MBA in Marketing: Syllabus, Admission 2024, Fees, Entrance Exam, Top Colleges, Career Scope

The exchange of goods and services for money is referred to as sales. It is the process of moving goods from the manufacturer to the distributor, the distributor to the wholesaler, the wholesaler to the retailer, and the retailer to the customer. Relationship-building between the buyer and the vendor is the main focus of modern sales, while marketing teams make efforts to create brand awareness of the company's goods, and services. Marketing also involves the process of researching and analyzing customer needs. Read More: Difference between Sales and Marketing

Sales and Marketing are two business disciplines that have an impact on lead creation and income. All acts that lead to the sale of products and services are referred to as sales. Marketing is the process of generating interest in the goods and services for sale. Sales and marketing play a special and crucial function in building a connection between potential customers' demands and the goods and services the company has to offer.

Students who have completed their graduation with minimum 50 per cent score can apply to this programme. Students can join various industries and make an average salary ranging INR 4 to 8 lakh per year after the course at the entry-level.

Candidates who are interested in sales and marketing may find employment prospects after completing this course. After an MBA in Sales & Marketing, you can work in a variety of fields, including banking, tourism consulting, media, retail, and advertising.

The graduates can work as Sales and Marketing Manager, Pre-Sales Associate, Sales and Marketing Executive, Sales Specialist, Growth Manager, and Frontline Executive. Those with a higher degree and other talents in sales and marketing can advance in their careers.

In India, a new working professional can earn between INR 2 and 8 lakh per year, whereas an experienced professional can make between INR 8 and 10 lakh. Read More: Top 6 Reasons to study Marketing

After earning an MBA in Sales and Marketing, students may pursue an MPhil, PhD, or research degree in a related discipline. They can also begin working as a manager in a company. Many individuals who complete their PhD can pursue a job in business or marketing.

There are several research facilities that serve both academic and commercial students. Top companies have research institutes dedicated to doing in-depth field research on consumer behavior and marketing development tactics. Students can find employment in some of the good companies like Larsen & Toubro, Hindustan Unilever, Asian Paints, and Whirlpool with a salary ranging INR 8 to 20 lakh per annum.

Students who have completed graduation from any stream with 50 percent marks are eligible to apply for MBA in Sales and Marketing. For reserved category students, the minimum marks requirement is 45 percent aggregate in graduation. Students also need to appear in entrance exams followed by interviews and group discussions to secure admission to MBA courses.

No, work experience is not mandatory for admission to an MBA in Marketing, however, it helps in building a professional network, gives your admission application strength (Admissions committees often look for candidates with practical experience), helps in classroom discussions, and overall career advancement.

The selection process for admission in MBA in Marketing typically follows these stages:

1. Entrance Exam: First of all you need to clear the entrance exam like CAT, XAT, GMAT etc.., to be eligible for shortlisting process.
2. Group Discussion (GD) / Personal Interview (PI): Candidates who clear the entrance exam are called for a GD and PI round. During these rounds, your communication skills, leadership qualities, problem-solving abilities and motivation to pursue an MBA are tested.
3. Final Selection: The final selection is based on a composite score that includes entrance exam scores, GD/PI performance, academic performance, work experience and other criteria.

The PI is the most personal part of the admission process. Here's how to ace it:

• Know Your Resume: Be prepared to discuss everything listed on your resume including academic achievements, work experience, internships and extracurriculars.
• Why Marketing: Be ready to explain why you wanted to pursue an MBA in Marketing and what excites you about this field. Share any experiences (like internships or projects) that sparked your interest in marketing.
• Career Goals: Articulate your short-term and long-term goals. Show the interviewers how an MBA in Marketing will help you achieve them.
• Know the Institute: Research the programme you are applying to—be aware of its unique offerings, faculty, and placement records. This will demonstrate your genuine interest in the College.
• Behavioral Questions: Be prepared for questions like “Tell me about a time when you worked in a team” or “How do you handle stress? ” Practice answering these types of questions using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method.

Yes, the difficulty level of CAT syllabus is very high as compared to other MBA entrance exams. However, if you prepare well and follow the CAT exam pattern well, you will be able to score well. Besides having an understanding of the CAT syllabus 2025, candidates also need to be well aware of the CAT exam pattern before they start preparing for the exam. The CAT exam pattern was revised in 2021 and the number of questions were reduced from 76 to 66. The structure of CAT 2023 and CAT 2024 was the same. The syllabus is still tougher than other exams.

The most important things to keep in mind are:

1. CAT exam mode is online
2. Each question carries three marks 
3. There is negative marking of minus one mark for wrong attempts

The section-wise distribution of questions and difficulty levels as per the latest CAT exam pattern are listed below:

• Quantitative Ability (QA) - 24 questions, difficulty level - moderate to high 
• Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning (DILR) - 20 questions, difficulty level - moderate 
• Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension (VARC) - 22 questions, difficulty level - moderate. to high

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) and CAT (Common Admission Test) are both popular management entrance exams in India. Both exams are known for their high level of difficulty and are considered challenging to crack. In terms of difficulty, it is difficult to compare XAT and CAT as both exams have their own unique characteristics.

