Do I need a commerce degree to apply for a Master’s in Marketing abroad?

Question

Mansih K · Accepted Answer

You don&rsquo;t need a commerce background, but admissions committees expect proof that you&rsquo;re serious about marketing. Top schools like HEC Paris, IESEG, and Melbourne accept students from humanities, science, or even tech&mdash;if they show clear intent.
Here&rsquo;s what helps build a strong application:

Internships at startups, agencies, or student-led marketing teams
Running ad campaigns for small businesses or personal projects
Certifications like Google Ads, Meta Blueprint, HubSpot Inbound Marketing&mdash;these show you&rsquo;ve learned actual tools used in the industry
Even an online course on Coursera or LinkedIn Learning, if it&rsquo;s hands-on and includes a project
For example, promoting a college fest through Instagram ads or managing a club&rsquo;s social media account shows real involvement and initiative

Schools aren&rsquo;t expecting a perfect profile&mdash;they want to see curiosity and effort. A well-written SOP backed by real actions matters more than your bachelor&rsquo;s major.
For more details you can read this blog on "Msc in Marketing"

Aarushi S · Answer

No, a commerce degree isn&rsquo;t required to apply for a Master&rsquo;s in Marketing abroad. Schools like Warwick, ESSEC, and Monash accept students from all kinds of backgrounds&mdash;arts, engineering, psychology, design.

What really matters is showing interest and basic understanding of marketing. This can be done through:
A marketing-related internship (even a 1&ndash;2 month unpaid one)
Projects like running a college event page or building a personal brand on Instagram/LinkedIn
Free certifications from Google Digital Garage, Meta Blueprint, or HubSpot Academy

Admissions teams want to see initiative. If your undergrad didn&rsquo;t cover marketing, showing effort outside the classroom goes a long way. Even small projects with a startup, freelance social media work, or helping organize college events with branding tasks can help. It&rsquo;s less about your degree title, more about what you've actually done to prove your interest.