Knowledge, theories and methods in marketing are rigorously applied to real-life situations by using a set of different methods and can always be used to address new challenges.
International:
1 Semester Abroad
This programme provides you with:
in-depth knowledge of marketing, incl. marketing strategy & tactics, customer management, brand management, marketing performance & analytics, and digitisation.
methods, instruments and tools used in market-oriented corporate management.
skills to analyse and understand how changing customer and societal needs, as well as technological developments can be translated into competitive market offerings.
A sound know-how of marketing concepts and methods is crucial for management and economics students and an indispensable part of any good manager’s toolset. Case studies, business projects with companies, and guest lecturers from the corporate world give you insights about relevant and contemporaneous topics.
I had very high expectations to the programme, but they even have been exceeded. The professors are motivated to inspire us and the marketing classes are practically oriented and deal with current issues. I can transfer my knowledge straight onto the tasks as a working student in an agency.
This programme is right for you if you:
have successfully completed a bachelor’s or equivalent degree in Management, Business Administration or Economics— preferably with a marketing focus.
are internationally focused as well as open-minded, have a wide range of interests, and are eager to learn new things.
are interested in obtaining a general understanding of marketing activities, developing analytical and critical thinking skills, problem-solving and wish to hone your writing and language skills.
work as a team player, because working in groups is often practiced in seminars and an important key factor for later work in companies.
are ready to take the next step in your future career in a leading marketing-related position in the corporate world.
Business Administration Major Marketing - Master of Science
Programme Overview
Preparing you for future challenges
This programme is characterised by its strong balance of theoretical rigor and practical relevance. Both aspects are critical. We build on a strong research reputation which consistently excels in various competitive research ratings. We regularly publish in the leading academic marketing journals globally and present our work at leading conferences. Moreover, since most of the research is empirical in nature, collaboration with organisations is natural to the department’s members.
Thus, by being close to businesses, a clear focus lies on the investigation of current business challenges. Beside translating our research knowledge in the current course offering, we cover a set of very contemporaneous subjects. Of course, the impact of the digital transformation as a trend is felt across the entire course offerings.
Business Project
One highlight of the curriculum is a business project during which you work on current managerial topics in close cooperation with a company representative. The project‘s goal is to apply scientific theories and methods on the issues at hand and to derive concrete recommendations. It includes conceptual and application-oriented elements, such as student presentations, case studies, discussions and guest speakers from the field.
A sound knowledge of marketing concepts and methods is crucial for management and economics students. With the aim of bringing relevant offers to the market, it is an indispensable part of any good manager’s toolset. We offer a broad training programme in Cologne with scientific methods and practical relevance combined throughout.
Link to the practical world
The practical contact for you as a student is a strong feature of the programme. Guest lectures and practice seminars establish and promote direct exchange between companies and students. In addition, two talent programmes - ZMM+ and Marketing Circle of Excellence – complement the offering of the marketing area.
International
English taught programme
The majority of this master programme is internationally oriented. Many courses deal with topics from the field of international management, and a lot of the case studies focus on globalised companies. Students come from different countries and cultural backgrounds, further fostering internationalisation. Hence, studies occur in an environment that is international and intercultural.
Semester abroad
We strongly encourage you to take advantage of all available opportunities to gain your own international experienc.e Our cooperation agreements with an extensive number of excellent partner universities worldwide, including Erasmus agreements with a broad range of European universities, provide you with attractive options for spending your semester abroad. Students wishing to organise their semester abroad themselves can do so as a freemover. In addition to a semester abroad, you can enrich your studies by taking part in one of our short programmes such as WiSo@NYC or a summer school abroad, or complete an internship abroad with financial support offered by Erasmus.
Broad international network
With its balanced theoretical and practical approach, the internationally focused master’s programme prepares you for a career in international work environments and enables you to work for internationalised companies. In addition to this, the WiSo Faculty has a strong alumni network of former students working in all business segments across the globe.
Career Opportunities
Skills acquired in the MSc. marketing programme prepare you for future line and staff positions with respect to a broad set of marketing and management related tasks. Potential employers range from start-ups and small/medium sized companies to large and global corporations. Equally, our alumni are employed across all sectors and across all value chain stages, ranging across manufacturing, distribution, retailing, and services.
Studying at the WiSo Faculty offered me just the right mix of specialization in my majors and broad access to the variety of business and social issues – both at a very high level. I still benefit from that today.
Exemplary job opportunities
Product and Key Account Management
Market Research and Data Science
Digital and Online Marketing
Sales and Retail Management
Advertising
Customer Relationship Management
Trainee Programmes
Consulting
Academic Research
Start-ups
The idea of founding a start-up company is pursued by many Alumni of this MSc. programme at the University of Cologne: Robert Müller-Grünow (Scentcommunication GmbH), Johannes Partz (flüssiggas1.de), and Dr. Juliane Kronen (Innatura GmbH) are examples of successful former students who are engaged in the start-up environment. The WiSo Faculty and the University’s Excellence Start Up Center offer networking and idea-generation support if students are interested in forming a start-up company!
For all those who are interested in academic marketing research after finishing their master studies, the marketing area provides students with competitive master results the possibility for a postgraduate programme (Ph.D.).
For students the WiSo Student Service Point offers not only advice on studying but also support on all aspects of career choice, career planning and the application process:
WiSo Student Service Point Phone: +49 (0) 221/470-8818
