Marketing

Programme Overview

This rigorous course is designed to prepare graduates for positions in brand management and marketing in Ireland and abroad. The programme is suitable for business graduates with a marketing orientation and marketing professionals wishing to build upon their existing skills. It also caters for students with an undergraduate background in psychology, social science or other cognate disciplines which inform marketing theory and practice.

Marketing plays a central role in creating, communicating, capturing and sustaining value for organisations, customers and society. The rapid digital evolution and increasingly savvy consumers have made it essential for organisations to build strong brands, and to engage customers effectively and in innovative ways in order to remain competitive. This environment makes it essential for modern day businesses to employ skilled marketing professionals and underpins the strong demand for our graduates.

The MSc in Marketing at UCD equips students with the theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, and methodologies necessary for successful careers in marketing. The programme has strong ties with industry, and a central element for which it is noted is a Major Marketing Project for which students work on marketing strategies for leading global companies such as P&G, Unilever, Danone, Mondeléz and PepsiCo.

What will I learn?

The learning objectives of this course couple conceptual knowledge of Marketing Management with the ability to assimilate and apply concrete skills in a genuine business context. Specifically, our graduates will:

•Learn how to create, communicate, capture and sustain value for organisations, customers and society

•Develop strategic and integrated marketing campaigns in real-life contexts

•Leverage digital technology to more effectively reach and communicate with consumers

•Apply analytics and metrics to measure, monitor and improve marketing performance

•Understand how marketing can be utilised in and outside business environments to bring about positive change in society.

How will I benefit?

The course content and overall reputation of this Masters in the eyes of recruiting companies makes it an especially attractive option for students and professionals looking to either kick-start a marketing career or take a further step up.

1.Modules are delivered by experienced academics and senior industry practitioners, providing the conceptual and managerial perspectives vital to a successful marketing career

2.Graduates of the course work in a variety of industries, including consumer goods companies, financial services, pharmaceuticals and electronics

3.They secure employment in a range of prestigious multinational companies, such as Coca-Cola, Hewlett Packard, Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Sony.

The programme also offers a highly international and participant-centred learning environment, which enables students to build strong networks with fellow classmates, alumni and business leaders.

Programme Goals:
Marketing Knowledge: Our graduates will be equipped with both fundamental and cutting-edge knowledge in the field of marketing.

Marketing Skills: Our graduates will be equipped with skills that are most needed to become an effective marketing professional.

Marketing Practice: Our graduates will be able to apply their knowledge and skills into real-life contexts and be well-prepared to practice marketing once they graduate.

Programme Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the programme students should be able to:
Demonstrate an understanding of fundamentals of marketing such as marketing communications, marketing strategy, and consumer behaviour.

Demonstrate an understanding of what is new and forthcoming in the field of marketing.

Demonstrate improved skills that marketeers most often use, including critical thinking, problem solving, people management, decision making, creativity, and communication.

Apply their foundational and cutting-edge theoretical knowledge into practice across different contexts so that these theories will be utilised when they are needed.

Apply appropriate marketing skills (critical thinking, problem solving, people management, decision making, creativity, and communication) across different business and marketing contexts.

Intercultural Development Programme (ICD)
Being the first and only programme of this kind in Ireland, ICD is an innovative research-driven and theory-based intercultural professional development training programme which aims to help you to stand out among the crowd by developing your Key 21st-Century Skills. These skills are valued by companies, NGOs and governments around the world who operate internationally, together with national companies and organisations who employ and serve an increasingly diverse population. The ICD programme will strengthen your CV and give you an edge over graduates from other Business programmes in the global job market.

Global Leadership Programme (GLP)
Our Global Leadership Programme (GLP) offers you a unique opportunity to engage in a diverse range of cocurricular activities i.e. development activities outside the modules you take on the Master's programme.

It's all about helping you become an impactful leader with a global mindset. This optional programme is designed to build your capacity for effective personal and organisational leadership. When it comes to seeking employment and attending job interviews, the GLP will help give you an edge over other similarly qualified candidates and will considerably strengthen your CV.

