MSc (Marketing Practice)

Course details

Ireland's best Business postgraduate course 2014

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.

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.

Course outline

The programme runs from September to July. Graduates complete a three week induction programme prior to starting a 41-week paid work placement with their host company. During their placement typical tasks undertaken by the graduates include:

• 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 activities.

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 four taught modules:

• Professional Development in Marketing.
• Marketing Communications Management.
• Contemporary Marketing Issues.
• Marketing Research and Strategy.

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