The field of digital marketing is booming, with vacancies across the board for those with the right combination of education and experience. However, if you’re new to digital marketing and thinking of onboarding the skills needed to excel in this varied and impactful industry, you may be wondering where are the best places to learn. With so much choice out there, deciding on the best course of study for you and your circumstances can be overwhelming.
Well, fear not! In this article we’ve put together a list of seven of the best digital marketing schools out there right now. We’ll also be diving into what a digital marketer does, the differences between different learning establishments and courses, the skills you’ll learn at a digital marketing school, and types of certification.
Here’s a clickable menu so you can skip to the section which interests you the most:
- What does a digital marketer do?
- What’s the difference between a digital marketing school, course, or bootcamp?
- What will you learn from a digital marketing school?
- What kind of certification will you receive from a digital marketing school?
- 7 of the best digital marketing schools
- Summary
With that, let’s begin!
1. What does a digital marketer do?
The goal of a digital marketer is to create new customer leads, promote the brand and its products, and contribute to overall company growth, ensuring that all marketing goals are aligned with the goals of the business. Collaborating closely with others on the digital marketing team, such as social media managers and community managers, the digital marketer concepts and plans campaigns and strategy to meet these overarching goals, and ensures they are run successfully.
Depending on the size of the digital marketing team, the digital marketer may be responsible for both the planning, testing, and implementation of a campaign, as well as analyzing its effectiveness and reporting its results to more senior management once it’s over. In a larger organization, elements of a campaign’s execution may be delegated to more junior or specialist roles, leaving the digital marketer to focus more closely on strategy, long term thinking, and analytics.
Digital marketers are expected to work closely with content creators such as copywriters, graphic designers, and videographers, who will create text, image and videos for use on social media platforms, blogs, and the company website. The digital marketer will also need to be aware of the work of the sales team and business development team, to ensure that all goals between teams are aligned and important customer information is being communicated across all levels at the company.
2. What’s the difference between a digital marketing school, course, or bootcamp?
If you’re considering skilling up in digital marketing in order to launch a new career in the field, you’ll be wondering which route is the right one for you. While there’ll be differences between each and every educational establishment, here are some general guidelines for what you can expect at a digital marketing school, on a course, or during a bootcamp.
Digital marketing school
These days, numerous universities and higher education establishments offer degrees and diplomas in marketing and digital marketing. Traditionally following a more formal (and generally rigid) format than a bootcamp or course, a degree in marketing or digital marketing takes on average three years to complete when conducted full time (lengths of diplomas vary), and is frequently taught in-person by professors or tutors.
However, thanks to advances in technology, increasing numbers of universities are beginning to offer online or hybrid options too, while some institutions also offer part-time degrees.
Although having a degree certificate in marketing can be advantageous in job application scenarios, degree and diploma curricula tend to be less frequently updated than their bootcamp or certificate course counterparts, which typically align themselves more closely with industry developments and technology.
In addition, degree courses tend to focus more heavily on theory than practice, which works well for those looking to study further, but can leave students who need hands-on experience wanting.
Finally, for those considering going to a digital marketing school, an unavoidable aspect is the large sum of money studying for a degree in marketing can set you back; depending on where in the world you choose to study, university courses can run into tens of thousands of dollars.
Benefits of a digital marketing school:
- Graduates receive certification from a recognized institution
- Students receive an all-round education in marketing
- Increasing flexibility of study (hybrid, online, and part-time options increasingly available)
- Social and professional interaction opportunities with academic peers
Digital marketing bootcamp
A digital marketing bootcamps offers a route into a digital marketing career that is typically more immersive, intense, and faster than either a certificate course or a traditional university degree. Not every bootcamp is the same, some are in-person, while others are online, and both part-time and full-time options are usually available. The length of a bootcamp can also vary: some take place over the course of a week, while others take place over up to 12 weeks, with some more extensive programs taking even longer.
Students are often allocated a mentor or tutor (or both!) to help keep them on track, provide learning assistance and advice, and ensure progress is being made, and, while some bootcamps expect students to commit to self-led learning, others offer a much more guided curriculum.
Many bootcamps employ mentors who are industry experts, which puts them in a good position to offer career-related advice and tips when a student feels ready to start considering job applications or they have their first interviews.
Benefits of a digital marketing bootcamp:
- Lower cost than a traditional degree course
- Relatively short (but intense) duration of study
- Online or remote learning is frequently an option
- Bootcamps lean towards hands-on projects and portfolio-building, which provides practical experience for the job market and impresses potential employers
Digital marketing course
Digital marketing courses offer numerous benefits to students hoping to launch careers in this impactful, varied, and exciting field. While some courses are offered at further education establishments such as local colleges, some take place online, while others offer a mixture of on and offline options for maximum flexibility.
For those which take place online, students are usually expected to work within a learning management system in which they can view their syllabus, check their progress, and hold discussions with their mentor or classmates.
The length of digital marketing courses varies, with some taking place over a few months while others can run for up to a year. Many courses are self-paced, enabling students to study as and when fits their personal schedule, employment, or other responsibilities.
