Marketing

Marketing from a Strategic Perspective

The Master’s in Marketing programme takes you on a journey in which you challenge yourself to look further in areas of marketing theory, research, and practice. You will learn to think strategically, create an understanding of how superior value can be created for customers and other stakeholders while achieving organizational goals.

Your programme in a nutshell

First semester

The journey begins by understanding how a sustainable competitive edge is obtained by creating value for customers and society. Rather than focusing on ‘recipes for success’, the emphasis is on looking further: Understanding why something works. This not only calls for profound comprehension of analytical techniques, but also leads to a journey which takes you deeper in the worlds of consumer and business-to-business marketing, either product or service, thus enabling you to address marketing challenges in an increasingly complex international environment.

Second semester

Academic skills are developed throughout the programme, enabling you to analyze, comprehend and reflect. Practical skills are developed as well, by solving (real-life) cases, playing a management game and working in teams. You will apply these skills during specialization courses and seminars on topics that you choose, such as strategy, innovation, cross-cultural research, geomarketing and consumer decision making. The Master’s thesis is the ultimate part of your journey, enabling you to research an exciting problem and make a real difference in the field.

Why study Marketing at VU University Amsterdam?

We are LOOKING FURTHER…

... Education with a view

The Master of Science in Marketing at VU University Amsterdam is a specialized programme with an intrinsic emphasis on strategic issues. Understanding the long-term impact of marketing beyond short-term profits is essential to the programme. As a marketing department, we want to look further and offer education with a view: It is not only ambitious in its aim to develop clear and conceptual thinking, to improve analytical skills and to strengthen project management skills, but it is also geared toward translating marketing theory into practice. We believe that the development of both practical and academic skills paves the way to a successful professional career. In addition to that, we care about and are strongly involved with our students and the marketing community.

... Being part of the Marketing Community

The Master of Science programme is characterized by a stimulating working environment in which interaction with fellow students and student involvement of our faculty members will help you achieve your highest intellectual potential.
As a marketing department that is strongly engaged with its students, we are keen on remaining involved after our master students finish the programme and develop their professional career. Therefore, we have initiated an active VU Marketing Alumni Society.

... Work with experts

Our faculty members stand for the highest quality in teaching. In the last 3 years (2011-2013), our department delivered 4 FEWEB finalists, 1 VU finalist and 1 FEWEB's Best lecturer Award.

By interacting with our professors you will be encouraged, inspired and challenged to innovate and look beyond current wisdom. Our faculty members are active researchers who publish in leading academic business journals about a broad range of topics. Topics range from classical marketing topics on innovation, services, and marketing channels to managerial decision making, social marketing and consumer psychology. Moreover, we do not believe in marketing as a science that is strictly separated from the real world. Instead, we view marketing as a challenging field of scientific inquiry that needs to influence – and be influenced by – the dynamic society we live in. Combining research excellence and practical relevance is essential to the faculty, and it will be of tremendous benefit to you as a student in the programme.

There are strict admission criteria. These are set by the Admissions Board, which also decides on individual applications. The requirements are split up into Master specific requirements and general requirements (faculty website). Please read them both carefully.VU University Amsterdam requires all applicants to take an English test and to submit their score as a part of the application. In order for you to be admitted unconditionally you must send us a certificate from a recognised authority concerning your proficiency in English including the writing/composition test (e.g. TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge International Examinations CAE: A/B or CPE: A/B/C). Check the detailed Language Requirements. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 CAE score: (read more) Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) is part of the Cambridge English suite and is targeted at a high level (IETLS 6.5-8.0). It is an international English language exam set at the right level for academic and professional success. Developed by Cambridge English Language Assessment - part of the University of Cambridge - it helps you stand out from the crowd as a high achiever. 75 (Grade B) TOEFL paper-based test score : 580 TOEFL iBT® test: 92

Scholarships / Grants:

VU University Amsterdam:
VU University Amsterdam awards its own scholarships to outstanding students joining our international Master's degree programmes. The VU Fellowship is an amount of money between 2.500 and 15.000 Euros to cover a part of the study expenses. The general criteria for selection are excellence, motivatio
For additional information: Website

Accreditation

Accredited by: NVAO in: The Netherlands