Course unit details:
Principles of Marketing

Course unit fact file
Unit code BMAN10101
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 1
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Offered by Alliance Manchester Business School
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

The aim of this course is to provide students with an understanding of fundamental marketing concepts, terminologies and theories. At the end of the course students should have developed an understanding of marketing concepts, terminologies and theories. 

Pre/co-requisites

Core for BSc Mgt/Mgt (Specialism); IMABS; IM & ITMB. Option for BSc Accounting.


This course is available to students on first year BSc Management and Management (Specialisms), BSc International Management and BSc ITMB.

Pre-requisites        None
Co-requisites        None

Dependent courses    

BMAN24281 Marketing Management
BMAN20271 Consumer Behaviour
BMAN24352 Marketing Communications in the Digital Age

Aims

The aim of this course is to provide students with an understanding of fundamental marketing concepts, terminologies and theories.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students should have developed an understanding of marketing concepts, terminologies and theories. In addition, they should have the ability to:     
    Describe and evaluate the role of marketing. 
    Identify marketing tools and procedures used to analyse a variety of situations.
    Distinguish between effective and ineffective marketing practices.
    Develop a broader skillset including team-working and critical thinking skills.

Syllabus


This course will focus on the following core topics;
•    Defining marketing, 
•    Introducing the concept of marketing,
•    Conceptualizing customers, consumers, and clients,
•    The drivers of customer focus,
•    Developing customer orientation,
•    Outlining strategic marketing processes,
•    Implementing market led strategic change,
•    The nature of marketing research,
•    Developing marketing information and intelligence,
•    The micro marketing environment,
•    The macro marketing environment,
•    Consumer and business buyer behavior,
•    The process of segmentation,
•    Segmentation and , targeting approaches,
•    Differentiation and positioning,
•    The marketing mix,
•    The importance of relationships,
•    Developing relationships,
•    The future of marketing, and
•    The nature of responsible marketing. 

Each year, in the full Course Outline supplied to each cohort, a detailed breakdown and schedule of lecture titles/topics, dates and timings will be supplied in the full Course Outline well in advance of the start of the semesters.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and seminars:

Lecture Hours: 22 hours (10*2-hour lectures,) & 2* 1-Hour Online Lectures
Workshop Hours: 3 hours (3*1-hour workshops)
Private Study: 75 hours
Total Study Hours: 100 hours

Use of VLEs to support asynchronous independent learning.

Use of Discussion Board to support independent learning, peer-to-peer support, and feedback provision.

Use of office hours to provide additional support, as needed. 

Knowledge and understanding

Describe and evaluate the role of marketing.  

Intellectual skills

Distinguish between effective and ineffective marketing practices. 

Practical skills

Identify marketing tools and procedures used to analyse a variety of situations. 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

Develop a broader skillset including analytical and critical thinking skills. 

Assessment methods

Formative Assessment Task 

2 activities with Live feedback for clarification on best practices to succeed in the assignment

Summative Assessment Task

Written examination (100%) 

Feedback methods

Feedback  
In addition to the grade awarded, we provide written feedback designed to improve your future assessments.

Methods of Feedback from Students/Course Unit Survey
Students can offer feedback on the course unit via the course unit survey, which will be available towards the end of semester 1.

Attendance and punctuality
In accordance with The University of Manchester Student Charter, you are expected to attend ‘all scheduled teaching sessions’. Seminar tutors will keep a register of attendance and punctuality. 

Recommended reading

Core Text: Kotler, P. G., Armstrong, G., Harris, L. C. and H. He (2019). Principles of Marketing, European Edition, Person Education. 

Beyond textbooks, we expect you to read academic research articles from specialist marketing journals, such as: Journal of Marketing, Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, Journal of Marketing Management and Journal of Advertising. In week 1, we will publish a reading list for the assignment, available through the VLE.

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 20
Practical classes & workshops 3
Independent study hours
Independent study 77

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Lloyd Harris Unit coordinator

Additional notes

Enhancement of Digital Literacy

Students are required regularly to engage with technology enhanced learning tools, such as in-class quizzes for feedback and engagement. The delivery includes a few online sessions, that allows the students to familiarise with remote delivery and communication. The VLE is used to support the weekly delivery and independent learning of students. The online Padlet serves the purpose of a discussion board, enabling students to engage in peer-to-peer conversations and become more independent learners.

Statement To Support Equality, Diversity And Inclusion


The course is designed to include examples from a variety of context that reflects the diversity of the student population. The use of technology enhanced learning (TEL) allows for increased accessibility in promoting student voice of minorities. 

 

 

Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £34,800 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

You will receive a significant tuition fee discount for the placement year. UK students with a household income of up to £35,000 are also eligible to receive a  cash bursary  worth up to £2,000.

Additional expenses

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.

Learn more about student finance options for UK students.

Learn more about fees and finance for international students.

As an international student you may be eligible for our Global Futures Scholarships . This is open to students starting their studies in September 2026.

Return to course details

Regulated by the Office for Students

The University of Manchester is regulated by the Office for Students (OfS). The OfS aims to help students succeed in Higher Education by ensuring they receive excellent information and guidance, get high quality education that prepares them for the future and by protecting their interests. More information can be found at the OfS website.

You can find regulations and policies relating to student life at The University of Manchester, including our Degree Regulations and Complaints Procedure, on our regulations website.