Discover how by earning your master鈥檚 in marketing, you can deepen your subject knowledge, elevate your educational credentials, and prepare to take on management roles.
Whether you鈥檝e been working in marketing for several years and are looking for higher-level advancement, or you鈥檝e been working in a related field and wanting to pivot to marketing, you may come to a point in your career when it makes sense to explore a master鈥檚 degree in marketing.听
Many marketing roles do not require a postgraduate degree. Still, it can be an advantageous step to build on your undergraduate education or a necessary one if you want to pursue an executive-level role. By earning your master鈥檚 in marketing, you can deepen your subject knowledge, elevate your educational credentials, and prepare to take on management roles. Discover what it takes to earn a master鈥檚 degree in marketing and whether it鈥檚 your best choice.听
A master鈥檚 marketing degree is a postgraduate-level degree typically aimed at deepening one's knowledge of marketing鈥攐r the strategy a company deploys to promote its products or services. Whilst a bachelor鈥檚 degree in marketing often introduces learners to several fundamental topics about market research, social media strategy, and brand management, a master鈥檚 degree typically focuses on more niche topics. These might include applying data analytics to market research, digital messaging strategies, and consumer behaviour.听
When you鈥檙e interested in advancing your marketing knowledge, you鈥檒l find two main postgraduate degree options to explore: the Master鈥檚 (MA) in Marketing or the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a specialism in marketing.听
Whilst there鈥檚 no strict rule about which programme you can attend, the difference between the two largely comes down to what you want to cover. The main difference between an MA in Marketing and an MBA is that an MA is more niche, usually focusing on something specific, such as an MA in digital marketing or marketing analytics. In contrast, an MBA looks at business and leadership in regards to marketing in a more general capacity.听
Another possible option is a postgraduate diploma in management (PGDM) in marketing. This is another postgraduate qualification that combines academic study with hands-on industry learning.听
As you think about the best degree programme for you, take time to review the outcomes and coursework you鈥檒l complete and the job placement support or professional development each one offers. Consider how those factors align with your larger reasons for earning a master鈥檚 degree.听
Interested in earning your MBA but want the flexibility of an online program? Explore the iMBA from the University of Illinois on 糖心vlog官网观看. The programme features multiple concentrations, including digital marketing, and you can try out a course first to see if it鈥檚 a good fit before applying.
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Master鈥檚 courses tend to be more advanced than bachelor鈥檚 degree courses because you learn about specialised topics. In your marketing master鈥檚 programme, you may take classes on aspects of marketing strategy, management, branding, advertising, consumer behaviour, and communications, as well as choosing from specialists such as:听
Marketing analytics
Managing luxury business
Sports marketing
Business-to-business marketing
Consumer technology
Pricing
E-business
The modules you take will depend on the title of your master鈥檚 programme and whether it is niche or more general. Your master鈥檚 in marketing programme might also include hands-on experience and projects and time in the industry through internships.听
Whichever master鈥檚 degree in marketing you choose to pursue, you can expect to spend about two years in your postgraduate marketing programme when you can attend full-time. Many universities offer part-time options to accommodate professional students that can add to the amount of time you鈥檒l spend earning your degree. Some options, such as online MBA programmes, may speed up your timeline, allowing maximum flexibility.听
Depending on whether you attend a public or private non-profit institution, an MBA in any specialism in India typically costs between 2 lakhs and 20 lakhs, with private institutions often charging the highest costs [].
Marketing can be a lucrative鈥攁nd long-lasting鈥攃areer thanks to the number of products and services companies seek to sell. According to research from 6Wresearch, India's digital marketing landscape will continue growing at a rate of 38.9 per cent from 2024 through 2030 [], offering ample potential for growth as you seek to create a thriving career in this dynamic space.
Marketing isn鈥檛 limited to one type of work or one set path鈥攜ou鈥檒l find numerous marketing areas you can explore, including research, strategy, and content. You may start in one aspect of marketing before eventually moving into another. For example, you may start as a social media marketer before becoming a marketing manager and applying your skill set to a broader array of marketing needs.听
Whilst it鈥檚 possible to grow as a marketer with an undergraduate degree and experience, a master鈥檚 in marketing can be an attractive credential on your resume. Companies may prefer a master鈥檚 for certain roles, and the degree can show companies the extra time you dedicated to the subject.
Marketing salaries are generally good, and with a master鈥檚 in marketing, you can explore a number of management roles, including higher positions such as creative director and chief marketing officer. Find marketing roles and corresponding average annual salary below:
Job title | Salary* |
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Marketing manager | 鈧13,50,000 |
Events manager | 鈧 5,50,000 |
Brand manager | 鈧14,25,000 |
Communications manager | 鈧 11,50,000 |
Sales manager | 鈧 10,50,000 |
Digital marketing manager | 鈧8,50,000 |
Creative director | 鈧19,35,000 |
Chief marketing officer | 鈧19,50,000 |
*All salary information based on data from Glassdoor, October 2024; it represents the median base salary exclusive of any additional compensation like bonuses or commissions.
Whether a master鈥檚 in marketing is right for you largely depends on your experience and career goals. Those two factors can help you determine whether a master's in marketing or an MBA makes more sense.听
It can also be worthwhile to think about why you鈥檙e interested in earning a master鈥檚 degree in the first place because you鈥檒l also find educational alternatives. If you want to increase your knowledge in some area of marketing, a Professional Certificate or an individual course may be a strong option. You can list the certificates from either track on your resume, signalling to a potential employer the work you鈥檝e invested to stay up to date. You can also highlight what you learned in your cover letter and job interviews.
Professional Certificates are shorter programs (typically less than a year) designed to help you develop or improve your career-ready skills.听
Individual courses boost your subject knowledge with focused education.听
Earn a Professional Certificate from industry leaders like Meta and Google in social media marketing, digital marketing, or marketing analytics on 糖心vlog官网观看.听
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Getting a master鈥檚 in marketing or an MBA can prove to be advantageous as you advance or pivot your career. Earn your Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois on 糖心vlog官网观看 and enjoy the flexibility of taking classes remotely and at your own pace. Or, if you鈥檙e looking for a shorter, comparably career-focused program, explore Professional Certificates from Meta in high-demand marketing areas such as Social Media Marketing or Marketing Analytics.
St. Andrews Institute of Technology and Management. 鈥, https://saitm.ac.in/blog/mba-ki-fees-kitni-hai-fees-structure-of-top-mba-colleges-in-india/.鈥 Accessed 29 April 2025.听
6Wresearch. 鈥, https://www.6wresearch.com/industry-report/india-digital-marketing-market.鈥 Accessed 29 April 2025.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.