Overview
Retail is one of the largest and most dynamic sectors of the global economy. It generates £212.4bn for the UK economy (source: Wholesale and Retail). As one of UK’s largest private sector employer, it offers a wide range of career paths.
Retail businesses rely on marketing innovation to give them a competitive edge. Skilled experts who can put marketing theory into practice are highly desired.
This is a Retail Marketing course that will give you a solid grounding in the principles of retail business. You’ll understand store operations, marketing, distribution, logistics and consumer behaviour. You’ll study modules in digital marketing, analytics and e-commerce. Social responsibility and sustainability are at the core of our teaching.
Our staff are high-profile academics with excellent international reputations. Their teaching reflects the very latest research and industry thinking.
Practical learning and embedded employability
Your learning is hands‑on and industry‑focused. You’ll work on live retail briefs and take part in workshops and marketing challenges. It's how you'll develop the practical skills employers value across the retail sector.
- Benefit from visits to retail businesses, industry conferences and cross-party meetings at the Scottish Parliament.
- Learn from industry experts with a vast experience in big retailers including Marks and Spencer.
- Gain skills in SEO, social media and digital marketing.
- At Stirling Business Labs, work on solutions for real-world problems. Work with businesses on the problems they are facing.
- Join the University of Stirling Marketing Society. The society is a vibrant community that provides opportunities for engaging with industry experts and learning new skills.
- Opportunities to participate in the prestigious Star Marketing Student of the Year competition. Our students have won multiple times and secured internships and full-time jobs.
Close links with industry
You’ll benefit from our extensive contacts with leading retailers. We have close links with the industry including:
- Scottish Retail Consortium
- Scottish Grocer’s Federation
- Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
- Marketing Society
- Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM)
- HubSpot
There are opportunities to work on a consultancy case study with a company. You'll get to apply your marketing and retailing skills to real situations. This could be building marketing strategies or doing market research and analysis.
Learn in a centre of retail excellence
Learn in the Institute of Retail Studies, a recognised centre of excellence for education and training. The Institute is a key centre for retail research and consultancy work. . The Institute works closely with industry, ensuring your learning reflects real‑world retail challenges and opportunities.
Top reasons to study with us
Professional accreditation
The university is accredited by AACSB International.
Entry requirements
Year 1 entry – Four-year honours
Highers
AABB
A-levels
BBB
IB Diploma
28
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
Advanced Highers
ABB
A-levels
ABB
IB Diploma
32
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, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a variety of preparation programmes that can earn you the qualifications and skills you need to progress onto some of our courses. Explore University of Stirling International Study Centre to see the 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 a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- TOEFL exams taken before 21 January 2026: 80 overall with 18 in reading, 17 in writing, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking.
- TOEFL exams taken from 21 January 2026: 4 overall with no less than 4 in any band.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre 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
Develop your careers skills with our HeadStart Programme
We go beyond textbooks and lecture rooms to focus on your personal and professional development. HeadStart will help you develop practical career skills such as effective public or conflict management.
Study and careers support
You'll have a mentor who will guide you through your studies. The Careers Service provides support for CV design, interview skills and other career skills.
We are AACSB accredited
The University of Stirling is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). AACSB International is the world's largest global standard-setting body for business education. Only 6% of the world’s leading business schools achieve this accreditation. This recognises our excellence in business education and societal impact.
Modules
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 course at the Singapore Institute of Management, which means you have the option of spending an entire semester of your course in Singapore.
Contact
Dr George Maglaras, Course Director
Fees and funding
| Scottish students | ||
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This fee is set by the Scottish Government and is subject to change. Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, if you are domiciled in Scotland you can apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on your behalf. |
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| Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland | ||
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This tuition fee may be subject to change depending on guidance provided by the UK Government. 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 £9,535 from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). We also offer additional funding for students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. See our funding opportunities section below for more information. | ||
| International students (including EU) | ||
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Eligible students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £10,000–£20,000 over the duration of your course. See our range of generous scholarships for international undergraduate students. |
Fee information
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
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
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Students from Scotland
Find funding opportunities for Scottish students.
Students from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland
Eligible students will receive our Stirling Success Scholarship which is worth £5,000.
International students
Eligible international students will automatically receive a scholarship worth between £10,000-£20,000 over the duration of your course. Find funding opportunities for international students.
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.
International (including EU) 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
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 at Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Primark.
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