The team of undergraduates, Ruth Carberry, Michelle Hardy and Caroline Holmes, took the gold medal ahead of another team from the University of Northumbria, which won silver.
A team from De Montfort, was also highly commended.
The entrants had to meet a brief supplied by Tequila\London and the client, the British Army. It asked for proposals for a CRM programme aimed at 16- to 18-year-olds entering higher education.
Carberry, Hardy and Holmes came up with the proposition: "Take on a world of opportunities. Take on a career in the British Army."
Amanda Forwood, account director at Tequila\London, said: "The winner stood out in particular, as they demonstrated a thorough understanding of the brief and application of their studies. Not only did they think beyond the brief but they provided comprehensive research and support for their proposal."
The competition is part of the IDM's education programme, which aims to attract new young talent to the marketing industry.