Masters in Marketing Strategy

Our Masters in Marketing Strategy programme runs full-time from early September until the end of June - entailing 60 ECTS credits. Classes take place from 9am to 5.30pm and include a dynamic mix of learning from business managers and specialized professors, working on real-life business cases, going on company visits and field trips, and engaging in hands-on experiments with new technologies & data analysis tools. 

Our active learning approach involves many assignments in small teams and thus requires mandatory attendance, 100% motivation, and the willingness to work hard.  

The Vlerick Marketing Masters is designed for those who are passionate about understanding and engaging with customers. In today's competitive landscape, successful marketing strategies are driven by deep data analysis and the effective use of customer interface technologies. 

At the heart of these strategies are well-defined customer insights, which are harnessed through innovative, creative marketing concepts. The aim is to train versatile marketers, skilled both in hard (data-driven) marketing and soft (creative strategy) marketing. 

By following our optional Career Acceleration Track you can add an internship of up to 6 months allowing you to gain relevant industry experience and stand out from competition.

Get a full overview of all different courses here

The Vlerick experience blends action learning and personal development.  This means that ‘learning-by-doing’ and ‘skill-building’ components are present throughout the whole Masters (from Sept to June).

Action learning

Learn to leverage theoretical notions in practical use cases:

• Interactive classes 
• Pragmatic sessions involving business guests as lecturers, coaches and sounding boards. 
• Insightful business simulations (e.g., NextGen Ideation Marketing Battle)
• Real-life cases and challenges (e.g., in collaboration with Nescafé Dolce Gusto)
• Field visits (e.g., to advertising agencies as TBWA and the company sites of Coca-Cola and Barco) 
• Hands-on experiences with new technology (e.g., Virtual Reality, IOT,…)
• An international business trip 

 Highlights of the programme include: 

• International digital marketing trip to Dublin: A one-week trip to Dublin (i.e., the city that hosts multiple European headquarters of tech industry companies) includes visiting leading marketing companies like Google, LinkedIn and Microsoft). 
• In-company Project (ICP): Over the final three months of the programme you take up the role of a junior consultant and work with your team on a real marketing business challenge. You are guided by a Vlerick professor and a business manager from the host company.

Personal development

Make the leap from student to professional by growing managerial & marketing business skills 

• Learn from continuous feedback and coaching… and also learn to provide constructive feedback 
• Develop managerial skills (e.g., negotiation skills, public speaking skills, leadership skills) 
• Develop specific marketing business skills (e.g., image editing, video editing, marketing budgeting, SEO/SEA techniques, Power BI techniques…)
• Benefit from comprehensive career services 
• Attend multiple networking opportunities 

Highlights of the programme include: 

• My Vlerick Development Portfolio: Gain insight into your own strengths and weaknesses, be challenged to reflect and take actions to improve. 
• Management Skills: During three days you will focus on leadership development and the management skills you need for the digital age.
• Diversity and inclusion: Understand your own assumptions, biases and preconceived ideas about how the world works – or should work. Discover which behaviours are acceptable, open your mind – and begin to develop a broader world view. 
• Benefit from Career Coaching: Stay aligned to the current global job market and discover which marketing positions are suited for you. Learn how to make a difference and explore your true potential. 

See a full overview of all the courses here

• Prepare yourself for a successful career in customer management, marketing or sales, and the possibility to grow into a leadership role in the long term. 
• Develop the strategic skills to become an all-round marketer who excels in customer management - based on data-driven decision-making, creative thinking, and cutting-edge knowledge of new technologies and innovative practices.
• Sharpen your sales skills as an active member of the Vlerick Sales Club.
• Benefit from learning alongside a highly diverse community of students, faculty, alumni and corporate partners from around the globe.
• Put your knowledge and skills to the test throughout a challenging three-month marketing consultancy project for a company of your choice. 
• Stand out and kick-start your global career by taking a double degree in two countries (Belgium & the United States) at our renowned partner school Darla Moore School of Business.

Curious to find out what it means to study at Vlerick? Discover what it’s like to study in Belgium – and get practical information on how to organise your stay. 

Here’s a snapshot of our MMS alumni success in the job market:

Take a look at the career prospects for our Masters in Marketing Strategy graduates:

• International FMCG companies such as P&G, Unilever, Nestlé, Coca-Cola and AB Inbev
• Key areas in marketing, e.g. marketing strategy, digital advertising, branding strategy, sales, and strategic marketing planning
• A wide variety of roles, such as Junior Product Manager, Brand Manager, Marketing Analyst, Account Manager, Business Development Manager, Market Researcher, Marketing Consultant, Business Information and Data Analyst. In the long term, the programme aims to provide foundations to grow to the role of Marketing Director, Creative Director or CMO (Chief Marketing Officer). 

Define your career goals and how to match them with the jobs market with the help of: 

• Meetings with potential recruiters in Dublin, the digital marketing hotspot of Europe 
• Practical workshops 
• Career clubs and competitions 
• One-to-one coaching 
• Career and networking events 

Take a look at our full career services offer 

Are you:

• A recent university graduate with limited or no work experience? 
• An aspiring digital expert with a passion for products, brands and/or data?  
• Inspired by the power of data to transform products, brands and even whole markets? 
• Keen to use your skills to make a genuine impact on the business world? 

