Masters in Digital Marketing 2024: Overview, Eligibility, Colleges, Career Opportunities

Updated on: Feb 12, 2024
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If you have just graduated and want to pursue Masters in Digital Marketing, then this blog has answers to all your questions.

A Master’s in Digital Marketing is a step beyond the basic understanding you’ve acquired in your Bachelor’s degree. While your undergraduate studies might have introduced you to the fundamentals of marketing, digital strategies, and consumer behaviour, a Master’s degree delves deeper. It enhances your skills by providing advanced knowledge and practical experience in digital marketing tools, analytics, and emerging trends.

Read till the end to understand everything about masters in digital marketing: eligibility, who should enroll, the admission process, how to choose the best college, top colleges/universities, career opportunities, alternate programs & much more. 

In addition to covering the broad scope of a Master’s in Digital Marketing, this blog will also delve into specific degrees such as an MSc in Digital Marketing and an MS in Digital Marketing. We will examine whether these specialized programs are worth the investment, comparing their curriculum, industry relevance, and potential impact on your career trajectory. This will help you make an informed decision about which academic path aligns best with your professional aspirations

Before wasting any more time, let’s get down to the first basic question: what is digital marketing?

What is Digital Marketing?

Digital marketing is about using digital channels to promote or advertise a business, product, or service to its target audience. 

It includes multiple strategies and marketing tactics to engage with its potential customers. 

Some key components of digital marketing are as follows:

  1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
  2. Search Engine Marketing (SEM)
  3. Social Media Marketing (SMM)
  4. Email Marketing 
  5. Content Marketing
  6. Affiliate Marketing

Benefits of doing a Masters in Digital Marketing:

Pursuing a masters in digital marketing helps an individual grow professionally and offers innumerable benefits in many ways. 

Here’s an elaborate list of skills one gains after doing a masters in digital marketing:

  1. Analytical Skills: With tons of data from Google, and Meta dashboards, marketers get to see numbers for different parameters. Keeping a check on data and creating strategies out of it develops the ability to analyze data. When you’re pursuing a digital marketing masters degree, you’ll get live projects where you need to run ads, analyze data, and strategically implement those findings. 
  2. Spoken and written communication: While doing a digital marketing master course, you’ll be collaborating with different people to work as a team. Doing this develops excellent communication skills
  3. Planning: The realm of digital marketing is dynamic and it evolves continuously with the new trends. Keeping an eye on all these and making decisions develops impeccable planning skills.
  4. Strategic thinking: Digital marketing postgraduate programs focus on strategic thinking, enabling students to develop an understanding of how marketing tactics will align with long-term business goals to gain maximum ROI.
  5. Gives Specialized Knowledge: Masters in digital marketing is a specialized program that provides in-depth knowledge of online marketing. Doing a course like this gives an upper hand to students in the industry as they would know in and out of online marketing.
  6. Networking Opportunity: Networking with the right people is crucial for professional growth. With a masters in digital marketing, one stands a chance to interact and network with fellow students, industry experts, professors, etc. This expands the thinking horizon of a person and gives them a new perspective to think and work.

Overview of Masters in Digital Marketing

Name Masters in Digital Marketing
Type of Accreditation Post Graduate Degree
Duration 1-2 years
Eligibility Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing or another field of study
Work Experience Not Required
Age Requirement Not Applicable
Entrance Exams No Common Entrance Exams such as GMAT or GRE are required. However, might need to give an aptitude test depending on the college.
Top Colleges IIDE, ITM Business School, IIKM Chennai
Fees INR 1-6 lakhs
Outcome Can work at mid to senior-level positions in the digital marketing industry


Also Read
: What are the best courses to pursue after graduation?

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Masters in Digital Marketing vs MBA in Digital Marketing

There’s a long-going debate about whether you should do a masters in digital marketing or an MBA in Digital Marketing. 

Let’s understand the similarities and differences between the two so that you can make an informed decision. 

Criteria Masters in Digital Marketing MBA in Digital Marketing
Duration 1-2 years 1-2 years
Syllabus Includes more advanced theoretical subjects. Focuses on the management & business aspect of subjects
Age Requirement None None
Work Experience Doesn’t require work experience. Some MBA programs do require a minimum 1-2 years of work experience depending upon the institute.
Outcome You can apply for mid to senior level executive jobs in digital marketing. You can apply for mid to senior level management jobs in digital marketing.

 

What is the eligibility criteria for Masters in Digital Marketing?

