5 Marketing Dissertation Topics for 2026 (That Your Supervisor May Actually Approve)
Most dissertation proposals are rejected because they lack scope, not potential. Discover five distinction-grade Marketing dissertation topics for 2026 that hit the 'Golden Triad' of Currency, Criticality, and Focus—from the rise of AI Agents to the psychology of 'De-Influencing'.
The "Scope" Trap
The hardest part of your Master's degree isn't the writing—it’s the proposal. Every year, I see talented students lose marks (or have their proposals rejected outright) not because their ideas are bad, but because they are too broad.
"Digital Marketing in 2026" is not a topic; it’s a textbook.
"How Facebook helps small businesses" is not a dissertation; it’s a blog post from 2014.
To get a Distinction (70+%) in a UK university, your topic needs to hit the "Golden Triad".
- Currency: Is it happening right now?
- Criticality: Is there a debate? (If everyone agrees, there is nothing to research).
- Focus: Is it specific enough to measure?
Here are five dissertation ideas for 2026 that in my view, hit all three criteria, complete with the academic theories you’ll need to back them up.
1. The Rise of "Generative Engine Optimization" (GEO)
We all know of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). But 2026 is the year of GEO. With the integration of AI Overviews in Google and the rise of ChatGPT/Gemini as primary search tools, consumers are skipping traditional websites entirely. They are getting answers directly from the chatbot.
This breaks the traditional "Search -> Click -> Buy" funnel.
- Suggested Title: From Search to Chat: A comparative analysis of consumer trust in AI-generated product recommendations vs. traditional Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).
- Why it works: It tackles a brand-new technology but applies classic marketing theories of Trust and Decision Making.
- The Academic Angle: Look at the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) or Source Credibility Theory. Do consumers trust a "machine" recommendation more than a "human" review?
