Hi All,

I am enrolled for my full time MBA starting in October this year. I have experience of 8 years in Marketing analytics. However I am looking for a career in marketing consulting after my MBA. Now since I have good 4-5 months left before i begin my MBA, can anybody suggest a certification course (full time in India or online) in marketing which could help me to make my case strong post MBA. It could be any good known marketing certification and not necessary in market consulting since I know a market consultant is expected to have a knowledge of all areas digital marketing, market research, advertising etc. I want to utilize my time and prepare myself even before i begin my MBA.
Any advise would be highly appreciated

Are you taking your MBA at good school for marketing? If so, the certificate won't be needed. If not, why not study elsewhere.

In terms of online options, this is excellent: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/digital-marketing

Also the CIM has very good programmes online.

Hi Duncan,

I would be taking my MBA programme at Lancaster University. I have seen your few posts suggesting Lancaster as one of the best for Msc Advanced Marketing in UK so I believe it's a good business school for marketing. Additionally, Lancaster's relationship with Saatchi & Saatchi also vouch for University's reputation in Marketing. Moreover, The complete university guide regard Lancaster as 2nd best in UK for Marketing. Lastly, LinkedIn also provides data in support of Lancaster when we filter for marketing roles. All these factors combined motivated me to finalize Lancaster. I have some time left before I begin my programme, so I thought I could utilize my time and pursue some certification course. But I dont want to start with 1 year or more time duration certification (Like CIM) since It would be difficult to continue with it once the MBA starts. So I am looking for a short course like 3-4 months. However do you suggest anything better to utilize my time before I begin my MBA?

[Edited by dareee_2_b_different on Apr 28, 2016]

Are you taking your MBA at good school for marketing? If so, the certificate won't be needed. If not, why not study elsewhere.

In terms of online options, this is excellent: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/digital-marketing

Also the CIM has very good programmes online.

Hi Duncan,

just curious to know did you guide me to coursera catalog or specific course: Digital Marketing Specialization from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign?

Yes, it's the digital marketing specialisation at UIUC. It's an entire MBA concentration, so very powerful. But Lancaster is great, as you say.

Yes, it's the digital marketing specialisation at UIUC. It's an entire MBA concentration, so very powerful. But Lancaster is great, as you say.

Thank you so much Duncan...I will try to enroll in specific courses from UIUC one by one and I am hoping to finish maximum part of the concentration if not all, rest I can finish during my break in MBA or post MBA whenever I can get time. I am glad that you agree with my choice of MBA for my career goals. I must say thank you and send words to all others here that Duncan's guidance - sometime directly to me or sometime by reading his suggestion to others- helped me a lot in making a choice I am satisfied with. We cant deny this fact that this guy takes out time to reply to almost every single post out here. I would be honored Duncan if sometime in UK we can catch up, of course If you would be in UK. I would always like to stay in touch with you! Thanks for all your valuable suggestions to students.

[Edited by dareee_2_b_different on Apr 29, 2016]

Thank you. I work at the University of Edinburgh: you're always welcome to stop by.