Discover the QS World University Rankings: Masters in Marketing Rankings 2021

Having earned a number-one spot in the new edition of the QS Business Masters Rankings 2019: Marketing, the Columbia Business School is currently the world’s best business school for the subject. It’s followed by nine other institutions which make up the top 10 and include seven in Europe (three of which are in the UK and two in France), and two more in the US. Each of the schools is ranked based on five indicators which include employability, alumni outcomes, value for money, thought leadership, and diversity. 

The schools’ positions in the top 10, however, undoubtedly place them at the forefront of high academic and social standards, and with that, hopeful applicants may expect to put in quite a bit of work to impress.

Are you thinking of applying to the world’s top business school for master’s in marketing degrees but feeling a little nervous about the unpredictable outcome of your application? Read on to find out more about your likelihood of getting accepted.

1. Columbia Business School

Columbia Business School claims first place this year for its MS in Marketing Science course, and with an acceptance rate of just six percent, admissions to the school are undoubtedly very competitive. In 2018, only 20 out of 338 applications received were accepted, which meant an entering class size of just 16 students (including eight female students).

To be considered for admission, applicants must submit a series of important documents (including a non-refundable application fee of US$100) by January 7 2019 for Fall 2019 entry.

2. Imperial College Business School

In second place for its master’s in marketing course is Imperial College Business School in London.

Its MSc Strategic Marketing program is described as intensive and demanding, with very competitive admission. Applicants are expected to hold a First or Second Class Honors undergraduate degree from a recognized university (or international equivalent) in a variety of disciplines, and must thoroughly answer the career planning questions included in the application. A strong command of the English language is essential. Although not a requirement, any relevant work experience will add significant weight to your application and must be included if you’ve undertaken any.  

3. HEC Paris School of Management

Ranked third in this year’s master’s in marketing ranking, HEC Paris is an international and diverse business school with a world-class reputation for its various degrees and programs in business.

Its MSc in Marketing course delivers a unique and fulfilling learning experience, with the additional benefit of practical learning. To be accepted to study here, you’re typically expected to be fluent in English, and possess a degree in a relevant field from a top institution.

After submitting the required documents online – including a non-refundable application fee of €110 (~US$126) – pre-selected candidates will be invited for a face-to-face or Skype interview. (Get advice on preparing for an admission interview here.)

4. ESADE Business School

Located in Barcelona, Spain, ESADE Business School grabbed fourth spot in the master’s in marketing rankings this year for its MSc in Marketing Management course. However, despite its prestigious reputation, the acceptance rate at this school is a lot higher than most of its rivals, at a reassuring 61 percent, according to a 2018 report by Forbes.

To be admitted, applicants must be proficient in English and should hold an undergraduate degree which entitles them to undertake postgraduate studies in the degree-granting country. Those without a business management or economics academic background need to enrol in the Business Integration Path (BIP).

5. ESCP Europe Business School

Next in the master’s in marketing ranking is ESCP Europe Business School. Its MSc in Marketing and Creativity course offers a unique and unconventional approach to studying marketing, allowing students to combine analytical thinking and management skills with creativity.

For admission, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, as well as a minimum of 18 months of professional work experience in a customer-related role. Along with a list of supporting documents, references will also need to be provided, and should include one academic or professional, and one from a current or previous employer.

6. Alliance Manchester Business School

In sixth place this year for its MSc Marketing course is Alliance Manchester Business School, which has an overall acceptance rate of 60 percent, according to a 2018 report by Forbes.

Entry to the MSc Marketing course requires a First or Second Class Honors degree from a reputable UK university (the reputation of the institution were you studied is taken into consideration) or the overseas equivalent, and must include a personal statement along with supporting documents (listed here) and a non-refundable application fee of £60 (US$78). If English isn’t your first language, then an up-to-date English language test score must be provided.

7. McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin

The McCombs School of Business is the seventh best institution for studying marketing, with a total of 35 students studying in its MSc in Marketing class of 2019 (63 percent of which are female).

Because of both its high rank and the limited number of places, entry to the MSc in Marketing course is very competitive. In the 2016/2017 admission statistics for McCombs, only 1,960 of 7,759 applicants were admitted, and of that, just 998 were enrolled.

The school admits that not every applicant will gain admission, however, those who are will find that their efforts to get accepted will pay off, both during their university years and for many years to come.