In contrast to a digital marketing bootcamp, both on and offline digital marketing courses tend to be less immersive and intense, however they do require significant commitment, as subjects are covered in great detail with students expected to submit projects and build a portfolio of work as they go along.
Increasingly, digital marketing courses also offer interview and job preparation modules, with mentors guiding students straight into their first positions in the field.
Benefits of a digital marketing course:
- Many courses offer job preparation modules
- Price is significantly lower than a degree course
- Many offer accreditation upon course completion
- Online and offline options offer increased flexibility
- Opportunity to study under industry experts
3. What will you learn from a digital marketing school?
Although the digital marketing skills you’ll learn will differ slightly from school to school, there are some general principles and techniques that most courses require students to learn if they are to receive accreditation at the end. Certainly, employers will be expecting you to be able to demonstrate a combination of these soft and hard skills in a digital marketing position.
Hard skills
- Understanding of and competency with social media platforms and trends
- Skills in and knowledge of marketing and web analytics tools such as Google Adwords, Google Analytics, Taboola, Outbrain and similar web advertising platforms
- Ability to set up and run email marketing tools like HubSpot, Sendinblue, Omnisend, MailChimp and Mailjet
- Deep knowledge of pay-per-click advertising
- Insights into keyword research and SEO implementation, monitoring, and management
- Skills and competency in marketing campaign strategy and execution
- Practical skills and experience in multivariate experiments as well as A/B and email marketing
- UX knowledge and optimization of the customer experience
- Understanding of how funnels and landing pages work in marketing
Soft skills
- Time management and ability to prioritize tasks
- Analytical skills and enthusiasm for learning new tools, gathering data, and studying trends
- Abilities in project management
- Leadership and delegation skills
- Strong verbal and written communication
- Keen attention to detail
- Able to work without direction
4. What kind of certification will you receive from a digital marketing school?
A digital marketing school will usually offer Bachelor and Master degree programs, with students awarded certification upon completion of their course.
Bachelor’s degree
When you complete a three or four year undergraduate degree in digital marketing at a digital marketing school, you will receive a certificate (or testatur) upon completion stating the institution, the course, and potentially also the grade you achieved, depending on the instution. At UK-based universities, you will receive a grade ranging from a First-Class Honors to a Third-Class Honors, which will be shown on your degree certificate. These grades indicate to an employer or recruiter how well you understood the subject, and how well you performed during the course overall.
In the U.S., the grading system is slightly different. Students are awarded A-F grades on their papers, which are then converted into a GPA (or grade point average). If you pass all of your classes with high grades, you will most likely have a GPA that’s close to a 4.0 (the highest you can receive!). However, if you struggled with some classes but did very well in others, you may have a GPA of 2.5 to 3.0. Upon completion of your course, your certificate will show your GPA.
Master’s degree
In the UK, your master’s degree certificate will show your name, the course title, the institution, and possibly your final grade, too. The grading system is slightly different to a Bachelor degree course, with students awarded either a Distinction (70-100%), a Merit (60-69%), a Pass (50-59%), or a Fail (Below 50%). (Those who fail their course are unlikely to receive an official certificate and will simply be informed of their grade.)
In the U.S., master’s degrees are graded using the same system as undergraduate degrees, using the GPA system. Certificates will usually show your name, the course title, the institution, and possibly your final grade.
5. 7 of the best digital marketing schools
Now that you know what you’ll learn and the types of schools, courses, and certificates you can apply for, let’s take a look at some of our faves!
CareerFoundry’s Digital Marketing Program
- Mode of study: Online
- Ideal for: Those who’d like to pursue a career in digital marketing and are ready to fully immerse themselves in learning all about the field
- Duration: Four months full time study, or up to seven months part-time
- Price: $6,900 USD (with discounts available)
Who is it for?
This is the perfect study option for those who are looking to launch a career in digital marketing, are seeking the advice and guidance of a mentor and tutor, and who want to study on their own terms and at a pace that works for their life and other commitments.
What will you learn?
The CareerFoundry Digital Marketing course teaches you:
- The fundamental skills, technology, digital tools and processes you need to become an expert in digital marketing
- How to build an impressive digital marketing portfolio
- Preparation for the transition into your new career, with the guidance of a career specialist and a Job Preparation course
Google Fundamentals of Digital Marketing
- Mode of study: Online
- Ideal for: Those who are new to digital marketing but are happy to commit to learning
- Duration: 26 modules over 40 hours
- Price: Free
Who is it for?
Google’s Fundamentals of Digital Marketing is the perfect choice for those who want to know the main principles of good digital marketing practice. That might be a small business owner who wants to get on top of their marketing game, or an individual who is interested in finding out about a new career in digital marketing.
What will you learn?