To be eligible for a masters in digital marketing program, you must be a graduate in the marketing field preferably. 

However, since digital marketing is dynamic in nature, art & science graduates pick it up as an additional skill. 

There is no minimum age requirement or work experience required if you want to pursue a master’s in digital marketing. However, some amount of work experience always helps. 

Since it is a postgraduate program, you will be expected to know the basics of digital marketing. 

Also, since it is not an MBA, you mostly don’t have to give a common entrance exam like CAT or GMAT. However, private institutes might include an aptitude test in this admission process. 

For example, you have to give IIDE’s IIDE Admissions Test once you fill out the application form for post graduation in digital marketing program.

What is the admission process for a Masters in Digital Marketing?

The admission process for a masters in digital marketing differs from institute to institute. However, after researching the admission processes of various institutes/colleges, here’s a generic overview of the admission process for masters in digital marketing:

  • Fill out the application form after you have decided on the institute from where you want to pursue a masters in digital marketing.
  • Once you submit your application, you can expect a call from the admissions team of that institute in 2-3 days.
  • You might have to give an aptitude test prepared by the institute itself. Since it is a post graduate program in digital marketing, you are expected to know the basics.
  • Next, if you are selected, you will be called for a personal interview round. You should prepare for some basic digital marketing questions & some career-oriented questions like where you see yourself in the next 5 years or why you want to learn digital marketing.
  • Lastly, if you are selected, you will be sent an offer letter from the institute. 

 This entire process can take anywhere from 3-4 weeks depending on the institute you have chosen. Also, if you are looking to relocate for masters in digital marketing to another city, it is recommended that you start applying atleast 1 month before the program starts.

Get 100% guaranteed placements after completing IIDE’s Post Graduation in Digital Marketing!

List of Top 9 Colleges Offering A Masters in Digital Marketing in 2023

Here’s the list of the top 9 colleges offering a masters in digital marketing in 2023 along with the details:

Institutes/Colleges Duration EMI Starting at
IIDE 11 months 5,28,000
ITM Business School 2 years 21,323/month
Gems B School 2 years 5,00,000
IIKM Chennai 12-15 months 6,00,000
JLU Bhopal 2 years 3,85,000
Manipal University 2 years 4,10,000
SP Jain School 7 months 1,25,000 + GST
SDMI 3 years N/A
SCDL 1 year 18,000


1. IIDE

masters in digital marketing syllabus - IIDE Logo

IIDE’s 11-month MBA-Level Post Graduation in Digital Marketing Program is one of the most highly-rated masters-level programs in India.

Established in 2016, IIDE has become a leading digital marketing institute in India. Awarded as the best digital marketing institute by World Education Congress, IIDE offers flexible digital marketing courses to people from all walks of life. 

Their program might not be recognized as a traditional master’s degree but the curriculum and industry-level practical training of the PG Program have much more to offer than a regular one.

It is an offline course that is conducted at IIDE’s Mumbai Campus & Delhi Campus.

Course Benefits:

2 Specialisations After a 7-8 months of fundamental training, students are given a choice of 2 specialisations – Creative Strategy & Performance Marketing.
13+ Live Projects Students work on 13+ live projects wherein they individually or within teams, analyse and create digital marketing strategies.
28+ Industry Tools In this course, you will master 28+ Industry Tools such as Google Ads, Moz, Mailchimp, Facebook Ads, Ahrefs, WordPress, etc
1-on-1 Mentorship Students can book a personal mentoring session with a trainer to solve their doubts & questions.

 

“MBA
“MBA


Course Syllabus
:

SUBJECTS MODULES
Inbound Marketing Introduction to Digital Marketing
  Website Creation
  Search Marketing
Outbound Marketing Content Marketing
  Social Media Marketing & Management
  Video Marketing
Media Management & Automation Advanced Forms of Digital Marketing
  Integrated Marketing (Full Funnel Marketing)
Managerial Skills & Soft Skills Soft Skills
  Agency Skills
Compulsory Internship & Thesis Internship & Mentoring
Specializations Creative Strategy OR
  Performance Marketing
Capstone Project Thesis-like Final Practical Project

 

Course Faculty: 

Another USP of IIDE is that the trainers carry years of experience from the real industry. Having worked for big brands such as Asian Paints, Unilever, etc, they don’t just teach the curriculum but also their learnings. You will be personally mentored by industry experts mentioned below in this MBA in Digital Marketing – Post Graduation Programme.