8. USC Marshall School of Business

Situated at the heart of the vibrant and cultural city of Los Angeles, USC Marshall School of Business is a top-ranking private business school. Placed eighth for its MSc in Marketing course, the school received 277 applications for the course in 2018, and accepted a total of 52 students, making the acceptance rate only 18 percent.

For students looking to gain admission to the MSc in Marketing class of 2020, they should have completed a four-year undergraduate degree, and must provide academic transcripts, a professional résumé, a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, GMAT or GRE test scores, and a complete online application fee of US$155.

9. Vlerick Business School

Vlerick Business School belongs to a select group of business schools which hold all three major international accreditation labels when it comes to management education. It also currently ranks ninth in the world for its Master in Marketing Management course, which aims to provide a dynamic and tangible learning experience.

Group sizes on this course are relatively small and applicants must display ambition, academic strength, managerial potential, and how they’d be the right fit for the course and the school as whole.  

Learn more about helping yourself to prepare for the admission tests and increase your chances of being accepted.

10. Warwick Business School (WBS)

Warwick Business School is located in the city of Coventry in central England. It’s one of the globe’s most reputable business schools and this year, ranks 10^th in the world for its MSc Marketing and Strategy course.

As well as a good command of the English language, applicants must hold – or be expecting to obtain – at least an upper second class honors at undergraduate level, and should’ve studied marketing and/or strategy. A GMAT or GRE score isn’t necessary, however, a high score of 700+ is very likely to strengthen your application.   

The full application process can be found here.

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.

The first ever ranking of the QS Mainland China University Rankings, released today, sees almost 100 Chinese universities feature among the best on the Chinese mainland. This new ranking was based on a methodology which assesses national employer and academic reputations, research impact, percentage of international students and more.  Read on as we count down to discover the 10 highest ranked Chinese universities in 2019, and find out more about studying in China here.

10. Harbin Institute of Technology

Ranked 10^th in the new Mainland China University Rankings, Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) was also ranked joint 285^th in the latest QS World University Rankings®. HIT was founded in 1920 and is made up of three campuses in Harbin, Weihai and Shenzhen. A member of the prestigious C9 League of elite Chinese universities, HIT earns its strongest score of the five methodology indicators for the papers per faculty category, and is known for its bold and innovative scientific research in the engineering sciences, space and defense.

9. Wuhan University

Wuhan University claims ninth place in the new ranking, earning its strongest score for the employer reputation category, and also received a position of joint 257^th in the world university rankings. Established in 1893, Wuhan consistently features in lists of both the overall top 10 Chinese universities and the most beautiful campuses in Asia. It’s highly involved in international co-operations, having established agreements with hundreds of universities worldwide, while every year more than 2,000 students take part in exchange programs at partner institutions.

8. Sun Yat-sen University

Heading to the south of China, Sun Yat-sen University, located in Guangzhou in the Guangdong province, is eighth in the Mainland China University Rankings this year and was featured at joint 295^th in the World University Rankings. It was ranked fifth on the mainland for the ‘staff with PhD’ indicator, and is known for having one of only three triple-accredited business schools in China. It’s also the home of the world’s second-fastest supercomputer, as well as the largest affiliated hospital system on the mainland.

7. Nanjing University

Ranked seventh in mainland China and joint 122^nd in the world, Nanjing University was founded in 1902 as the Sanjiang Normal School and gained its current name in 1950. It now has around 33,000 students and enjoys a high level of prestige, earning its best scores in the academic reputation and staff with PhD indicators. It’s known for its stringent admission criteria, leading national media to call it the most selective university in mainland China.

6. Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) is ranked sixth in the Mainland China University Rankings and joint 59^th in the World University Rankings, and is another member of the C9 League to make this list. Established in 1896, SJTU has around 48,900 students enrolled, including 2,400 international students, and is particularly well-regarded for its engineering programs. As well as earning perfect scores for its employer and academic reputations, it achieves the strongest score in China for the papers per faculty indicator.

5. Zhejiang University

Located in the picturesque city of Hangzhou in the eastern Zhejiang province, Zhejiang University is ranked fifth among the top universities in China and was also placed 68^th in the most recent World University Rankings. Zhejiang is made up of seven campuses, with most first and second-year undergraduates living at the Zijin'gang Campus, which is the largest single university campus in mainland China. Zhejiang’s university library boasts a collection of more than seven million volumes, making it one of the largest academic libraries in the region.  

