I have done undergraduate in both Marketing and Supply Chain from the United States. I am now looking to do a post graduate in the UK. I have narrowed my choices down to MSc Marketing (brand management) at Stirling University or MSc Marketing Management at Bradford University. I see Stirling is ranked higher in the complete university guide ratings but Bradford has a triple accreditation. Which one is the better program? Which will lead to better prospects in both the UK and overseas? Please help me!

I highly appreciate any help.

Thanks in Advance!

[Edited by BrandMkt on Jul 09, 2015]

Bradford's MSc is certainly much better. The CUG is a useful guide to undergraduate options.

For better overseas options, aim for better schools like Warwick, Lancaster, Aston, Birmingham and Cranfield.

Hi Duncan,

Thanks for your reply, I am interested in doing a course in Brand Management and therefore I had picked the universities that were offering the couse. In Warwick I was unable to get the program of my choice due to my undergraduate degree (the MSc in Business (marketing) was going to be of the same material as my undergrad in supply chain and marketing). I was not accepted into Lancaster or Aston. I am more interested in employability of the program and Stirling laid out all their program and their strengths.

It's certainly an interesting school, and its strong emphasis on PR and journalism gives it an interesting perspective. I'd also look off the beaten track. The MSc in innovation at Central St Martin's is very powerful. The Norwich Business School branding MSc is great, and the Solvay and UCD programmes are excellent for brand-driven creative marketing.

Thanks!

The options you have suggested look interesting and will look into them more. Another question I had was concerning the location of Stirling University. I found another course I am interested in at Stirling (MSc Marketing and Management for Retail). My goal is to work in the UK in a similar field, so would being in London give me an advantage with that aspect?

The UK is a small country, Most people live in the square that is south-east of Birmingham. It's certainly harder to find work from Scotland with London-headquartered organisations. But I would not a worse school simply for a better location. There are some comparable London schools: Kingston, Brunel, and Westminster all come to mind: I think they all have CIM recognition.

I have an offer from Kingston University London for MS in Marketing and Brand Management. Would you say that the employability of Kingston would then surpass that of Stirling? On another note, I applied into UCD for MSc Digital Marketing and will be notified of their decision by the middle of next week. Can you please rate these three programs from 1-3, 1 being the best in terms of reputation and employability.

I really appreciate all your help thus far. This insight is really valuable!

[Edited by BrandMkt on Jul 11, 2015]

I think these factors are rather specific to the candidate, so I wouldn'y do a ranking like that without looking at your background and goals. What I would say is that a programme in digital marketing is too narrow. All marketing includes a digital element, but a full degree in just that topic limits you to execution roles too much. Look at the UCD MSc in marketing practise.

Hi Duncan,
Thanks for your previous reply

I am leaning towards the digital marketing course because its offering me skills that i would like to have but was not taught in my undergraduate degree. I am interested in learning the CRM analytics and SEO skills needed to be successful. It seems the Marketing Practice becomes too broad whereas if you have already done marketing you should look to focus in on a field.

Think over your goals.