Course details

Summary

Our continuous exposure to advertising and sales pitches leads us to believe that marketing activities begin only when goods or services have been produced. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Marketing is concerned with the analysis of customer needs and securing information needed to design and produce goods or services that match buyer expectations.

Strategic research methods, advertising and promotion, merchandising, sales, and management of products and services are utilised in the process, which applies to profit-oriented firms as well as not-for-profit organisations.

The UC Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a research-only degree carried out under expert supervision and using world-class facilities.

A PhD involves extensive, sustained and original research and study in your chosen subject, with the results being presented in a thesis that will contribute to intellectual knowledge of the field. It is a mark of intellectual ability, self-discipline and commitment. A PhD prepares you for a number of careers, including as an academic.

The minimum period of enrolment for a full-time candidate is two years and the maximum period four years; most PhD students take between three and three-and-a-half years.

Career opportunities

The marketing and business skills acquired at UC are relevant globally. A Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Marketing will open the door to an exciting, varied and fast-paced career in anything from advertising and promotion, brand management, product management, market research, retail management, marketing and communications, strategic marketing, direct marketing and sales and merchandising. Most of these jobs require a mix of quantitative, communication and interpersonal skills.

Marketing careers provide a lot of variety, since the roles and functions of marketers are constantly evolving as the business environment changes and a huge number of industries and organisation types the world over require marketers.

Graduates may enter the profession as marketing executives, officers, assistants or coordinators, with good graduates progressing to advisors, specialists and managers within a few years. Many marketing-trained staff end up in senior organisational roles of senior manager, director, chief officer, president or working independently as a consultant.

Entry criteria

Enrolment in a PhD requires completion of a research-focused honours or master's degree at first-class or second-class division 1 level (or equivalent qualifications). Applicants with qualifications from outside New Zealand must have been granted admission to the University.

Other English language requirements: TOEFL PBT with a minimum score of 575 and TWE with a minimum score of 4.5; CCEL EAP Level 2 with a minimum B+ grade; CAE or CPE score of 176 with a minimum of 169 in reading, writing, listening and speaking; Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE with an overall score of 64 and no PTE communicative skills score below 58.