4. University of Science and Technology of China

University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), a national research university located in the city of Hefei in eastern China, is ranked fourth in the mainland China ranking and 98^th in the world in 2019. Established in 1958 (meaning it celebrated its 60^th anniversary this year), USTC receives its best scores in the two indicators measuring research productivity and research impact (citations per faculty and citations per faculty member), and is regarded as China’s ‘Cradle of Scientific Elites’.

3. Fudan University

Heading to Shanghai for the next in our look at the top universities in China, Fudan University is ranked third in mainland China and has consistently been ranked within the global top 50 of the world university rankings for the last three years. Fudan was established in 1905 as Fudan Public School, and merged with Shanghai Medical University in 2000. As well as being a C9 League university, Fudan is a member of Universitas 21, a consortium of research-intensive universities.

2. Peking University

Peking University, located in Chinese capital Beijing, is mainland China’s second highest-ranked institution and is also ranked 30^th in the world in 2019. It earns the best scores for the employer and academic reputation indicators, as well as one of the highest scores in this list for the international student category. Founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking, Peking University is the oldest university in China and is renowned for having one of the most beautiful university campuses on the mainland, with traditional Chinese architecture and gardens dating back to the Qing Dynasty.

1. Tsinghua University

Staying in Beijing, this year’s number one among the top universities in China is Tsinghua University, which was also ranked 17^th (and first in China) in the QS World University Rankings® 2019. Since its founding in 1911, Tsinghua has educated some of the most prominent Chinese leaders in politics, business, academia, and culture, including two Nobel Prize winners. Following the motto of ‘Self-Discipline and Social Commitment’, the university is committed to the advancement and well-being of both the nation and the world. Like its rival, Peking University, Tsinghua is known for having one of the mainland’s most picturesque campuses, with a mix of both traditional and Western styles, with the latter reflecting the American influence on its history.

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.

In case the recent QS Business Masters Rankings 2019 wasn’t exciting enough, QS will this month release the annual QS World University Rankings by Region, as well as the first ever Rankings by Location for India and Mainland China, with the latter launching on October 11. The Rankings by Region aims to highlight the top universities in some of the world’s fastest-growing regions, and consists of the QS BRICS University Rankings, the QS Asia University Rankings, the QS Latin America University Rankings, the QS EECA University Rankings and the QS Arab Region University Rankings. Read on to find out more about what you can expect from each of these.

QS Rankings by Location

New for 2019 are the QS Mainland China University Rankings and the QS India University Rankings, with the China ranking launching on October 11, while the India ranking will launch on October 16. 75 universities feature in the India ranking, and 100 are highlighted in the Mainland China ranking. The results of these new Location Rankings have been compiled based on the QS BRICS University Rankings, and therefore the same methodology and weightings are used for both.

And on October 23, the first ever QS South Korea University Rankings and QS Japan University Rankings will be released. Both of these rankings are based on the results of the QS Asia University Rankings, which will be published the following day. 

And finally, the QS Mexico University Rankings will launch on October 25, with the results based on the QS Latin America University Rankings.

BRICS

The QS BRICS University Rankings 2019 will launch on October 16, extended this year to feature 400 universities in Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, making it the biggest BRICS launch yet. Last year’s edition saw Chinese universities dominate, taking all but three of the top 10 positions, but with Indian entrants such as Indian Institute of Technology Bombay continuing to climb in the QS World University Rankings®, will China perform as well this year?

Asia

First published in 2009, the QS Asia University Rankings 2019 will be launched on October 24 and will be the biggest launch yet, featuring 500 universities (extended from 400) in 17 locations. The methodology is similar to the QS World University Rankings®, with some additional indicators and adapted weightings. A total of 10 indicators are used to compile this ranking, including the proportion of staff with a PhD and the proportions of inbound and outbound exchange students. Nanyang Technological University, Singapore was the highest-ranked Asian university in the 2018 edition, but will it hold on to the top spot?

Latin America

Although it’s frequently dominated by Brazilian institutions (with 83 entrants out of the 385 universities in the ranking), last year’s QS Latin America University Rankings was actually topped by a Chilean institution - Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Will it retain its position this year, or be overtaken by a rival Latin American institution such as Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp)? Find out when the results go live on October 31.