However, XAT is considered to be more challenging than CAT in certain aspects such as:

1) Exam Pattern: XAT has a more varied exam pattern as compared to CAT. XAT has an additional section of General Knowledge, Essay Writing, and decision-making which requires a different skill set as compared to CAT.

2)Time Management: XAT has a higher number of questions as compared to CAT. And the time allotted for the exam is also relatively less. This makes time management a critical aspect for XAT aspirants.

3) Verbal Ability: XAT has a stronger focus on Verbal Ability as compared to CAT. The Reading Comprehension passages in XAT are usually longer and more complex than CAT. Which makes it more challenging. However, it is important to note that the level of difficulty of these exams varies from year to year, and it ultimately depends on the individuals preparation and skill set.

Marketing Management, Consumer Behavior, Market Research, Brand Management, Digital Marketing, Advertising and Promotion, Sales Management, Product Development and Management, Strategic Marketing, International Marketing, and Social Media Marketing are the major subjects covered under the MBA in Marketing syllabus. These subjects help in understanding marketing strategies, consumer behavior, market trends, and the use of various marketing channels in today's business environment.

Students can go for BBA, MBA, Executive MBA, Diploma, and Certificate courses in Sales and Marketing. Interested students can also pursue PhD in Sales and Marketing for in-depth knowledge and specialization. The MBA in Sales & Marketing program is available in regular, online, and distance learning formats. Those who have finished their undergraduate degree program in any discipline are eligible to take the course in normal format. The online course is best suited for those who cannot attend classes. This gives them flexibility.

In addition to the core marketing syllabus, several specializations may be offered as part of the MBA in Marketing:

• Digital Marketing
• Brand Management
• Consumer Behavior
• Sales and Distribution Management
• Advertising and Media Planning
• Retail Management
• Market Research
• Strategic Marketing
• International Marketing
• Product and Services Marketing

There are numerous colleges offering MBA in Sales and Marketing on distance mode. Here are some great options you can choose from:

Note: The information is sourced from official sites and may vary.

There are more than 1,700 colleges in India offering MBA in Sales and Marketing courses. These colleges include both government and private institutes and their fee structure varies depending on the course curriculum, college rating, placement record, infrastructure, etc. However, the average course fee ranges between INR 1 Lakh to INR 34.9 Lakh.

After completing an MBA in Marketing in India, the average salary for graduates can range from INR 3 to 10 LPA, depending on their location, industry, job role, and work experience. Various sources report that the average salary for MBA in Marketing graduates in India is around INR 350,000 per year or INR 140 per hour. Marketing managers in India can expect an average salary of INR 7-8 Lacs per year, with the primary employers being FMCG, IT, E-commerce, and Retail sectors. As for MBA Marketing Freshers, the national average salary is approximately INR 3,84,097 per year. Keep in mind that these figures are approximate and may differ based on several factors.

MBA in Marketing can be quite demanding in terms of coursework, assignments, group projects, and exams. The workload can be heavy, especially if you're taking a full-time program. Balancing coursework, extracurricular activities, internships, and potentially a part-time job can be challenging.

For any company selling a product, the concepts of marketing and sales are very important, as they can mean the difference between success and failure. While they are often used interchangeably or grouped they are two different concepts and it is important to understand those differences.

Sales refers to the short-term need to close a sale, get an agreement signed, or ultimately do what needs to be done to sell whatever it is you are selling. Sales techniques and strategies are based on what it takes to 'close the deal', which is crucial to any business.

If you get customers in the door but cannot get them to buy a product, there is a problem with your sales strategy. Sales strategies are focused on the individual buyer and what needs to be done for them to pull out their wallet, or click on the buy button when it comes to online selling.

Companies typically set sales volume targets for a period (weeks, months, and quarters) and have strategies in place where the individuals responsible for actually selling can make those targets. Marketing is a longer-term concept than sales and relates to forward-looking strategies to understand customer needs, influence customer perceptions, and identify how a company can capitalize on that.

The result of the marketing process, and what it directly supports, is making sales easier. Marketing techniques and strategies are based on what it takes to identify the right product mix, the prices for those products, and what needs to be communicated to target customers (via advertisement) to ensure successful sales.

One of the key aspects of marketing strategies is building a brand identity for what a company is selling and this varies from company to company. McDonald's obviously brands its food and advertising far differently than a luxury steakhouse would do. While sales are the 'push' to buy the product once the customer is there, marketing is the 'pull' that gets the customer to you in the first place.

When marketing is done effectively it can also make sales a far easier job for a company, as the customer can already be convinced and ready to buy by the time they enter your store (or website). Sales can still succeed without very effective marketing but it certainly makes the job more difficult. 

An MBA in Marketing is tailored to individuals who want to pursue careers in marketing, advertising, brand management, product management, and related fields. 

An MBA in HR, on the other hand, is designed for those who want to pursue careers in human resources and people management. It covers topics like talent acquisition, employee relations, compensation and benefits, and organizational development.

Candidates can check the table below to see the comparison between the two courses.