Top 10 Universities for Master's in Marketing Degrees in 2021

The QS World University Rankings: Business Masters Rankings includes the QS Masters in Marketing Rankings 2021, an index of 93 of the world’s best institutions for master’s in marketing degrees.

The marketing rankings are based on a methodology which assesses each institution’s employability, alumni outcomes, value for money, thought leadership and diversity, with data collected from a global survey of employers and other sources. 

Read on to discover the 10 highest ranked institutions for marketing or click here to view the full table.

10. WU Vienna University – Master’s in Marketing

In tenth place again this year, WU Vienna University scores particularly highly for alumni outcomes, reflecting the university’s commitment to helping students to excel in their future careers.

WU is triple accredited by EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA, one of only six universities in the German speaking world to achieve this. These prestigious accreditations are awarded to schools with outstanding research output, excellent connections to the business community, and an international outlook. After graduating students of the MSc Marketing program have excellent employment options in all marketing related professional fields and sectors, and most graduates find a full-time job within three months of graduating.

9. Manchester (Alliance) - MSc Marketing

Dropping five places in the rankings this year, but nonetheless still one of the best schools for marketing in the world, is the University of Manchester’s Alliance Business School. The university scores very highly for diversity and thought leadership (placing fourth in the world for this indicator). Alliance Manchester also scores highly for employability, with graduates working at firms such as Amazon, Dyson Ltd, Google, L’Oréal and Volkswagen Group UK. 

Manchester’s 12-month MSc Marketing course offers applicants a wide range of specialist pathways to choose from, and it even provides students with the opportunity to apply for an international exchange if they wish.

8. EMLyon Business School

With campuses in Lyon, Paris, Casablanca and Shanghai, EMLyon Business School has a truly global outlook. Their Masters in Transformation Digitale, Marketing & Strategie is a 13-month program, including a six-month internship. 

EMLyon gains its highest score in the value for money indicator, with the course highly focused on improving graduates’ employment prospects and transferrable skills. This means their employment rate is also high, with 90 percent of graduates employed six months after graduation.

7. EDHEC Business School

In seventh place in the master’s in marketing rankings is another French institution, EDHEC Business School, which climbs two places from last year. The university achieves its highest score in the value for money indicator, with its second highest score in employability. 

The Master in Marketing Management program at EDHEC is a one year full-time program, which includes a four to six-month internship. It also offers two concentrations: Entertainment & Services (with EDHEC’s learning partner Ubisoft) or Luxury & Fashion. 

6. Warwick Business School

Rising two places this year to sixth in the world is the UK’s Warwick Business School (WBS). Originally established in 1967 as the School of Industrial and Business Studies, the school has educated alumni which now hold management positions in corporate, government, and academic institutions around the world. 

WBS scores the highest in the ranking for the thought leadership indicator, with a near perfect score of 98.8. It also achieves high scores for both diversity and employability – with graduates going on to work for employers including: Amazon, CitiBank, Deloitte, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Rolls-Royce and Unilever (among others).

5. ESCP Business School

In fifth place in the world, and second in France, is ESCP Business School’s MSc in Marketing & Creativity. The university achieves its highest score in the ranking in employability, followed by diversity.

ESCP is the oldest business school in the world, established in 1819, and is a globally recognized prestigious business school, with a network of 120 partner universities. The program aims to put students’ learning into action through a minimum of four months’ work experience within a variety of potential employers, including companies such as L’Oréal, Apple, and Amazon.

4. ESADE Business School

Fourth in the world, and Spain’s only entrant in the top 10, is ESADE Business School, based in Barcelona. Their MSc in Marketing Management climbs three places in the table this year and achieves its highest scores in employability and alumni outcomes.

The university has a diverse class profile, with 95 percent non-Spanish students and 66 percent female students. Classes are small, with an average of 61 students, and the average age on the course is 23.

3. Imperial College Business School

Taking the bronze medal position, and the highest ranked university in the UK for marketing, is Imperial College Business School, which scores second in the rankings for employability and is located in the global business hub of London.

The school’s innovative and practical MSc Strategic Marketing course is designed to encourage and develop strategic thinking in future marketers and students also have the option of a work placement. An impressive 92 percent of graduates are employed within three months of graduating.

2. Columbia University

In second place, and the only US-based institution in the top 10 for marketing, is Columbia University, which achieves an incredible perfect score for alumni outcomes and the second-highest score in the rankings for thought leadership.

As an intensive, two-semester STEM eligible course with a primary focus on marketing analytics, Columbia’s MS in Marketing Science program is tailored to fit marketing researchers with a desire to acquire the same level of competence, technical skills and expertise provided in the coursework component of a PhD program.

1. HEC Paris

In first place globally for marketing again this year, with perfect scores in employability and alumni outcomes, is HEC Paris.

HEC Paris’ MSc in Marketing course provides aspiring marketers with the essential theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for a successful career in today’s professional world of marketing. Students are required to write a thesis in addition to completing a four-month period of work experience – which ensures graduates leave with a guaranteed level of confidence and professionalism in their field.