University of Groningen - RUG
speciality: Marketing

Obviously there are many good things, like the facilities, most of the lectures contain good quality.
In my opinion the university lacks in communication and transparency (could be due to Covid-19). Some important information we receive too late and they do not always have a good explanation of why they do it like the way they do it. With some online practical lessons, some lecturers don’t show their face on the webcam and you cannot ask questions. This makes it really impersonal and I would rather watch a YouTube clip about the same information where I can see their face than watch some practical lessons.

I like that there is a large number of international students. The student life in Groningen is great as it is a young and vibrant city. In my programme you need to teach yourself a lot (if you do not have data science/analytics background) as the learning speed is rather fast. but I really have the feeling that I learn even better that way as I need to be more involved with the content. Therefore, the effort is worth it.

During my Masters in Marketing, I learned a lot about topics that interest me using a blend of academic articles and real practice cases. The professors were knowledgable and accessible, the requirements and expectations clear and the course material was provided (lecture slides, grading forms and lecture video recordings) which is a big plus as it makes it less stressful to study. The programmes are improved with the involvement of students through direct feedback and collaboration with student associations such as Quest. Most of the other students in this programme were motivated and agreeable to work with. The faculty campus is quite modern, clean and nice to be in. Some improvements could be: a better preparation/support for students to find work when graduating as my classmates and I felt a bit confused about our position in the job market; and a more social aspect since despite the presence of some social associations, students in the programme felt that they lacked the closeness that other programmes have.

It is also important to mention the city itself. Despite the location that could be a bit far for international students, the city is a great place to be a student. It is a historical (and affordable) Dutch city with some entertainments (pubs, cinema, park, live shows…) and some amazing people. It can be daunting to be a newcomer at first and get accustomed to the culture, food and weather but if you make an effort, in no time you will be at home. I made some very close friends here and met a wide range of characters. If you find a programme that suits you and from which you will learn and gain value, I would recommend studying at this uni.

After my exchange semester in Groningen, I decided to return to this cute but exciting student city for my master. The marketing master program is really preparing students with analytical mind for future employment. Nice facilities, most courses are super interesting and organized. Friendly teachers and staff. So lucky to study here

I am currently enrolled in the RUG pre-master in Marketing and I will pursue my studies in MADS that stands for Marketing Analytics Data Science.
First thing first, I have to say that the pre master programme is a transaction year for students who have a different bachelor background, for instance, my bachelor was in communication studies and I then switched and applied for Marketing studies. Usually this programme is guaranteed just for dutch students but the RUG lets also international students be part of it so it is honestly a huge advantage the university gives us.
The pre master is mainly focused to cover the lack of knowledge students can have, coming from a different background, but it is also very stimulating because of the variety of different students. It covers courses like Methodology that is a combination between statistics and business management, organizational theory design, HR, digital marketing, behavioral decision making. In sum, it provides knowledge both in marketing management and Marketing analytics field.
Students in this programme have to pass 50 ects out of 60 ects in a year otherwise they will not be enrolled in the master.
A thesis is necessary for this programme.
Mainly what I noticed is that the power level between you and the professor is not high and you can rely on them for further explanations.
The programme besides the lessons is well-structured providing interaction also in an online environment, in fact it is based on live tutorial , q& a sessions and group assignment.
My title refers to the attention the course has on meeting people that could be your future colleagues generating workshop like Mind over marketing, comma ( communication marketing) sustainable event, recruitment days.
The pre master in a marketing is the perfect option to prepare yourselves for the future master and be ready to compete in the market environment.

I started my studies at the University of Groningen as a Master student in the Marketing Management track last September. The University of Groningen was one out of the three universities I really wanted to join in the Netherlands. In general, the institution is very well-known about its research orientation with a global outlook.
It combines the really high quality of education with affordable lifestyle and education expenses. The latter was one of the most important reasons I did select RUG.
More specific, it is much appreciated the fact that I had full support in all the different stages I had to go through since my selection until the final confirmation and registration to the institution. All the people behind the student services were and they still are very willing to help you with any problem you may face.
All around the faculty, there are many opportunities to expand your knowledge and to dive yourself into the future career path.

However, regarding my track, there are a few things to be developed. The research orientation of the university overweights the managerial aspect of Marketing. Although the power of research is really significant it should not be implemented in the degree it currently is. The courses should be modified that way in order to serve the needs of a future brand manager and not those of a data scientist.