Marketing (MSc)

Our MSc Marketing at Cork University Business School will give you the specialised skills and knowledge to become a successful marketing leader. The one-year programme enhances employability through developing your ability to contribute to the real needs of the marketing and business community.

The MSc Marketing programme will provide crucial practical experience through undertaking an applied research and consultancy project in collaboration with an industry partner to develop marketing instincts and creative abilities, enhancing your professional expertise and personal development. You will develop leading-edge skills sought in the workplace including, for example, the development of customer insights, active problem-solving, and the application of digital marketing. The blended nature of the programme will turn Graduates into Marketing Practitioners with an array of learning methods including live and negotiated firm-based projects, specialised workshops, marketing strategy simulation, and industry-based marketing practice.

Our graduates have gone on to work for a diverse range of organizations, including Accenture, Deloitte, Apple, Janssen, and DoneDeal, amongst many others.

The MSc in Marketing programme is delivered over 12 months, in two parts, using a combination of:

· lectures

· interactive workshops

· case-studies and class discussion

· industry presentations

· company visits

· guest speakers

· research seminars

 

Students take 90 credits in total:

PART I

Core Modules (40 credits)

• BU6005 Applied Research Methods (5 credits)
• BU6513 Business Case for Analytics (5 credits)
• MG6335 Professional and Personal Development (5 credits)
• MG6406 Business Simulation Module (5 credits)
• MG6410 Service Design (5 credits)
• MG6411 Consumer Behaviour Theory and Practice (5 credits)
• MG6413 Digital Business-to-Business Relationship Marketing Practice (5 credits)
• MG6415 Ethics and Sustainability (5 credits)

Specialism Modules (20 credits)

• MG6405 Applied Strategic Marketing (5 credits)
• MG6407 International Marketing and Practice (5 credits)
• MG6408 Omnichannel Marketing Communications (5 credits)
• MG6414 Digital Marketing Practice (5 credits)

Part II

• MG6825 Applied Research Project (30 credits)

See the postgraduate Academic Calendar (MSc Marketing) for further course and module content.

This programme, open to business graduates, has been designed to enable students to develop advanced knowledge and understanding of the contemporary strategic challenges facing marketers and provide professional marketing experience. It is the first University in Ireland to offer an MSc in Strategic Marketing & Practice with both consultancy work and work placement options. The programme will develop students’ critical thinking, research, and communication skills and, uniquely, will feature consultancy projects and blended learning as a vehicle for learning and as a means of developing further personal skills for later marketing and consulting careers. 

Special Features 

• Advanced education in the principles, theoretical concepts, and contemporary practice of strategic marketing, based on research-informed teaching.
• Designed with senior marketing practitioners to provide up-to-date knowledge and skills in strategic marketing and practice. 
• The opportunity to further develop a range of valuable personal skills for marketing careers – analytical capabilities, problem-solving skills critical thinking, communication skills, group-work skills, IT skills, and the ability to manage major marketing research projects.
• Practical skills are developed through your participation in a live marketing consultancy project designed with an external business client.
• An opportunity for students to deepen their knowledge in particular functional areas of marketing – e.g. digital marketing practice, customer relationship management, business-to-business marketing, direct and interactive marketing, and branding.
• The use of blended and interactive teaching methods and the development of e-portfolios.
• Masterclasses with reputable industry partners provide insight into leading-edge marketing practices and innovative marketing techniques.
• The culmination of the learning process is your opportunity to undertake an applied research project in collaboration with an industry partner.
• An overall aim is to transform marketing graduates into competent marketing professionals. 

Student Testimonials

When I reflect on the MSc Marketing program, I conclude that my experience not only shaped me professionally but also personally. The culture of the course fostered the sharing of ideas, critical discussions, and collaboration among students and faculty across a wide range of interests.

I believe it’s rare and challenging to find a group of people with entirely different methodological, cultural, and theoretical backgrounds to come together enthusiastically and work on projects, but the course made it seem effortless and engaging because the faculty always entertained new ideas. The workshops and guest lectures by professional marketers encouraged me to explore and experiment, which allowed me to find my niche of interest. What I loved about the program is that it set me up for a successful career, left me feeling motivated, and is helping me stay driven in achieving my goals at the workplace. - Moshmee Mahendra Mani

Coming from my undergraduate degree, I thought I knew a lot about marketing, but the MSc in Strategic Marketing & Practice exposed me to many concepts that I had never considered before. The programme perfectly blends theory with practice, and regular guest speakers made the link between what we learned in class and its application in the corporate world. The opportunity to pursue an area that interests you through industry placement/the research project is invaluable and one of the main reasons I chose the MSc. There is a real focus on both personal and professional development, preparing students for life after graduation. I also enjoyed the smaller class size where we could interact with lecturers, who were always very approachable outside of class too. Overall, I am glad I did this course and would recommend it to anyone looking to pursue a career in marketing. - Julie Allen

This is a full-time 12-month programme; it will develop students’ critical thinking, research and communication skills and, uniquely, will feature consultancy projects and blended learning as a vehicle for learning and as a means of developing further personal skills for later marketing and consulting careers. 

In Part I, you will need to be available to attend classes and seminars from Monday to Friday (inclusive). During Part II of the course, you will be engaged in full-time active research under the supervision of an academic mentor, with the option of a full-time work placement.

You will have formal lectures, tutorials, and workshop hours. Outside of this, you will have several project groups for different modules.  You will be expected to arrange group meetings, etc., outside formal hours.  You will also be expected to read required texts as well as engage in independent study/research for modules where required.

Regular cutting-edge guest lectures from visiting speakers will be scheduled and where possible students will have access to advanced master classes on particular subject areas.  Assessment across the programme will be through a mix of continuous assessment, in the form of individual assignments, group assignments, class presentations and an applied research project, as well as written examinations. Students will be given scope to shape their assignments and research project in line with their professional work or specific areas of interest.

Full module information is detailed in the section below.

Applicants must have a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) or a Second Class Honours Grade 1 in a Higher Diploma (NFQ, Level 8 Major Award).   

Consideration under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may also be given to applicants who have a minimum of three years of relevant professional marketing experience.  To demonstrate relevant professional marketing experience, applicants will need to provide a detailed job specification of their role(s) and an interview may also be required.

As places are limited, all eligible candidates are not guaranteed a place on the programme. Participants will be selected on the basis of the information supplied in their application.

 

View the grades comparison table

Non-EU Candidates

Non-EU candidates are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to Irish university primary degree level. In addition, where such candidates are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language. To verify if you meet the minimum academic requirements for this programme please visit our qualification comparison pages.

For more detailed entry requirement information please refer to the International website .

1. Choose Course

Firstly choose your course. Applicants can apply for up to three courses under one application. Details of taught courses are available on our online prospectus.

2. Apply Online

Once you have chosen your course you can apply online at the online application portal. Applicants will need to apply before the course closing date. There is a €50 application fee for all courses apart from the Education - Professional Master of Education - (Secondary School/Post-Primary Teacher Training) which has a €100 application fee.

3. Gather Supporting Documents

Scanned copies of the following documents will need to be uploaded to the online application portal in support of your application. Applicants may need to produce the original documents if you are accepted onto a course and register at UCC.

• Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC
• Any supplementary items requested for your course.

Please log into the online application portal for more details.

4. Application processing timeline

Our online application portal opens for applications for most courses in early November of each year. Check specific course details. 

Questions on how to apply?

Please use our web enquiry form to contact us.

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 30 June. Early application is advised.

Non-EU Applications

For full details of the non-EU application procedure please visit our how to apply pages for international students. In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

Not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above.

For more information please contact the International Office.