The Certificate in Professional Marketing gives you the practical skills and knowledge to devise and execute marketing activities and gain marketing credibility. It also aims to provide a practical insight into the principles and application of marketing at a tactical level.
The syllabus has been updated recently to reflect the changing issues and practices within marketing and to reflect employers’ views of marketing in today’s business environment. The Qualification is ideal for junior marketers, those working in marketing support roles or if marketing plays some part in your current job description.
Who is it for?
The CIM level 4 Certificate in Professional Marketing is aimed at the aspiring professional marketer who wishes to gain knowledge and skills to succeed and progress within a career in marketing.
The typical profiles of people who might take this qualification could include:
• Marketing assistants
• Marketing co-ordinators
• Marketing executives
• Marketing managers in SMEs without formal marketing qualifications
• Non-marketers with aspirations for marketing
• Existing marketers wanting to gain more expertise
Entry Requirements for CIM Certificate in Professional Marketing
This qualification is equivalent to the first year of a foundation degree, which means you will need to meet at least one of these criteria:
• CIM level 3 Introductory Certificate in Marketing qualification
• Any relevant level 3 qualification
• Any UK degree or international equivalent
• International Baccalaureate (equivalent to NQF level 3 and above)
• Professional practice (suggested one year in a marketing role) and diagnostic assessment onto level 4
Evidence of achieving one of the following English Language qualifications within the last two years is also required if English is not first language: IELTS Academic Module with an overall score of 6.5 (each component pass mark must be 6.0 or above) or Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English grade B or above is required. CIM will consider other equivalent alternatives.
What will you learn?
By the end of this qualification you should be able to:
• Understand the function of marketing within the organisation and demonstrates how an appreciation of consumer behaviour can enable effective targeting.
• Understand the importance of communications planning in delivering marketing solutions.
• Understand the nature of the challenges and opportunities within the digital environment alongside the skills and tolls required to support and enhance marketing activities.
• Understand how the concept of product and brand management can enable organisations to deliver customer value.
How will you be assessed?
It’s possible to qualify within a single academic year studying part time. You will be assessed across the three(3) modules:
• MODULE 1 – MARKETING: EXAMINATION-BASE ASSESSMENT
Marketing
Marketing is a 15-credit mandatory module which sits within the suite of Level 4 modules.
Aim of the module
This module is about recognising the importance of marketing’s role in driving success and delivering results. It provides the knowledge and understanding of the function of marketing within the organisation and demonstrates how an appreciation of customer behaviour can enable effective targeting. It outlines an understanding of how external environmental influences affect planning and how information enables decision making. It outlines the elements of the marketing mix and how these are applied to address market and customer needs.
Module structure
The module comprises three units with two learning outcomes each. Each learning outcome will be covered by the related assessment criteria and will be assessed by way of examination. The examination will comprise 50 multiple-choice questions to be completed in a two-hour controlled assessment.
• MODULE 2 – INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS: ASSIGNMENT-BASED ASSESSMENT
Integrated Communication
Integrated Communication is a 15-credit mandatory module which sits within the suite of Level 4 modules.
Aim of the module
This module aims to enable understanding of the importance of effective internal and external communications in building sustainable relationships and delivering customer value. It provides the opportunity to recognise the importance of communications planning in delivering marketing solutions. It explains how the concept of product and brand management can enable organisations to deliver customer value. It outlines the components of the marketing communications mix and enables understanding of integrated marketing communications (IMC) planning.
Module structure
The module comprises three units of two learning outcomes each. Each learning outcome will be covered by the related assessment criteria and will be assessed by way of assignment. The assessment will require submission of a 12-page assignment based on a given scenario and an organisation of choice. The assignment is broken down into three tasks.
• MODULE 3 – DIGITAL MARKETING: PORTFOLIO-BASED ASSESSMENT
Digital Marketing
Digital marketing is a 15-credit elective module which sits within the suite of Level 4 modules.
Aim of the Module
This module is about appreciating the importance of the ever-evolving, dynamic digital landscape, and understanding how to develop skills to improve digital marketing effectiveness. It provides awareness of the nature of the challenges and opportunities within the digital environment and outlines the skills and tools required to support and enhance marketing activities. It identifies the importance of effective digital monitoring and measurement techniques that enable organisations to improve digital marketing effectiveness performance.
Module Structure
The module comprises three units of two learning outcomes each. Each learning outcome will be covered by the related assessment criteria and will be assessed by way of portfolio. The assessment will require submission of a work-based portfolio which is broken down into three tasks – research, plan and report.