Digital Marketing (M.A.)
Think Strategically, Act Digitally – Your Online Marketing Master’s!

Your Digital Marketing Master Programme – A Career at the Intersection of Storytelling and Strategy
In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, strategic thinking, creativity, and technical expertise are equally essential. The Master’s in Digital Marketing at CBS University of Applied Sciences brings these aspects together, preparing you for leadership roles in the digital economy.
With a mix of innovative course content and hands-on projects, you will gain practical expertise and a deep understanding of modern marketing strategies.
In just four semesters, you will develop specialist knowledge in areas such as performance marketing, social media strategy, data analytics, and search engine optimisation (SEO). You will also learn how to effectively plan and execute digital campaigns. Through close collaboration with industry experts and real-life case studies, you will gain valuable insights into the industry and develop immediately applicable skills.
Whether you aim to become a Digital Marketing Manager, E-Commerce Specialist, or Consultant for Digital Transformation, this Online Marketing Master’s will open the doors to future-proof and dynamic career opportunities. The combination of cutting-edge technology, strategic expertise, and an international focus will make you a sought-after professional.
Take the next step and shape the future of digital marketing – with the Digital Marketing Master Programme at CBS!
*Tuition fees differ for EU and non-EU students. The amount shown is the EU fee. For full details, please get in touch with our admissions team.

Learning content
1
Strategic Analysis & Management
3
ECTS
- Strategy making process and strategic reasoning: cognitive process of strategy
creation through the prism of logic and intuition - Setting strategic purpose in the context of responsible stakeholder management
- Advanced external environment analysis: markets, industries and competitive
landscapes in static and dynamic perspective in the domestic and international
context - Diagnosing and managing strategic capability through national borders over time
- Cultural and institutional context of strategic management: concepts, frameworks
and analytical tools - Generic and interactive business strategies, inside-out and outside-in perspective on
achieving and sustaining competitive advantage internationally - Network-level strategies
- Corporate development and configuration: strategic options and portfolio matrices
- Strategy formation
- Strategic change and corporate restructuring
- Strategic renewal
- Strategy evaluation and strategic controls: tools and methods
- Organizing for success
Strategic Analysis & Management
3
ECTS
- Strategy making process and strategic reasoning: cognitive process of strategy
creation through the prism of logic and intuition - Setting strategic purpose in the context of responsible stakeholder management
- Advanced external environment analysis: markets, industries and competitive
landscapes in static and dynamic perspective in the domestic and international
context - Diagnosing and managing strategic capability through national borders over time
- Cultural and institutional context of strategic management: concepts, frameworks
and analytical tools - Generic and interactive business strategies, inside-out and outside-in perspective on
achieving and sustaining competitive advantage internationally - Network-level strategies
- Corporate development and configuration: strategic options and portfolio matrices
- Strategy formation
- Strategic change and corporate restructuring
- Strategic renewal
- Strategy evaluation and strategic controls: tools and methods
- Organizing for success
Innovation Management & Digital Transformation
3
ECTS
- Diagnosing the change context: diffusion and dynamics of innovation
- Sources & types of innovation
- Product/service, process & business model innovation
- Individual and corporate creativity
- Strategic innovation management & the innovation process incl. New Product Development (NPD)
- Introduction to digitalization, digital age & digital divide
- Digital drivers & disruptive forces
- Technological drivers of digital transformation
- Socio-technological change associated with the adoption of the mentioned drivers
- Introduction to the digital organization & digital business models
- Impact of digitalization on the value chain (Industry 4.0)
- Digitalization-related innovation theories & technology management
- Digitalization leadership & organisational transformation concepts
- Change management & transformational leadership
- Agility and VUCA world
- SCRUM and Design Thinking
Innovation Management & Digital Transformation
3
ECTS
- Diagnosing the change context: diffusion and dynamics of innovation
- Sources & types of innovation
- Product/service, process & business model innovation
- Individual and corporate creativity
- Strategic innovation management & the innovation process incl. New Product Development (NPD)
- Introduction to digitalization, digital age & digital divide
- Digital drivers & disruptive forces
- Technological drivers of digital transformation
- Socio-technological change associated with the adoption of the mentioned drivers
- Introduction to the digital organization & digital business models