Arab region

Launched annually since 2014, the latest edition of the QS Arab Region University Rankings will feature 120 universities, extended from 100 in last year’s edition, with each institution ranked based on eight indicators. Lebanon’s American University of Beirut was number one in the region in 2018, but will face fierce competition from the likes of Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals. Check back on October 31 to find out the results.

Emerging Europe & Central Asia

Also launching on October 31, the QS EECA University Rankings 2019 will highlight 300 of the most prestigious universities in the EECA countries, based on a methodology which assesses institutions on eight indicators. This ranking has consistently been dominated by Russian universities, with Lomonosov Moscow State University ranking first for three years in a row, but will it achieve first place for a fourth time?

To make sure you don’t miss the results, follow us on Twitter and Facebook (and join the conversation with #QSWUR), or create an account to receive our email newsletters.

While Sydney is a spectacular city with so much to offer, there are so many amazing areas nearby which are perfect for a weekend getaway, away from the hustle and bustle. From mountain ranges to white sandy beaches, you wouldn’t think that all of these things are right in your backyard.

Almost all of these spots are easily accessible by public transport, or by the easy hire of a vehicle if you don’t already have one. And the best part is, after you arrive, they are basically 100 percent free of charge to explore – it doesn’t get much better than that!

Explore the Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains are one of the most popular day trips outside of Sydney, only an hour away from the city’s Central Business District (CBD). They’re easily accessible by car, bus, and train, making them the perfect day trip for those without a car. There are also a ton of different tours that depart from the city daily. With scenic views of Australia’s own Grand Canyon, an array of waterfalls, and vibrant botanical gardens, this day trip has something for everyone. And if you’re in the mood for a pampering session, there’s also a day spa for a little rest and relaxation.

Go surfing at Palm Beach

The famous Palm Beach is home to the most spectacular coastal views, hiking, and some of the best surfing in Australia. The famous hike that takes you up to the panoramic view of both beaches is a must do when you visit for a day. It’s only an hour away from Sydney, making it the perfect weekend getaway to relax and get away from the commotion of the city. You can take a car or take a bus that’ll only cost you a few dollars.

Hike through Royal National Park

The Royal National Park has heaps of different areas to explore in order to recharge, unplug, and get back to nature. There are coastal walks that stretch for miles, waterfalls to take a dip in, a ton of bushland to hike through, cycling, and opportunity to rent canoes to paddle down the Hacking River. If you visit between May and November, you can also catch a glimpse of whales migrating north for the winter. It’s the perfect day for those wanting to get away from city life in order to enjoy all that Mother Nature has to offer.

Visit the white-sand beaches of Jervis Bay

Located a short two-hour drive outside the city, Jervis Bay is known to have the whitest sand in the world, along with clear turquoise waters that are perfect for a day of snorkeling or scuba diving. The beaches are surrounded by the stunning bushland of Jervis Bay National Park, making it a nature lover’s paradise. This spot is never very crowded, despite its reputation for world-renowned beaches, so if you’re looking for a more tranquil beach experience, this is the place for you.

Go wine tasting in the Hunter Valley

Just over a two-hour drive north of Sydney lies the Hunter Valley, one of Australia’s best wine regions, jam packed with spots to taste some vino and enjoy a day exploring the vineyards. There are various ways in which you can experience this stunning region, from hot air balloon rides, horseback riding, or simply hopping from winery to winery enjoying the food and wine. While this activity isn’t exactly free, there are many different tours and packages you can choose from to make the most of your day here and get bang for your buck. You can choose a tour that departs from Sydney, join a tour once you reach the valley, or just go exploring on your own!

Take in the views at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park

Established in 1894, this is Australia’s second oldest National Park. It is only 25km north from Sydney’s central business district, and so easily accessible for a days’ adventure. The park is amazing, with rainforest, cliffs, Aboriginal sites, secluded beaches, walking tracks, and mountain biking trails.

This national park is filled with walks that will satisfy both seasoned hikers and those who are mainly in it for the pictures. The views are insane, and there are a range of levels for hikes located throughout the park. Popular walks include Berowra to Mount Kuring-gai via Apple Tree Bay; West Head Lookout to Great Mackerel Beach; Bobbin Head, Sphinx and Warrimoo Loop Track; and the Resolute Loop Track.

Additional reporting by Megan Dye.

Want more content like this? Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.