Strategic Marketing

Start date:
Duration:
12 months
Next application deadline:
Fee:
£45,500
Location:
London, UK

A global top three Master’s in Marketing from a leading Business school in London

2nd
in the world (Imperial College London, QS World University Rankings 2026)
3rd
in Europe (Imperial College London, Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026)
#1
city for students (London, QS Best Student City Rankings 2025)

Developing the next generation of marketing leaders in a data-driven world 

With the rise of digital technologies, social media and a rapidly changing business environment, organisations need to be able to adapt their marketing strategies quickly and effectively to remain competitive. Our full-time MSc Strategic Marketing will teach you the fundamental marketing concepts needed to navigate this ever-evolving digital landscape with opportunities to apply your learning through a Strategic Marketing Consulting Project, Work Placement, Case Study or Independent Research Project. 

Drawing on our world-class marketing faculty and thought-leaders in strategy, entrepreneurship and technology, our MSc Strategic Marketing provides a uniquely Imperial College view — one where marketing fundamentals intersect with the latest in technology and innovation, and where marketing science is blended with data-driven decision-making for business. Upon graduation, you will have the credentials to work in a variety of sectors in roles such as a brand manager, business development manager, product manager, account executive, or digital strategist.

7th
in the world (QS Business Master's Rankings 2026: Marketing)
94%
employed within six months (class of 2024)
59
nationalities represented (class of 2026)
4-5
choose 4-5 elective options from a broad selection of topics
Explore the programme

Programme content

The Imperial MSc Strategic Marketing programme combines marketing fundamentals with technology and innovation giving you the tools to succeed in a rapidly changing industry.

You will be taught through a combination of methods including lectures, syndicate discussions, team exercises, and individual case studies – assessed through examinations, team presentations, and coursework. Made up of core, electives, integrated, and applied modules, the programme will develop your domain expertise while expanding your understanding of how to solve complex business problems. You will also be given the opportunity to choose one of two concentrations: Marketing Management or Marketing Analytics.

We are pleased to offer an optional extended term, that will allow you to extend your programme duration to 16 months. This will give you the opportunity to commit to a longer Work Placement, gaining deeper work experience, global experience and earning additional credits. Please note, the extended term is subject to an additional tuition fee. 

Please note, programme content is subject to change. Candidates who fail to successfully complete this degree are not entitled to a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma.

View an example MSc Strategic Marketing timetable

Through a combination of online pre-study modules and induction week, you will be ready to hit the ground running when your programme begins. This comprehensive preparation not only prepares you for the academic rigour ahead but also ensures you're thoroughly equipped to maximise the benefits of your programme.

Online pre-study modules

July

Before the start of your programme you will be expected to complete online pre-study modules which are delivered via The Hub, our bespoke virtual learning environment. These include primers in key areas including Maths, Data Analysis, Accounting, Study Skills, and Marketing Fundamentals as well as Plagiarism Awareness. These modules do not contribute to the calculation of the final award but are designed to provide students with a common base of knowledge before starting the programme.

Induction week

September

Your MSc Strategic Marketing induction will be spent at our vibrant South Kensington campus in London. You will be invited to a welcome event where you can meet and network with your fellow students, distinguished faculty and dedicated programme staff, forging new connections and getting a taste of life at Imperial. 

Admissions

Applications for 2026 entry are open.

Discover our admissions process for the MSc Strategic Marketing including entry requirements, how to apply and key dates and deadlines.

This programme is highly competitive, so early application is advised; this will put you in a stronger position to be considered for a scholarship, and provide access to exclusive admitted students events.

How to apply

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Fees and funding

Choosing to pursue a Master's is one of the most important decisions you will make and is a substantial investment in yourself.

Many of our students fund their studies through multiple funding sources. We offer a wide range of awards, including a number of scholarships to the most talented applicants. We’ve also provided information about the different financing options available to you.

What our students say

“Imperial stood out to me for its unique blend of academic excellence, innovation, and close connection to the marketing industry. Academics revolve around real-world marketing challenges and are taught by professors with deep industry experience in various sectors. I was also impressed by the emphasis on analytics and digital transformation, skills that are essential in today’s marketing landscape.”
Dany Zell
MSc Strategic Marketing - Class of 2025
Read more from our students

Career impact

Imperial Business School Careers provides world-class support, advice, and guidance that is tailored to your own individual career aspirations and is an integral part of your time at Imperial. A number of personalised services are provided before you start and throughout your time at the Business School to support you in securing a successful role in your chosen area.

Employment outcomes below refer to the class of 2024.

What our students say

“The most rewarding part of the programme has been the opportunity to put everything I have learned into practice, particularly during job interviews. The case discussions, interactions with peers and professors and the real-world insights shared in class have all been instrumental and incredibly valuable.”
Elisa Yimei Wang
MSc Strategic Marketing - Class of 2025
Read more about our students

Frequently asked questions

All applications to our postgraduate programmes are made online – we do not accept paper applications. Please refer to the ‘How to apply’ section of each programme page. This details which documents you are required to submit with your application and the selection process.

Yes, you can. Our finance programmes at Imperial Business School are highly rigorous, and our students are required to have a high level of quantitative skills. If you are considering applying for a programme within our finance Master’s portfolio, we advise you to take our online maths test to test your quantitative ability and determine if you are suitable to apply for the programme.

Please note, this maths test is most relevant to candidates considering the MSc Finance, MSc Investment & Wealth Management, MSc Financial Technology and MSc Risk Management & Financial Engineering programmes.

You can apply to be considered for one programme each year. We will take your areas of interest and eligibility into account when considering you for alternative programmes.

It is not compulsory to submit the results of an approved English language test with your application. However, it is strongly encouraged. It will add weight to your application if you are able to show that you have met the language requirement prior to applying.

Read about detailed information regarding the Business School’s language requirements and the tests that we accept

To submit a verification request, you must first create an online account with Qualification Check. You should use the unique link provided to you as part of your offer conditions.

Once you have completed the two-step registration process, you will have access to your online account. Search for the name of the institution at which you obtained your qualification(s).

Then, follow the steps to enter the required information for submission of a verification request. Your details will then be sent to that institution to be authenticated by the appropriate department. Find more information at Qualification Check

Qualification Check’s standard procedure is to contact the primary source of the information. This is the institution at which you studied. Qualification Check will regularly contact the relevant department at the institution to confirm the authenticity of your qualifications.

We understand that applications are urgent and Qualification Check makes every effort to accommodate your needs and expedite processes. Some institutions may take longer than others. But rest assured that Qualification Check is working hard to complete your verification. Find more information at Qualification Check.

As part of your application, you will be asked to provide the contact details of two referees. Your referees will be contacted by email once you have completed and submitted your application. The email will contain instructions on how they can submit your reference via our application system.

Please ensure that each reference letter that is submitted has been sent from an academic or professional email address. We cannot accept references sent from personal email addresses, such as Gmail, Hotmail, 126, 163, Sina, QQ, and Yahoo.

Our electronic application service is provided by an external provider. Therefore, there may be a delay before the receipt of your references is confirmed on your student application account.

If you receive confirmation that your references have been received but this still isn’t confirmed on your account a week after receiving the confirmation, please contact the Central Admissions team at business.admissions@imperial.ac.uk.

If you submit a complete application by the deadline, you will receive an outcome by the corresponding decision deadline. However, we may be unable to guarantee a decision by the deadline if:

  • There are delays in receiving your references
  • The documentation required to progress your application is missing

If the requested information is not received within five working days, we may be unable to guarantee a decision by the round deadline.
 
If you have received confirmation that your references have been submitted but this is not reflected in your account after a week, please contact the Central Admissions team at business.admissions@imperial.ac.uk

Yes. As part of the selection process, shortlisted candidates for our MSc programmes will be invited to complete an interview. Interviews are conducted through our video interview platform. You can access it online to record and submit your answers.

The interview process typically takes about 20 minutes and does not require extensive preparation. It aims to supplement your written application and help you convey your suitability for your chosen Master’s. This will be done through answering questions about your previous experience and future aspirations.

AI/Chat GPT guidance:

The purpose of the interview is to get to know more about you. We want to see how you approach problems, your motivations and wider interests.

If we identify malpractice or answers provided are not genuine, then this may factor negatively into the admissions committee decision.

For all MSc programmes, you can normally expect to receive a decision within six to eight weeks of submitting a complete application. Please keep in mind that during busy times and/or where documents are missing from an application, this time may increase.

When an offer is submitted by the Business School, the Central Admissions team needs to make a number of final checks before it can be formally approved. These may include:

  • An additional review of an applicant’s academic background
  • Ensuring the references we have received are valid

Until you have received confirmation of the official offer via Imperial’s applicant portal, please do not:

  • Arrange accommodation
  • Book flights
  • Decline any other offers you may be holding

The majority of offers are successfully approved by Central Admissions. You will be able to see full details of your offer conditions once your official offer has been confirmed.

Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm when you will receive a decision on your application. We will be in touch via email as soon as there is an update. You do not need to provide any additional information unless you think it will add significant weight to your application. For example, updated transcripts, relevant internships, English language results.

If you receive an offer you can request to defer it to the following year. Requests will be considered until 15th June.

Requests submitted after 15th June 2026 will only be approved in exceptional circumstances.

If you already paid your deposit for the current admissions cycle, this will be carried over to your new offer. However, our tuition fees do increase each year and you will be required to make up the difference between the old deposit and the new deposit amount.

Please note that you can only defer once.

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