Digital Marketing Academy
Ever wondered how search engines rank websites? Curious how those adverts landed on your feed? If so, digital marketing could be for you.
Digital marketing is a fast growing and rapidly changing industry. The Digital Marketing Academy (DMA) will allow you to learn about and develop a wide range of industry-specific skills. Experienced professionals from leading digital agencies will provide insight in to what they do and how they do it. You will have the opportunity to obtain industry recognised qualifications and put your newly acquired skills in to practise.
Find out more about the role of a digital marketer
The programme gives individuals a foundation of skills, knowledge and connections needed to go forward into a successful career.
The Digital Marketing Academy is an extracurricular skills development and insight programme for students and recent graduates. It begins in November with a live launch event and / or online enrolment and ends between January and May, depending on which level of the Academy you want to reach. It is delivered in partnership with Nottingham Trent University.
Who can take part?
Students
The Digital Marketing Academy is open to all University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University students, regardless of year group or subject.
Recent graduates
Nottingham alumni who graduated in December of the previous year or later are eligible to participate. For example, a graduate from December 2024 or June 2025 would be eligible for the DMA starting in November 2025
Find out more about the role of a digital marketer
What is involved with the DMA?
The Digital Marketing Academy comprises five steps. You can progress through as many steps as you like. Digital badges will be awarded to certify three levels of engagement:
Participant: awarded to participants who complete some steps of the Academy but not all
Completer: awarded to participants who complete all stages of the Academy, including or excluding the Launch event. Those who complete by the January deadline qualify to attend the exclusive insight experiences. Those who complete by the May deadline also earn this badge, but miss the insight experiences.
Advanced: awarded to participants who complete all steps of the Academy, including or excluding the Launch event, and attend an insight experience.
Further details will be provided at the Launch event, and on Moodle to those who enrol on the Academy.
Digital Marketing Academy timeline
November:
Come to the launch of the DMA: introducing our agency partners, hear from past participants, get an introduction into digital marketing and a comprehensive overview of how to progress through the Academy.
Those who attend the event will receive a personal invitation to enrol in the Academy, or you can self-enrol for a limited period after the event via this website.
Begin industry-recognised online accreditations, to complete by either a January or May deadline.
Attend an exclusive series of evening workshops delivered by our agency partners. You can select workshops according to your area of interest. Workshop titles are TBC for 2025-26, but examples from previous years are:
- everything you need to know about social media advertising
- introduction to search engine optimisation (SEO)
- building brands through PPC
- organic social media and consumer behaviour
- the significance of UX/UI in web design
- digital PR
December:
Come to a friendly and informal networking event where you can introduce yourself to the digital marketers in person, ask follow-up questions on the workshops, and practise your networking skills.
January:
- Finish (January deadline)
Complete industry recognised accreditations and complete the DMA.
February:
- Insight experiences (in person/online)
Exclusive to those who complete all stages of the DMA by the January deadline.
Digital marketing agencies host interactive insight events, online or in their workplace.
Places are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis to participants who qualify
May:
Complete industry recognised accreditations and complete the DMA. Participants may choose this option if they want to take longer to complete, and / or are not interested in attending an insight experience.
Benefits of completing the DMA
Students and recent alumni from both universities benefit from the programme through:
- industry expertise via a bespoke suite of online, interactive workshops
- access to professional networks via a ‘Meet the Experts’ networking event
- specific, industry-recognised online accreditations, selected by the agencies for their quality and relevance
- immersion in the culture of a digital marketing agency and hands-on experience through insight events held at our partners offices
- build future professional networks by connecting with students and graduates from both universities, as well as with people working in the agencies at all levels
There is no application for the DMA, but the process is different for students and graduates.
Current students
The Digital Marketing Academy is open to all University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University students, regardless of year group or subject.
There are two ways you can join the DMA
Option 1: Come to the Launch*
The DMA will begin with an in-person event in early November, held on University Park.
We’ll bring the industry to life with presentations from digital marketers, walk you through the academy programme and answer your questions so you can decide whether you want to join the academy when you receive an invitation following the event.
*This event will not be recorded.
Option 2: Enrol via this website
If you don’t attend the launch, you can also enrol in the DMA for a few days afterwards. Details of how to do so will be published here the day after the event in November.
You’ll need to independently read through the information provided and ensure that you’re familiar with what you need to do to complete the academy.
Graduates
Nottingham alumni who graduated last December or later (for example, last June) are also eligible to take part.
You also have the option to attend the launch (recommended) OR self-enrol in the Academy online, but to access the programme you’ll need an active IT account. Don’t worry, we will help you to do this, however setting up your account takes time, so your window to join is shorter than for students: your deadline to request access to the DMA will be given at the top of this page when enrolment opens.
Follow the link at the top of the page to request access. You’ll then receive an email with instructions. You’ll also be invited to attend the launch event, or you can enrol without attending once your alumni account is active.
Contact us
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