Why I Chose the CIM Level 3 Course for Marketing

My First Step

So, I’ve been working in retail and doing freelance media work, which naturally connects me to marketing. But I realised I needed more knowledge to back up my practical skills. That’s when I started looking online for courses and opportunities to learn more.

I first thought about taking a business course, but I was concerned it would take too long and not cover the subjects I wanted. Then, I came across the British Academy of Digital Marketing, which looked really good too, yet I wasn’t sure how flexible it was to join.

Finally, I found the Chartered Institute of Marketing Level 3 course through Open Study College. It felt like the perfect starting point for me. It was beginner-friendly, but it was also respected by employers. The best part was that it was easy to access and could be completed in my own time with lots of flexibility.

What’s Included: The Key Modules

The course is split into two main modules (there’s also a choice for three modules, but that comes with an extra fee). Each module is designed to build a different part of your marketing foundation. I chose to do the two module option.

1. Marketing Principles & Essentials

This module gave me a solid grounding on what marketing is and in how marketing works; from understanding the purpose and role of marketing within organisations and to learn the importance of customer needs and the concept of the marketing mix (Product, Price, Place, Promotion).

This module was great to give you a background into marketing and its importance.

My takeaway:
Learning marketing principles and essentials provides a basic understanding of what every marketer needs to know. Understanding the importance of marketing to businesses highlights the value marketers bring.

2. Content & Channels

This module was all about the content forms you use for your audience and the channels you use to reach them. From emails to social media and beyond, it helped me understand how to match the right message to the right platform. This module explained how marketers think strategically about content rather than just creating random posts and how it has to be targeted and consistent with the brand. It covers the tools like content calendars and buyer personas and the touch points customers have with the content and channels you use to get them from looking to buying.

My takeaway: This module looks more about how to use the marketing principals into practical use and this is where you learn more around digital marketing than the traditional side which is covered in the first module. For me this was the better, more informative, module for what a job in digital marketing can actually look like.

Course Format & Assessment

I took the course online without study materials over three months, completing each module in around six weeks, as well as working part-time, so it felt like a breeze. To ensure I took in as much knowledge as possible, I wrote down the key points of each section in the module.

Unknowingly, I needed to book the two tests for over a month later, which made the process take longer.

With Open Study College, they provided me with practice assessments for each module, which you have to get 100% for it to be marked as completed. However, to ensure you are fully ready for the CIM assessment, it’s vital to look online for other practice questions, as not everything in the Open Study College test comes up in the real assessment.

To do the actual test, you must pay the CIM Membership fee, which is an annual payment of £65. This membership is actually worth paying for before the tests, as they provide lots of studying tips and materials that are very useful. You can prebook the tests well in advance, which was £125 per module (something to consider before deciding on doing the three-module option). The tests are online multiple-choice and took less than one hour to complete. 

The Grading

Dist – Distinction	80% and above
Merit – Merit	70 – 79%
Pass – Pass	60 – 69%
Fail – Failure	1 – 59%

I completed the tests in February 2025 and received the results at the beginning of April.

Final Thoughts: Was It Worth It?

Definitely, especially if you’re just starting out in marketing or need a formal qualification to move up in your role. It gave me a good background of knowledge around marketing and I’m now looking forward to completing the Level 4 course in the coming year.

Here is some links to the websites mentioned:

https://www.cim.co.uk/

https://www.openstudycollege.com/courses/cim-level-3-foundation-certificate-professional-and-digital-marketing?queryID=cba5cee054ff873affe213b545c1be51&objectID=49460105445658