Course Duration & Fees

IIDE’s MBA-level Postgraduate Program in Digital Marketing is 11 months long and the fees are INR 5,95,000. You can avail of the 0% EMI Option as well starting at INR 25,000 per month. This may seem expensive but with the average starting salary of graduates being INR 4-5 LPA, the ROI is high. 

Note: IIDE conducts weekday as well as weekend batches for their PG in Digital Marketing program.

"MBA
Digital Marketing Courses - IIDE Placements


Scholarship Available:

IIDE also offers scholarships to all admitted candidates who stand a chance to win a scholarship of up to INR 1,00,000 based on merit.  

IIDE’s focus is always student-first, making a student’s entire experience fun-filled and full of practical learning. Have a look at one of their alumni’s success story- 


Placement Assistance
:

If you pursue IIDE’s MBA-level PG Program in Digital Marketing, IIDE offers 100% assured placements based on your performance. Have a look at IIDE alumni who work at some of the most well-known brands in the industry.

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Contact Details:

Phone No.- +91 96199 58615
Email ID- admissions@iide.co
Website- iide.co/master-mba-digital-marketing/ 

2. ITM Business School, Navi Mumbai

ITM Business School - Masters in Digital Marketing

With 5 campuses spread across India, ITM business school is one of the top schools offering masters and postgraduate courses in various domains. Founded in 1991, they specialize in offering PGDM iConnect programs which are 2 years long in partnership with Queen Margaret University UK, EMI Normandie France, and Groupe ESSCA France. The school has earned recognition from AICTE.

Out of the 10 specializations offered, their PGDM in Digital Marketing & Transformation includes a thorough study of digital marketing with the latest industry trends and demands. They follow a 6-step online application process for admissions.

Fees: INR 5,95,000

3. GEMS B School, Bangalore

GEMS B School - Masters in Digital Marketing

GEMS – Great Eastern Management School, is a top B-school established in 2006. Affiliated with Bharathiar University, they are known as one of the most preferred B-School for placements. Currently, they offer 14 long courses for undergraduate as well as post-graduate students. They even hold a special scholarship for students belonging to reserved and economically weak backgrounds.

All the faculty trainers at GEMS hold experience of more than 20 years. They are experts in different management domains. The learning culture at GEMS is a blend of theoretical studies as well as practical work opportunities to prepare students with an all-around approach. Some of their recruiters include Capgemini, L&T, and ICICI Bank.

A GEMS online admissions test is a mandatory step to be followed by all entrants after which the admission rounds begin.

Fees: INR 5,00,000

If you are a graduate and have some work experience, an MBA in Digital Marketing is best suited for you. Check out this detailed guide on MBA in Digital Marketing to know about the popular colleges, eligibility, cost of studying, and career opportunities after an MBA.

4. IIKM, Chennai

IIKM Logo - masters in digital marketing syllabus

Founded in 2005, IIKM is another private corporate B-School offering Masters/PGDM programs in multiple niches. Well known for industry-inclined programs, this college has tied up with Microsoft & SAP for high-end ERP training. All their programs not only focus on the theoretical knowledge but also the overall skills needed for the upliftment of a student.

IIKM offers a masters in digital marketing & e-commerce with a view to equipping students with both the domains and how they can be well integrated. They follow an on-the-job training model under which the selected candidates are hired by employers immediately upon admission and trained practically throughout the program. This is later converted into a paid internship after the second semester.

The selection of students is based on an entrance test followed by a personal interview. An international educational tour is optional. They also offer 100% placement support.

Fees: INR 6,00,000

5. JLU, Bhopal

JLU Bhopal - Masters in Digital Marketing

Established in 2013, Jagran Lakecity University (JLU), is a private university that offers 50+ degree programs. It is recognized by NCTE and is a member of various organizations. It is renowned for its 232 acres big campus. They have been awarded as the University of the Year by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in multiple years.

Their recruiters include 100+ top MNCs and also offer scholarships upon admissions. JLU offers a Masters of Arts in Digital Marketing. It is a full-time 2 years postgraduate course. It is in association with Simplilearn where online boot camps are conducted. Additionally, all the students are eligible for Simplilearn’s Job Assistance. A membership to the purdue alumni group is included in the program.

The program is divided into 4 semesters with different modules and subjects in all semesters. By the end of the program, all students are assured of being able to understand digital marketing strategies and manage budgets.