Then you’re a perfect fit for a Masters in Marketing Strategy at Vlerick. Together with a diverse group of peers who share your passion for marketing, you’ll dive into both the creative and analytical side of this exciting, fast-moving function.

Our recent cohort for the Masters in Marketing Strategy looked like this: 

Educational background

Start date: 1 September 2025 
Duration: 10 months (from September until June) 
Location: Ghent  
Application deadline non-EU citizens: 30 April 2025

The tuition fee for this Masters programme is €20,500.

This includes:  

• Dublin trip (including accommodation, breakfast and the transport to company visits)   
• Company visits 
• Travel between different campuses for mandatory programme events 
• One year of access to the full Adobe Suite such as Photoshop, Premiere Pro, InDesign, Acrobat, etc.
• One year of full online access to the Financial Times and The New York Times

The fee does not include the cost of travelling abroad (f.e. flight and airport transfer) for the Dublin trip, any visa costs or living expenses or the costs for any optional modules abroad you may choose as part of your programme. 

Financing your Masters 

Joining a Vlerick programme can be a significant financial investment. But there are many financing options available to help towards your tuition fees – and we’re here to help you explore what types of support you might be eligible for. We process applications for our Masters programmes on a rolling basis as of October, for the September intake. If you want to be considered for one of our full scholarships, make sure to submit your scholarship application together with your programme application before February.

Academic Excellence Scholarships

Academic Merit Scholarship

• Purpose: Reward students with an excellent academic track record
• Requirements:
  • Belgian degrees: Study results equal to great or greatest distinction at Bachelor’s level.
  • Non-Belgian degrees: Study results within the top 20% of the class at Bachelor’s level.
  • Outstanding GMAT/GMAT Focus (> 700/> 655) or GRE (> 164 quantitative and > 163 verbal) scores (for specialized programs only).
• Scholarship: Up to 50% of the tuition fee.
  

Diversity & Equality Scholarship

Equal Opportunity Scholarship: 

• Purpose: Encourage social diversity and individual commitment.
• Requirements: Represent diversity (e.g., minority group, underprivileged community) or actively promote diversity and inclusion by engaging in long-term initiatives that have a clear social impact.
• Scholarship: Up to 50% of the tuition fee, with a chance to receive one full scholarship sponsored by alumnus Jan Toye. Applicants who fit the criteria will be automatically considered for this full scholarship.
   

Need-based Scholarship

Financial need scholarship: 

• Purpose: Support students with financial need.
• Requirements:
  • A realistic financial plan.
  • Proof of financial need (e.g. previous scholarships or grants).
  • This scholarship can be combined with any other scholarships
• Scholarship: Amount and allocation decided on a case-by-case basis. Full scholarships sponsored by MGM1973, MGM1990, MGM1999 alumni (three full scholarships), and 3d Investors (three full scholarships). Applicants who fit the criteria will be automatically considered for this full scholarship.

 If you're planning to apply for a scholarship, make sure you apply early and submit your scholarship applications alongside your application file. Please check the application form for full conditions.

Loans 

You may consider getting a loan to cover your programme fees. 

• Regular loans: A loan from your bank could cover your tuition fees – get in touch with them for more information.  
• Prodigy Finance loans: Our partner Prodigy Finance offer loans to international students at the world’s top business schools. These loans could cover your living expenses and 100% of your tuition fees, minus any scholarship you may be awarded. Learn more  

Paying in instalments   

You can choose to pay your tuition fees in three separate instalments in November, February and April.

If you want to pay by instalments, you need to sign a contract and pay an admin fee of €250.

There are four steps to start your Vlerick journey: 

1. Check your eligibility 

What you need: 

• Candidates studying in Belgium need a Masters degree from a recognised institution  
• Candidates from outside Belgium can apply with a Masters degree or a 3 to 4-year Bachelor degree from a recognised institution (there may be additional requirements too)

Our Masters programmes are designed for young graduates, with an average age of 23 and little-to-no professional experience. If you have questions about your eligibility, please contact our admissions team. 

2. Submit your application 

We process applications on a rolling basis from October, for the following September intake. If you need a visa to study in Belgium, we expect your application by 30 April at the latest for the following September intake.

Complete your personal details and upload all necessary documents to our application tool. If you don’t need a visa to study in Belgium, you have until June to apply. However, we advise early application as we allocate places on a first come, first served basis. 

3. Take your admissions test 

There are three elements in your admissions test:  

1. Online Test  – we accept our own in-house abstract reasoning test (and numerical reasoning if applicable), GMAT (minimum 555) or GRE (157 verbal and 158 quantitative). 
2. Motivational interview – Using a standard set of questions, we assess the match between you, Vlerick and our programme. This interview takes place online and lasts about 20 minutes.
3. Knowledge interview – Vlerick faculty will ask you about your interest and insights into the field of studies you are applying for. This interview also takes place online and lasts about 20 minutes.

Want to prepare for your admissions test? – discover our tips and tricks.   

4. Register for the programme 

We’ll let you know within a week of your interview whether you’ve been admitted. You can request feedback on your application, whatever the outcome. Once you’ve been admitted, you can go ahead and register.

Discover what it’s like to study in Belgium – as well as practical information on how to organise your stay.