Strategic Marketing - MSc

The Strategic Marketing MSc will give you the specialised skills and knowledge to become a successful marketing leader of the future. Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) and Market Research Society (MRS), you will gain an in-depth understanding of marketing, including marketing strategy, digital marketing, branding, communications, marketing consulting, CRM, key account management, market research, omnichannel marketing and big data marketing analytics.

Who is it for?

• Recent graduates who want to boost their academic credentials and prepare for a first professional role in marketing.
• Marketing professionals looking to enhance their knowledge and skills and progress their career.

Why this course?

More than just an academic institution, Cranfield School of Management’s world-class research, expertise and teaching result in practical management solutions that are transforming the world of business today. For 50 years, we have been working with leading companies across the globe, pursuing our mission to improve the practice of management.

Our Strategic Marketing MSc will provide you with a thorough grounding in the core disciplines of marketing and how to apply them. Programme highlights include:

• Interactive teaching approach by leading international faculty, authors of best-selling marketing texts and of articles in Harvard Business Review or Sloan Management Review.
• Designed with senior marketing practitioners to give you up-to-date knowledge and skills in strategic marketing. 
• Practical skills are developed through your participation in a marketing consultancy project provided by an external business client, and through international marketing case studies.
• Master classes with reputable industry partners provide insight into cutting-edge and innovative marketing techniques and practices.
• The diverse, multi-national cohort provides an international learning opportunity enabling you to share marketing insight and experience.
• Our unique, self-contained campus, just one hour from London, offers a friendly postgraduate-focused learning environment, with small class sizes and unrivalled access to lecturers and support staff.

As one of the top schools for postgraduate marketing education, we develop proactive marketing professionals who can put their practical skills straight to work in the marketplace.

Informed by Industry

Our Strategic Marketing MSc faculty are experts in their field and have considerable industry experience. They work with the operating boards of many of the world's leading multinationals so bring the latest insights and best practice to their lectures.

Our faculty are supported by a team of international visiting industry speakers and professors who also bring the latest thinking and best practice into the classroom.

The leadership of the course is informed by a panel of high-profile marketing professionals, the Practice Advisory Board. Our Practice Advisory Board informs the design and development of the master's in marketing programme. Comprising leading figures from the world of marketing, it recommends additions and amendments to the course to reinforce its relevance to the modern marketing world.

Accreditation

The Strategic Marketing MSc is a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Graduate Gateway accredited degree, enabling you to achieve CIM’s professional marketing qualifications and awards alongside your Cranfield degree. CIM is the leading professional body for marketers worldwide and exists to develop the marketing profession, maintain professional standards and improve the skills of marketing professionals. More information can be found at: http://www.cim.co.uk

The Strategic Marketing MSc is also one of only a few master's degrees in the UK that is accredited by the Market Research Society (MRS). This means that while studying for your master's in marketing, you also have the opportunity to work towards achieving the MRS Advanced Certificate in Market and Social Research Practice, and with appropriate work experience you will be eligible to join the Market Research Society after graduation. More information can be found at: http://www.mrs.org.uk

Course details

The course has been developed to produce practical, proactive strategic marketers, and our teaching methods are specifically geared towards encouraging participation, self-development and team working. As well as studying a number of core modules, you will complete a marketing consultancy project carried out in teams and have the opportunity to undertake a research project, which can be either company-sponsored, or an empirical project in an area of marketing you are passionate about.

Consultancy project

The marketing consultancy project simulates a real-life consultancy assignment. You will work in teams in a time-constrained environment, competing against your class colleagues to make the strongest marketing strategy presentation to senior executives from partner firms. You will attend a briefing meeting to define the project, research the situation and consider your options. You will then formulate your recommendations and present them to company leaders at the final client presentation. On completion you will receive feedback from your supervisor and an industry expert. Companies students have worked with include Google, Nike, Cobra Beer, InterContinental Hotels Group, Acer and Sainsbury’s.

Research project

The culmination of the learning process is your opportunity to undertake a research project, which can be either company-sponsored, or an empirical project in an area of marketing you are passionate about (usually involving direct research with either marketing professionals/managers or with customers).

Assessment

Taught modules 60%, MSc thesis project 40%

Your career

95% of School of Management students were employed within 3 months of graduation*.

The Cranfield Career Development Service offers a comprehensive service to help you develop a set of career management skills that will remain with you throughout your career.

During your course you will receive support and guidance to help you plan an effective strategy for your personal and professional development, whether you are looking to secure your first management role, or wanting take your career to the next level.

Cranfield Strategic Marketing MSc graduates have secured jobs with a diverse range of companies including Vodafone, TJX, Kerry, Christian Dior, Henkel, GE, Schlumberger, Ernst & Young, Estée Lauder, Coca-Cola, Mars, Beiersdorf, KMPG Nunwood and Microsoft. Their roles have included Customer Insight Consultant, Junior Manager, Buying and Merchandising Graduate Programme trainee, Marketing Manager and Associate Consultant.

*based on those students for whom we hold data, across all School of Management full-time master's courses (2015/16 cohort).

Visit the Strategic Marketing - MSc page on the Cranfield University website for more details!