Fees: INR 3,85,000

6. Manipal University, Karnataka

Manipal University - Masters in Digital Marketing Colleges

Founded in 1953, MAHE – Manipal Academy of Higher Education, formerly known as Manipal University is one of the first self-financing colleges in India. In the year 2000, it added a constituent institute named MIT – Manipal Institute of Technology. They are granted the Institution of Excellence status by the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

They offer various offers full-time undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and doctoral-level programs in multiple fields like Medicine, Engineering and Technology, Humanities, Management, Arts, Science, and Commerce.

The university is home to more than 250 international collaborations with universities such as the University of Birmingham, Boston University, and Trinity College Dublin. MAHE offers a 2-year MA in Digital and Creative Marketing. For any professional or graduate that wishes to pursue to 2-year course, this is a good option. 

The program focuses on giving managerial skills, detailed marketing insights as well as digital media marketing skills. Certifications for industry-recognized giants like Google, Facebook, etc are included.

Fees: INR 4,10,000

7. S.P. Jain School of Global Management, Mumbai

masters in digital marketing - SP Jain

S.P. Jain School of Global Management was originally established as a B-School in Sydney, Australia, and then later spread its wings across Mumbai, Dubai, and Singapore. This school offers an executive program in digital marketing targetting those who wish to get the managerial perspective of digital marketing.  The Mumbai campus was founded in 2015. 

From the range of expert faculty at SP Jain, 74% of them hold doctoral degrees themselves and a few of them are Harvard alumni, Cambridge alumni, Cornel alumni & Duke alumn. S.P. Jain School of Global Management has an intensive diploma in Digital Marketing and Metrics program that’ll help you understand various metrics involved in digital marketing. Similar to other institutes, they follow an entrance test for all admissions. 

Fees: INR 1,25,000 + GST

8. SDMI, Ujire

masters in digital marketing - SDMI

SDMI – the School of Digital Marketing India located in Ujire has trained around 20,000 learners online with a rich bank of 60 certified trainers. It was founded in 2007 by a bunch of digital marketing professionals who worked in the top brands of India. One of their major specializations is that they prepare students not only for the industry but also to stand independently and work as freelancers (which is one of the most preferred employment types today). 

It offers a Master in Digital Marketing Program with a practical syllabus and a trained faculty that strives for excellence. It is a 36-month course that includes internships. It has placement assistance to offer with a compulsory internship. An interesting guarantee made by the school is that a student will bag a  minimum of 30 interviews on completion of the course. Apart from these, they also offer various diploma courses. 

Fees: Unavailable

9. SCDL

masters in digital marketing - Symbiosis

SCDL- SYMBIOSIS Center for Distance Learning is one of the reputed distance learning educational institutes in India. Being AICTE approved, they have bagged multiple ranks and awards at different award bodies. It was founded in 2001 with the aim to impart quality education to students. 

SCDL offers PG Diploma, Diploma and Certificate courses in sectors like Business Management, Customer Relationship Management, Insurance Management, International Business, Information Technology, Banking and Finance, Supply Chain Management,  Education Management, Business and Corporate Law and Entrepreneurship Development.

SYMBIOSIS Center for Distance Learning offers a 1-year postgraduate program in Digital Management. Their goal is to train students with the right tools and knowledge to help industries and businesses grow. Even though it is a one-year course, the curriculum is equivalent to a full-time management program. 

Fees: INR 18,000

Disclaimer: These top institutes offering a master’s in digital marketing program have been shortlisted based on their curriculum, merit, student-focused approach, and thorough research on their credibility. 

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How to choose the right college for Masters in Digital Marketing?

Now that we know about the eligibility criteria & admission process, it must be very clear whether you want to pursue a masters in digital marketing or not. 

Next, it is important to know how to choose the right college/institute for masters in digital marketing. Since it is a relatively newer program, you should ask all the right questions & clear all your confusion before you sign up. 

Here are a few pointers to consider when deciding which college/institute is the best for you:

  • Syllabus: Since it is a post graduation program, you should look for an institute that teaches you advanced versions of digital marketing concepts. You should avoid an institute if you feel it has a repetitive syllabus.
  • Placements: Being a graduate, you should expect a placement guarantee or atleast assistance from the institute because you want to be immediately placed at a good package. Also, check what companies hire from them so that you know what your job prospects would look like.
  • Faculty: If you are pursuing a masters in digital marketing, you want to be trained by faculty that has worked in the industry and teaches you practically instead of just the theory. So ensure that do a profile check on the faculty of the institutes to understand where have they worked before and in what roles.