The one-year full-time and two-year part-time formats of this course comprise core modules and option modules (4 + 3), the part-time version being delivered during daytime classes. Both formats also entail a Company Project (Major Marketing Project), to be carried out during the summer term.

Autumn Trimester
•Corporate Marketing Strategy
•Consumers in a Digital Age
•Consumer Insights and Analytics

Spring Trimester
Omnichannel Marketing Communications

Option modules
Brand Management
Pricing Strategy
Nudging consumer choices
Launching New Products

Summer Trimester
•Marketing Project

Option modules
Customer Experience Management
Marketing for Social Change

Please note that option modules listed are indicative of what has been delivered in previous years. What is offered each academic year is subject to change.

Note that on-campus teaching is delivered under prevailing public health guidelines. In the event of a required change to planned delivery, further information about alternative delivery methods (including online delivery) will be confirmed with prospective and incoming students.

Please review the entry requirements below. The UCD Smurfit Admissions Office staff have expertise in reviewing international qualifications from around the world and will be able to assess your application's comparability to the Irish entry requirement.

Entry Requirements
A minimum second-class honours degree (or equivalent) in any discipline
OR
A primary degree with a minimum of two years' work experience in a Marketing role.

English is not your first language, an English language qualification is required for admission to all of our programmes. The exception to this rule is if you have completed your primary degree or an entire third level qualification through English, in an English speaking country.

Some students might have to get a student visa in order to come and study in Ireland. Please check the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services website to see if you require a visa.

Step 1: Collating Documentation

The first step is to collate the required documentation needed to assess your application*.

These can include but are not limited to:

Transcripts
CV
English Language Test
References
Additional Documentation

Step 2: The Application Process

Once you have collated the required documentation and reviewed the entry requirements for your programme of interest, you can now apply online.

You must apply online using our dedicated student information portal. You will be required to enter contact details, upload your documents and answer two essay questions (each approximately 300 words). We would ask that you seriously consider both essays and answer these in the context of the programme you are applying to. Try to not replicate your CV and demonstrate what makes you different from other applicants. There are no right or wrong ways to complete these essays.

Application Deadlines:
Applications are assessed on a rolling basis and courses will close once they are filled. We advise you to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Please note certain scholarships may require you to apply before a certain date – please refer to our scholarship page. If you have any questions in relation to deadlines or availability please email smurfit.admissions@ucd.ie.

You will then be asked to submit your application and pay the €50 application fee. No application can be assessed until the fee has been paid. You can apply for multiple programmes with the one application fee, but please be sure to mark your preferred course.

Once submitted, it usually takes 2-3 weeks before a decision is made on fully completed applications. This time period can sometimes be longer and can vary at different times in the year and in different regions. We may offer you a conditional place based on the completion of a number of criteria, such as degree, English test, or another qualification. This reserves you a place on the course and once you have fulfilled this criteria we will issue you a full offer.

Acceptance is completed by paying a non-refundable deposit (varies from either €500 or €1000 depending on the programme. Most of our programmes require a €500 deposit). Your offer email will detail the exact deposit amount required. Once you have accepted you will then be supported by the Programme Office who will contact you with further course and start details.

12 Months Full-Time
24 months Part-Time

Fees Full-Time EU:
€14,460 (academic year 2020/2021)

Full-Time Non-EU:
€19,900 (academic year 2020/2021)

Part-Time EU
€7,855 per year (academic year 2020/2021)

Part-Time Non-EU
€9,950 per year (academic year 2020/2021)

Starting September 2019

Graduates of the course work in a variety of industries, including consumer goods and food; financial services; technology; advertising and market research; or pharmaceuticals.

88% of our graduates from this programme were employed after 6 months across a range of industry sectors. (Source: Latest Graduate Outcomes Survey, published in November 2021)

Potential careers for our graduates include:

Marketing Management
Brand Management
Market Research
Digital Marketing
Account Management
Consultancy
Communications and Fundraising Coordinator