Business Administration - MBA - Marketing Stream

This specialism empowers learners to evaluate the central role of marketing strategy for the growth and development of all organisations. Learners will be required to critically evaluate a range of theoretical marketing concepts and apply them to practical industry realities as they relate to the current business environment. The marketing stream looks to recruiting and retaining customer relationships, as well as increasing frequency of purchase, helping an organisation to sell their products or services in line with the overall strategy and mission of the organisation. The MBA marketing specialism graduate will be empowered to make creative marketing choices which impact on the growth in profitability of brands thus sustaining and increasing an organisations’ market share by creating exchanges which satisfy individual and organisational objectives. The Marketing Institute of Ireland (MII) reviews the impact of marketing from both a macro and micro-economic basis and see the “significant contribution that marketing makes to national economies and individual businesses (Marketing Institute of Ireland, www.mii.ie).

Core Modules



Module Name / ECTS

Risk and Change for Global Issues 5

Managerial Financial Analysis 5

Strategic Marketing Analysis 5

Strategic Planning and Management 5

Dynamic Leadership Development 5

Sustainable Operations Management 5

Conducting Research for Business 10

Business Simulation 30



Elective Modules - Choose 2



Module Name ECTS

Marketing Innovations 10

Integrated Marketing Communications 10

The minimum entry requirements for the Master of Business Administration are:



To be eligible for the Master of Business Administration programme, applicants must meet the following minimum entry requirements:



A Level 8 primary undergraduate honours bachelor's degree with a minimum Second Class Second Division award (2.2 classification) in any discipline from a recognised third-level institution (or equivalent).



Alternatively, a Level 6 (EQF) primary undergraduate bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent).



An equivalent professional qualification such as ACCA or CIMA.



A GMAT examination is a mandatory requirement for all applicants who do not hold an Honours Bachelor's Degree (Level 8) with a minimum of second class second division classification.



For international applicants whose first language is not English and who have not previously undertaken a degree taught in English, evidence of English language proficiency equivalent to B2+ or above on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) is required. This can be evidenced through recognised tests like IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, PTE, or DBS English Assessment, with test certificates dated within the last two years.



Applicants who do not have a Level 8 qualification at a 2.2 award level but have at least three years of work experience may be considered through DBS's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) procedures. An interview and/or GMAT examination may be required for RPL applicants.

Full-time: 1 year, Part-time: 2 years.



Both versions are delivered through on-site face-to-face and online teaching and learning modalities.

Next Intake dates: September 2026

Careers Opportunities

Graduates of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme at DBS have excellent long-term career prospects due to the programme’s alignment with current industry needs and the high demand for qualified business professionals in Ireland and globally.



Specific career opportunities and roles that MBA graduates can pursue include:



Management and Strategic Business Roles: Graduates are well-prepared for management and strategic business roles across diverse industries, including public and private sectors.



Business Development and Consultancy: There is strong evidence of growth in management consultancy, with roles like management consultants and business analysts being among the top professional occupations in job vacancy adverts. The programme’s focus on structured analysis, problem-solving techniques, and effective decision-making directly supports these roles.



Project Management: The demand for project professionals is high, with communication, problem-solving, collaborative leadership, and strategic thinking identified as crucial skills. The MBA programme includes dedicated project management pathways.



Marketing and Sales: Roles such as marketing and sales directors, and retail and wholesale managers have seen significant growth in job vacancies.



Finance: Opportunities exist in financial services and related fields.



Other Fields: Graduates can also find opportunities in administration, education, and retail.



Leadership and Innovation: The programme specifically aims to equip learners with skills for making high-level strategic decisions, enhancing productivity, profitability, and organisational value, and preparing them for complex challenges in dynamic business environments.



Entrepreneurship: Graduates can also become entrepreneurs.