Doing your own bit of research is important so that you don’t regret your choice of the institute. 

Now that we know how to choose the right institute, let’s discuss the list of best institutes/colleges for masters in digital marketing in 2023

Career Opportunities after Masters in Digital Marketing 

Once you complete your masters in digital marketing, you will expect better career opportunities than when you were just a graduate. 

After masters in digital marketing, you can expect to apply for mid to senior-level digital marketing positions in leading brands & digital agencies. 

Here’s the average salary for top digital marketing roles according to our research and Ambition Box:

Digital Marketing Jobs Brief Description Average Starting Salary (INR)
SEO Specialist Tests, analyses & makes changes on a website to increase organic visibility. 3.6 lakhs
PPC Analyst Works on pay-per-click advertisements end to end. 4.8 lakhs
Web Developer Handles the backend working of the website like load time, and creating pages with HTML and CSS. 3 lakhs
Social Media Marketing Specialist Responsible for social media presence for the brand/business. 3.1 lakhs
Data Analyst Collects data, interprets & makes conclusions on that basis. 4.2 lakhs
Digital Marketing Manager Manages all digital marketing campaigns. 5.2 lakhs
Marketing Automation Specialist Automates each process of digital marketing to reduce the dependency on other resources. 5.1 lakhs
Content Marketing Manager Manages all types of content that are published on the website and other digital platforms. 6 lakhs

 

Digital marketing jobs pay amazing salaries and this average is going to grow year-on-year as more businesses are aware of digital marketing services.

Also Read: Digital Marketing Salary in India 2023: From Freshers to Experienced

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the popular queries on Masters in Digital Marketing that we have answered for you!

Q1. What is masters in digital marketing? 

Masters in digital marketing is a post graduate program that teaches you the advanced concepts of digital marketing with a very practical approach. 

Q2. What is an MSc in digital marketing?

An MSc in digital marketing is a type of masters program that focuses on the scientific & technical approach to digital marketing. It is not available in India as of now but you can pursue IIDE’s MBA-Level PG in Digital Marketing that offers performance marketing as a specialization. Performance Marketing is the closest equivalent to the technical and scientific approach of an MSc in Digital Marketing. 

Q3. Which is the best college for masters in digital marketing?

From the list, I recommend you to choose IIDE to pursue your post graduation in digital marketing. It might not be recognized as a master’s degree or an MBA but it offers masters-level training with a 100% placement guarantee in known brands & digital agencies.

Q4. What does the syllabus of masters in digital marketing include?

In a masters in digital marketing program, all the disciplines of digital marketing are taught in detail keeping in mind the corporate application of each. Various research methods & tactics are taught. In addition, equal importance is given to teaching managerial skills and job responsibilities. 

Even though you may have a foundation in digital marketing, a Master’s degree in digital marketing will help you stand out from the crowd because you will learn in-depth about all digital channels. 

It is focused on a specialized approach to understanding various areas of digital marketing.

Q5. What is the expected salary after masters in digital marketing?

The expected salary after masters in digital marketing is INR 3-4 LPA on average but again it depends upon your niche & skillset. However, if you pursue IIDE’s PG Program & complete it successfully, you can get placed at an average CTC of INR 5 LPA.

Q6. Do you need work experience for masters in digital marketing?

No, you don’t need work experience for masters in digital marketing unless you want to pursue a traditional MBA. 

Q7. What roles can you apply for once you complete your masters in digital marketing?

You can apply for mid to senior-level positions in the digital marketing industry such as SEO Specialist, PPC Manager, Data Analyst, Marketing Automation Executive, Social Media Marketing Manager, etc.

To Conclude

If you’re new to the digital marketing world and have pursued a degree in a completely unrelated field, we recommend doing a short course to lay the foundation of digital marketing. IIDE’s 4-month online digital marketing course is a great course that fits your bill. Online learning is the new future, so you should definitely experience it with added advanced technology in this course. 

It would add value to your resume as well whilst applying for a Master’s program showing your interest and willingness to learn. 

In case you’re planning to pursue an MBA in digital marketing, check out the syllabus requirements for an MBA in a digital marketing course.

If you have any more queries, let us know in the comments below!

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Mamta Shroff

Head of Admissions & Institutional Relations at IIDE

She has been working with new trends in the Education industry for the last 2 decades. Starting her career as an Academic Counselor in the Middle East with Emirates College for Management & Information Technology......[Read full bio]

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