What Do The Students Think...
Why choose the MDP?
John Geraghty, 2022.
Rozanne McCaughey, 2022.
Devika Tiwari, 2022.
Stephen Tuite, 2022.
"My time at the MDP was an incredibly enriching experience that fostered both personal and professional growth. As a Marketing Advisor, I had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of client projects, which challenged me to think strategically and critically about the problems faced across a variety of industries. Throughout this journey, I developed greater confidence, a heightened sense of curiosity, and a deeper understanding of the world of marketing. The invaluable support and mentorship I received from both Management and my fellow Advisors helped shape my experience, leading me to leave the MDP with lifelong friends and a solid foundation for my marketing career."
— Kerry Tierney, MDP Advisor of The Year 2023/24.
""The MSc in Marketing Practice provided me with an innovative and challenging environment, in which I gained specialised knowledge in marketing. The action learning approach on this course is what initially drew my interest. My experience of dealing with clients from different industries on a daily basis enhanced my professional development. There is a great networking ethos on this course which allowed me to forge both social and professional relationships. The experience truly was insurmountable as it provided me with the opportunity to refine essential marketing skills, such as communication and leadership. This course has afforded me an invaluable foundation to start my professional marketing career path."
— Lydia Cummins, MDP Advisor of The Year 2020/21
Jean McAnenly
Hear about Jean’s experience of the Marketing Development Practice and what her favourite aspects of the course was and the skills she gained.
Clodagh Kenny, Marketing Advisor 2018/19
I began my college life with the best 3 years in UCD studying economics and politics as my undergraduate degree. I knew I wanted to go down the business route and to study/upskill for one more year before looking for a job so I started researching various Masters. Whilst carrying out a summer internship in Glanbia, I discovered how highly regarded Michael Smurfit graduate business school was for masters programmes so I started honing in on Smurfit due to its fantastic reputation.
I came across the MSc in Marketing Practice commercially, known as the Marketing Development Programme on the UCD Michael Smurfit website. I instantly knew this was the most suitable masters for me due to the practical, hands-on approach to learning.
The opportunity to study for a master’s and work in an office environment, on various client projects while gaining a strong network base in Smurfit as well as a wide variety of companies, was an experience I couldn’t pass.
Whilst on the MDP I had seven different clients ranging from start-up to multinational and a charity organisation all looking for completely different projects in areas including marketing research, strategy, events organising, PR, social media implementation, and so on. The experience I received working on client and internal projects and of course the various modules carried out by the fantastic lecturers in UCD have stood to me in my career to date.
After Smurfit, I started on the commercial graduate program in Paddy Power Betfair. Having been thrown in at the deep end with various client projects on the MDP I had no hesitation when it came to starting on a rotational grad program where I moved around the business and changed role every four months.
After the graduate programme, I started a role as a Sports Partnership/Affiliates Executive with PPB which I am thoroughly enjoying. Some of my biggest learnings and skills from relationship and client management to negotiation and teamwork have come from the MDP and are used every single day in my role. Not only did the MDP set me up very well for the working world but I was lucky enough to make some fantastic connections and friends along the way.
