How I chose to study MSc Digital and Social Media Marketing at Lancaster – Lancaster University

Deciding to study abroad, and choosing my master’s degree

For my undergraduate studies, I majored in Liberal Arts at Thammasat University, Thailand. The turning point came right after graduation when I started working at the Bank of Thailand Museum. I worked as a guide at the Bank of Thailand Learning Centre, showing guests around the museum and the palace. That role sparked my interest in work that involves a lot of communication and interaction with people. I really enjoyed learning about people from various age groups, and I found the study of human behaviour fascinating.

So, I discussed the idea of ​​a master’s degree with my family because I knew I liked the field of communication, but wasn’t sure exactly what to study. That’s when I consulted with Hands On. They suggested Marketing, which I felt offered better future prospects. I decided to combine that with Digital and Social Media, because I found the study of human behaviour regarding social media usage particularly interesting. That’s how I ended up choosing Digital and Social Media Marketing as my course.

Using the agency Hands On helped with my master’s application

After speaking with the team at Hands On, they suggested I look into the details of what a Marketing course entails. Once I read up on it, I realised it was exactly the kind of course I was interested in

As for how I discovered Hands On, I had actually studied in Australia previously and used their services back then too. They handled everything so well and provided excellent information. Even though I didn’t have much free time while working, they consistently sent me updates on what to look into next and what documents I needed to prepare. So, I got back in touch with Hands On, and the team helped me keep track of various things (laughs) – like the IELTS exam. Since I work as a tour guide six days a week, I often didn’t have time to check when to register for the test, but they kept following up on it for me. That was a major highlight for me.

Why did you choose to study at Lancaster University?

I remember considering quite a few universities, but I ultimately chose Lancaster after attending the “Study in the UK Fair” organised by Hands On. I spoke with representatives from several universities, and when I talked to Lancaster, I saw that their course focused specifically on Digital and Social Media, which was exactly what I wanted to study. Other universities were offering more general marketing programmes, so Lancaster stood out.

The curriculum really emphasizes digital aspects. Another advantage I felt I had was that, while I’d be studying standard marketing like everyone else, I’d also get to study Digital Marketing starting in the second semester. It felt like killing two birds with one stone. Plus, it didn’t matter what I had studied previously, because they provide a foundation course once you arrive on campus

Studying MSc Digital and Social Media Marketing at Lancaster

The course starts right from the history, looking at when humans first began defining “marketing” and how we started understanding human behaviour. What kind of mindset do people have? As future marketers, how should we observe consumer behaviour when managing a brand or company? In the Digital Marketing course, we learned about “Influencer Marketing”. We specifically looked at how to identify influencers whose personalities align with the brand we are managing.

I also really valued the “Digital Marketing and Social Media in Practice” module; it was incredibly useful for learning about website analytics and analysing competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, which helped me figure out how to improve our own company’s strategies

Favourite course modules and experiences

“Consumer Insight” was a really fun module because it incorporates a bit of psychology. We learned about individual consumer behaviours. Studying it made me realize that I’ve been the target of marketing tactics all along!

Another favourite was “Digital Marketing and Social Media in Practice.” I recently built my own website and wrote blog posts for it. I discovered that I actually enjoy blogging, and we were mostly free to choose our own topics. I chose to write about the gaming habits of Gen Z. It’s fascinating how marketing is integrated into every gaming platform or virtual world to track how consumers play and make in-game purchases. The course also covered how marketing will need to adapt in the future with the rise of AI and chatbots like ChatGPT.

Marketing classes are usually a 50/50 mix of lectures and seminars. The seminars are very hands-on; we work in groups to develop and pitch ideas. It’s fun, and I didn’t find the presentations stressful at all. Since marketing requires a fair amount of creativity, there isn’t really a judgement of who is “good” or “bad”; the classroom atmosphere is very open. As for the professors, sometimes their accents make it difficult for international students to understand them. That said, you can still communicate with them. One great thing is that they record every lecture. If you don’t catch something the first time, you can simply go back and watch it again. The university has a system in place that provides written materials, so I feel they really care about making the programme accessible to international students. The professors are lovely and teach well.

Campus life, work experience, and societies

I like the Sports Centre on campus, as they have both group classes and solo exercise equipment. Also, since the student body consists largely of master’s students, there are college pubs you can just walk downstairs and find one right there. I’ve spent time at them, and they’re great because the drinks are priced for students. If you want to venture a bit further out into the city, there’s a dedicated bus that takes you straight to a specific club called ‘The Sugarhouse’. Lancaster really is a safe city – the fact that there’s a shuttle service just to get to the club says it all.

At Lancaster University, students have the opportunity to work while studying, and we can choose the type of work we want to do. I work as a Content Creator for the Lancaster University Management School, producing videos and clips that review the university, courses, and things like that. It’s a paid role (about £12.21 per hour) and it’s set up on a freelance basis, so there’s no pressure. If I don’t have time, it’s fine; I just pick up a task whenever I’m free. The university provides a brief for the content, but I can also come up with my own creative ideas. If you’re interested in building your portfolio while studying, I’d recommend checking out the various jobs available at the Lancaster Careers Service. It looks great on your LinkedIn profile, plus you earn money to treat yourself while you’re studying.

As for university clubs and societies, I’m in the Taekwondo Society. I really enjoy the university’s extracurricular scene because there are so many societies to choose from. Most memberships are annual, though it depends on the specific club. For active clubs like Taekwondo, the fee might be around £30 per term, whereas general clubs might only cost £1 for the whole year

Lancaster city and beyond

Lancaster is a very comfortable place to live. Life in England feels like a mix of city living and a slower pace as you don’t have to rush all the time. There are plenty of public spaces, like parks, where you can just chill out. If you’re coming from Bangkok and worried about the transition, don’t be! Lancaster has everything you need. You might even end up liking it more because it offers a chance to truly relax. It’s not quiet either and there’s still plenty of buzz. The only thing that really requires a major adjustment coming from Thailand is the weather.

I haven’t had much time to travel around yet, but the places I’ve visited and really loved are Manchester and London, and I’ve also been to York and Edinburgh. If I had to pick a favourite, though, it would be London

But if you want a chill vibe, come to Lancaster and visit the Lake District. It’s a place full of nature, such as lush mountains and streams. It’s really easy to get there, too; you can just take a single bus straight from the city centre. It costs only about £3, though the ride takes around two and a half hours, so it might be a bit of a long trip. I’d recommend visiting during spring or summer for hiking. And you absolutely have to try the gingerbread, it’s amazing.

Advice for international students

For those interested in studying at Lancaster, I’d like to say that it’s a lovely city. It’s a place truly dedicated to academics, yet it also offers the chance to have a blast and enjoy life to the fullest. If you’re still undecided, I highly recommend considering Lancaster as one of your options. And remember, when you think of Lancaster, think of Hands On agency too!

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Source: www.lancaster.ac.uk