During the Google Fundamentals of Digital Marketing course you will be taught:
- The basics of digital marketing, from content strategy and creation through to using analytics tools effectively
- Building, marketing, and analyzing your online presence
- How websites work
- Benefits of online strategy, understanding user behavior, and how to use goals
- SEO, SEM, and social media planning and success
- Content marketing and e-commerce
British Academy of Digital Marketing
- Mode of study: Home-based and classroom-based courses are available
- Ideal for: Digital marketing enthusiasts looking for hands-on skills, as well as recognized accreditation to demonstrate in job interviews
- Duration: The certificate takes three months to complete, the diploma six months, and the postgraduate diploma nine months.
- Price: From £395 to £2,595 (approximately $475-$3100 USD)
Who is it for?
The British Academy of Digital Marketing is a great option for those looking for an all round digital marketing education which offers students the option to take more advanced courses, deepen their knowledge, and build on their skills. This school is also a great option for those who seek recognized accreditation: the Academy has earned accreditation from The Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Standards Office.
What will you learn?
During the British Academy of Digital Marketing’s Certificate, Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma courses you will be taught elements of:
- Basic digital marketing principles, as well as when and why to use them
- Industry techniques (through practical assignments)
- Segmentation, targeting, positioning
- The influence of digital technology
- Inbound and social media marketing
- The buyer’s journey
- Personas and customers
- The different marketing channels available
- Content marketing
Simplilearn Post Graduate Program in Digital Marketing with Purdue University
- Mode of study: Online bootcamp
- Ideal for: Business professionals who’d like to build on their digital marketing knowledge
- Duration: Six months at 5-10 hours per week
- Price: $3,000 USD
Who is it for?
Those who are looking for a unique qualification certified by a legitimate university will likely be attracted to this course. However, if you do want to attend you will need to complete an application and admittance is not guaranteed.
What will you learn?
Partnering with accredited and recognized school, Purdue University, this Simplilearn course teaches those who attend the Post Graduate Program in Digital Marketing about the following topics:
- Fundamentals of digital marketing and SEO
- Pay Per Click (PPC)
- Web analytics
- Social media management
- Complex topics such as reputation management, search psychology, and language targeting
General Assembly’s Digital Marketing Course
- Mode of study: Online
- Ideal for: This is an entry-level course for a diverse range of students
- Duration: 2 months at 4 hours per week
- Price: $3950 USD
Who is it for?
General Assembly’s Digital Marketing Course is marketed at “eager learners who have an interest in running smart, customer-focused campaigns that are backed by data”. Students come from various backgrounds, with individuals from marketing, content creation, sales, and product management signing up to the course hoping to refine and build on their knowledge to progress further in their current careers. Other students will be complete beginners hoping to learn digital marketing skills in order to launch new careers in the field.
What will you learn?
With a heavy focus on real-world relevance and application, the GA Marketing Course teaches students the most important digital tools for executing on their strategies as digital marketers. Specifically students will gain deep knowledge of:
- Social media
- Search strategy
- Conversion optimization
- Google Analytics
- The digital marketing landscape
- Objective-first marketing
- The conversion funnel
Bryant University Bachelor’s Degree in Digital Marketing
- Mode of study: On-campus
- Ideal for: School leavers or mature career changes willing to invest significant time and money into learning the theory and practice of digital marketing
- Duration: 4 years
- Price: $48,432 per year in tuition fees
Who is it for?
This is a course specifically designed for those wanting to develop the fundamental skills necessary to begin a successful career in digital marketing. Boasting an esteemed faculty, this degree program is great for those who are looking for lots of hands-on feedback and assistance
What will you learn?
Students learn how to develop and implement strategies for real-world clients through specially tailored programs provided by Google, Hubspot, and Hootsuite. Via hands-on projects, students will also explore topics such as:
- Social media marketing
- Content marketing
- Marketing automation
- Paid media
- SEO & SEM
- Analytics
- Email marketing
Fashion Institute of Technology’s Direct and Interactive Marketing Bachelor’s degree, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York City
- Mode of study: On campus
- Ideal for: School leavers or mature career changes who want to invest in a marketing career
- Duration: 4 years
- Price: $5,740 for local residents, $15,520 for out of state/international students per year in tuition fees
Who is it for?
A great option for those based in New York City, FIT’s Direct and Interactive Marketing Bachelor’s degree ranks in the top 10% of universities in the U.S. for its marketing course. This is a great course for those seeking recognized accreditation, who can afford to invest in their careers, and for whom flexibility of study is not a priority.
What will you learn?
Working on projects and complete direct and interactive campaigns both solo )as well as in teams with fellow marketing students), participants of the course will learn:
- Database marketing
- Direct response copywriting
- Internet marketing
- Market research
- Media management
- Creative development
- Customer behavior analysis
6. Summary
We hope our overview of different types of courses, certificates, and schools has given you an idea of the range and scope of digital marketing qualifications and study routes into this career and skill set. Whether you’re looking to invest your time long term in a digital marketing degree, or upskill with a bootcamp or course, there’s an option out there for every kind of budget, knowledge-level, and schedule.
For more information about this career choice and onboarding the skills you need to get started, why not try our free, 5-day course? You may also be interested in the following articles: