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Marketing Practice (MSc)

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Course Overview

100%This MSc has been specifically designed to provide recently qualified marketing graduates with professional marketing experience, while allowing Irish companies to develop and enhance their marketing capabilities. The Marketing Discipline at NUI Galway collaborates with Irish based companies to define job specifications for the marketing graduates. Participating companies come from a wide variety of industry sectors including: manufacturing, software, leisure, telecommunications and social & non-profit.

‌The MSc (Marketing Practice) is designed for business degree holders with a marketing specialisation, or those who hold a postgraduate qualification in business, with a marketing specialisation. The programme runs from September to July and during this time graduates are based predominately in their host company, while returning to the University to undertake selected courses and modules. Graduates are paid by their host company while on placement. Each year approximately 90% of participants have the opportunity to remain in their host companies on completion of the programme.

  • Graduates are paid by their host company while on placement;
  • The Postgraduate Director is available in person, by phone, and by email to provide ongoing mentoring and support to graduates throughout their placement. In-company visits are carried out to review and facilitate graduate progress and performance.

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Applications and Selections

Applications are made online via The Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC). Relevant PAC application code(s) above. As part of your application you must provide a two page Curriculum Vitae. It is strongly recommended that you follow the CV Guidelines available here: MSc Marketing Practice_CV Guidelines for applicants

If you are called to interview as part of the application process, this document will be of use: MSc Marketing Practice_Interview Preparation

Who Teaches this Course

Requirements and Assessment

Key Facts

Entry Requirements

Normally a Bachelor of Commerce or equivalent business degree, with a Second Class Honours or higher, and a significant specialisation in marketing. NQA1 Level 8 or equivalent. GPA 3.0 or equivalent. A requirement of accepting an offer of a place on this programme is that graduates are willing to be placed in a host company anywhere in the country.

Additional Requirements

Duration

1 year, full-time

Next start date

September 2018

A Level Grades ()

Average intake

30–35

Closing Date

TBC

Next start date

September 2018

NFQ level

Mode of study

Taught

ECTS weighting

90

Award

Postgraduate Course of the Year

CAO

PAC code

GYC15

Course Outline

The programme runs from September to July. Graduates complete a three week induction programme prior to starting a 37-week paid work placement with their host company. During their placement typical tasks undertaken by the graduates include:

  • digital marketing management and implementation;
  • market research;
  • event management, particularly trade show planning and participation;
  • development of promotional material and advertising campaigns;
  • online marketing, including website maintenance, search engine optimisation and social media management;
  • database management and direct mail campaigns;
  • strategic marketing planning, including market segmentation

Ultimately, the precise nature of marketing activities undertaken will be determined by the nature of the host organisation and the industry context.

During placement graduates return to campus to complete the following six taught modules:

  • Digital Marketing Management
  • Inbound Marketing Strategy
  • Workplace Skills for Marketing Professionals
  • Marketing Communications Management
  • Marketing Consulting in Action
  • Marketing Research and Strategy

Students also work on an Applied Marketing Project from the beginning of their placement.

Why Choose This Course?

Career Opportunities

This programme has a consistent 100% Employabilty Rate. Some are retained by their host companies while the remaining graduates rapidly secure employment as a direct result of participation on the programme. Graduates build successful marketing careers globally in various organisations from multinationals Unilever PLC and Johnson & Johnson, to companies such as Supermacs and Dubarry and public sector organisations including Bord Bia and ESB ecars.

Employers Mktg Prac

Variety of Host Companies

The Marketing Discipline at NUI Galway collaborates with Irishbased companies to define job specifications for students on the programme. Companies of all sizes apply to become host companies on this programme, from tech start-ups to multinationals across every imaginable sector.

Mentoring

The Programme Director provides ongoing mentoring and support to graduates throughout their placement. In-company visits are carried out to review and facilitate graduates’ progress and performance.

Marketing Skills Training

As well as the three week induction programme, graduates return to campus on three occasions for workshops, each of four days duration. The taught modules are Digital Marketing Management, Marketing Communications Management, Inbound Marketing, Marketing Research & Strategy, Marketing Consulting in Action, Professional Development in Marketing and Workplace and Skills for Marketing Professionals. Graduates also complete a Marketing Project on behalf of their host company.

 

 

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Who’s Suited to This Course

Learning Outcomes

 

Work Placement

Study Abroad

Related Student Organisations

Course Fees

Fees: EU

€6,755 p.a. 2017/18

Fees: Tuition

€6,531 p.a. 2017/18

Fees: Student levy

€224 p.a. 2017/18

Fees: Non EU

€N/A

 

Due to visa restrictions, this programme is not open to Non-EU students

Postgraduate students in receipt of a SUSI grant – please note an F4 grant is where SUSI will pay €2,000 towards your tuition.  You will be liable for the remainder of the total fee.  An F5 grant is where SUSI will pay TUITION up to a maximum of €6,270.  SUSI will not cover the student levy of €224.

Eoghan

Eoghan McGregor |   Account Manager, Google

I know I wouldn't be where I am today without the programme. I hit the ground running when I finished and I haven’t looked back since! I would recommend it to anyone who really wants to drive their career in the right direction. This should be the stepping stone and foundation for anyone who wants to pursue an exciting career in marketing.
Emma

Emma Roche |   Marketing and Brand Executive at Irish Pride Fine Foods

I am absolutely LOVING my work placement as the experience that I’m gaining is incredible. It will be a massive selling point for me in any interview after my placement, as it is allowing me to apply my learnings in a real work environment. I have a huge amount of responsibility and have designed and implemented a number of different campaigns for new product launches and co-promotions e.g. The Irish Pride Bunsters & Calor BBQ Summer Promotion. I also enjoyed the workshops organised in Galway. They are always extremely interesting and beneficial to both myself and the company. One of my favourite aspects of the programme was the assignments we undertook. These are all designed to further enable us to add value to our organisations.
Darragh

Darragh Broderick |   Inbound Marketing Specialist at Brightwork

I chose the MSc in Marketing Practice to fulfill my ambition of becoming an accomplished marketing professional. This course promised practical learning far superior to that of a classroom and it has absolutely delivered. I have developed relevant and differentiating marketing skills and acquired experiences which I am confident will serve me throughout my career.
Jane

Jane Cullen |   Marketing Executive at MediaHQ

The MSc Marketing programme in NUI Galway contained all of the necessary elements to develop myself as a marketing professional. My favourite part of the programme was the placement. Throughout the year, I created and managed several projects for my host company. This experience allowed me to put theory into practice and coupled with lecturer feedback, provided the richest and most rewarding learning opportunities of the course. I would recommend it to anyone who really wants to drive their career in the right direction.
Jennifer

Jennifer O' Leary |   ESB Innovation Marketing Assistant

I was absolutely thrilled when I was accepted onto the MS.c Marketing Practice programme. I can honestly say it has been one of the most rewarding and challenging years of my life. This masters is exactly what I wanted when finishing my undergrad – hands on experience, challenging and to learn as much as possible. I really enjoyed doing each assignment because you learn so much which each one. There is also a fantastic support system in NUIG. One of my highlights of the year was that I got the opportunity to interview many marketing professionals during my research and project manage events of over 100 people. Your assignments come to life in this masters, and there is no better feeling watching your work being implemented in the work place!! I feel this course has given me the best start on my marketing career and I am so thankful I was accepted!
Michaela

Michaela Browne |   Marketing Executive - Burke Insurances Ltd

I was placed in Burke Insurances, an insurance brokerage in Galway. My placement was a little different to others in that I worked for Burke Insurances Monday to Wednesday and on Thursday and Friday I worked for a group of 18 brokerages based all across Ireland part of the Source Broker Network. At first, this sounded a little daunting to me, that I would be essentially working for two different companies; however, looking back now I couldn’t imagine my placement any other way. I have learned so many new skills, I have developed old skills, I have practiced marketing and I have learned a lot about myself. Upon completion of this programme, I feel confident that I have developed the right skills I need in order to go out into the working world. I feel that I can bring what I learned from my placement into any company which I move to next. Read Michaela’s blog about the programme at: https://jecairnes.wordpress.com/2017/05/07/msc-marketing-practice-michaelas-blog/
Laura

Laura O'Dea |   Marketing Executive - School of Medicine, NUI Galway

I feel extremely privileged to have been afforded the opportunity to study the Marketing Practice programme at NUI Galway. What I loved about the programme was the opportunities within it, such as the work placement, the opportunity to work in a new environment and to expand your business profile". I loved every minute of my work placement and gained so many new skills on a daily basis. The teaching and leadership at every stage of the course was exceptional.
Ryan

Ryan Ludden |   Business Development Manager at App Design

I chose the MSc in Marketing Practice as I wanted to physically apply the learnings from my Bachelor of Commerce (Global) Degree to my working career and the course provided the perfect platform to do just that! I got the exciting opportunity to work within a tech start up environment where I helped to bring the Marketing and Sales knowledge I had learned to the forefront of the business, helping it to turn what was only a concept at the start of my placement into a viable product and business today. The level of satisfaction in being able to achieve such a feat is incredibly rewarding and has provided me with skills that can be applied within any company I work for in the future. The Masters in Marketing Practice provided me with the perfect stage to showcase what I could bring to the table for a company and the students within the course allowed for an incredibly collaborative environment that helped one another succeed and learn from each other to further develop our marketing skills.
Mónica

Mónica Tuset Riotorto |   Sales Development Specialist at Matheworks

Having a language opens up many incredible employment opportunities, particularly in the areas of Sales & Marketing as many companies look to move into new markets. In this respect, I believe that this programme is ideal for international students, as it will allow them to capitalise on such opportunities and secure fantastic sales & marketing positions. This master really helped me get to where I am today!
Niamh

Niamh Hunt |   Marketing Assistant at Neuravi

The MSc Marketing Practice has been the best way to jump-start my career in Marketing! The practical, hands-on learning aspect of the course helped develop many marketing skills which will differentiate us throughout our career. Completing the 37 week placement was an exciting, learning and challenging experience which provided many opportunities. Throughout my year, I managed, coordinated and attended numerous events abroad for my host company. This year allowed me to put all my learning from my undergrad into practice and develop many vital marketing skills. The group of lecturers, leaders and contributors to this course have a wealth of knowledge to share with the class. I would highly recommend this fun, practical, interactive masters programme to anyone pursuing a career in Marketing!
Amy

Amy French |   Marketing & Communications Executive, ESB International

NUI Galway’s MSc Marketing Practice really appealed to me because of the structure of the course. What I loved most about it was the work placement element. As part of my role as Marketing & Communications Executive with ESB International I worked on several projects, creating value for my host company, but also applying the skills and knowledge I learned in college to real working situations. I learned skills during my time with ESB International that I would never have learned in the classroom. The online lectures, assignments and workshops provided by NUI Galway were second to none, working with industry professionals on interesting and relevant topics that could be applied to the host company. The course is ever evolving and designed to be relevant to all situations at all times. I would highly recommend the MSc Marketing Practice to anyone looking to progress in their career in marketing.
Jessica

Jessica Daly |   Digital Marketing Executive at TitanHQ

The MSc Marketing Practice masters is an invaluable course for anyone who wants to begin a career in Marketing. As the duration of the masters takes place in our host companies, it is excellent way to gain practical experience. I was fortunate to learn from extremely skilled colleagues in areas such as Search Engine Marketing, something I would have never been able to do in a classroom. The Masters was an exciting, rewarding and challenging hands on experience which built on my marketing skills as well as broadening and diversifying my knowledge and skillset. The benefits of the MSc Marketing Practice are endless, and have prepared me to move further towards an exciting marketing career.
Michelle

Michelle Murray |   Marketing Executive at NUA Naturals

The MSc (Marketing Practice) provides a mix of practical learning and theory. I was placed with one of my favourite health food brands and am lucky to say that I am currently working in my dream job! I have developed skills such as content marketing, social media, event organisation, market research and email marketing and the experience and skills gained will definitely stand to me for the future. For anyone considering this Masters, I couldn't recommend it enough as the mix of lectures, workshops and work placement is an excellent foundation to set your career on the right path!

OVERALL WINNER

Ireland's Best Business postgraduate course 2014

Read more here.

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