- Impact of digitalization on the value chain (Industry 4.0)
- Digitalization-related innovation theories & technology management
- Digitalization leadership & organisational transformation concepts
- Change management & transformational leadership
- Agility and VUCA world
- SCRUM and Design Thinking
Empirical Research Methods
3
ECTS
- Development of a research question
- Primary vs. secondary data
- Steps of research process
- Research designs
- Quantitative and qualitative data
- Structured methods of data collection: questionnaire and structured interview
- Un- and semi-structured methods: qualitative interview and focus group
- Quantitative and qualitative content analysis
- Ethical considerations of data collection
- Sampling
- Data analysis using statistical software programs (SPSS)
- Univariate analysis, bivariate analysis (crosstab and correlation), multiple linear regression
- Writing a research report – structural and other formal requirements
Empirical Research Methods
3
ECTS
- Development of a research question
- Primary vs. secondary data
- Steps of research process
- Research designs
- Quantitative and qualitative data
- Structured methods of data collection: questionnaire and structured interview
- Un- and semi-structured methods: qualitative interview and focus group
- Quantitative and qualitative content analysis
- Ethical considerations of data collection
- Sampling
- Data analysis using statistical software programs (SPSS)
- Univariate analysis, bivariate analysis (crosstab and correlation), multiple linear regression
- Writing a research report – structural and other formal requirements
Business Economics
3
ECTS
- Analysis of demand, supply, and market equilibrium
- Theory of consumer choice
- Theory of the firm, production and cost analysis
- Market structures: perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, contestable markets
- Game theory
- Pricing strategies
- Factor markets, labor economics
- Economics of information
- Industrial organization
- Limitations of markets and interventions by the government
- Econometric techniques related to these topics
Business Economics
3
ECTS
- Analysis of demand, supply, and market equilibrium
- Theory of consumer choice
- Theory of the firm, production and cost analysis
- Market structures: perfect competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, contestable markets
- Game theory
- Pricing strategies
- Factor markets, labor economics
- Economics of information
- Industrial organization
- Limitations of markets and interventions by the government
- Econometric techniques related to these topics
Search Engine Marketing
3
ECTS
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Search Engine Advertising (SEA)
- Content Marketing
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- E-Mail-Marketing
- Web Analytics Tool: Google Analytics
Search Engine Marketing
3
ECTS
- Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
- Search Engine Advertising (SEA)
- Content Marketing
- Content Management Systems (CMS)
- E-Mail-Marketing
- Web Analytics Tool: Google Analytics
Social Media Marketing and Monitoring
3
ECTS
- Digital Marketing fundamentals
- Social Media Marketing fundamentals
- Influencer Marketing
- Creating a digitally connected brand (brand core, brand space, brand persona)
- Opinion formation/ expression
- Social Media Monitoring fundamentals
- Importance of channel choice
- Identifying indices, metrics, and KPIs
- Monitoring and analyzing brand reputation
- Data privacy and ethics
- Social Media Monitoring/ Digital Customer Intelligence tool: Brandwatch
- Social Media Marketing and Management tool: HootSuite.
Social Media Marketing and Monitoring
3
ECTS
- Digital Marketing fundamentals
- Social Media Marketing fundamentals
- Influencer Marketing
- Creating a digitally connected brand (brand core, brand space, brand persona)
- Opinion formation/ expression
- Social Media Monitoring fundamentals
- Importance of channel choice
- Identifying indices, metrics, and KPIs
- Monitoring and analyzing brand reputation
- Data privacy and ethics
- Social Media Monitoring/ Digital Customer Intelligence tool: Brandwatch
- Social Media Marketing and Management tool: HootSuite.
Digital Marketing and Modern Growth Concepts
3
ECTS
- Introduction to Digital Marketing and Modern Growth Concepts
- Demand Generation vs. Demand Capturing
- Digital marketing and its scope and importance
- Key components and objectives of a digital marketing
- Growth and its relevance for digital businesses
- Different growth models (plg, slg, molg) and their advantages and disadvantages
- Key factors and challenges that influence digital marketing and growth performance
- Characteristics and functions of various digital platforms and channels
- Importance and purpose of measuring and optimizing digital marketing
- Tools and techniques for digital marketing objective and target markets
- Evaluating the principles of growth hacking and experimentation
- Potential risks and challenges of digital marketing practices
Digital Marketing and Modern Growth Concepts
3
ECTS
- Introduction to Digital Marketing and Modern Growth Concepts
- Demand Generation vs. Demand Capturing
- Digital marketing and its scope and importance
- Key components and objectives of a digital marketing
- Growth and its relevance for digital businesses
- Different growth models (plg, slg, molg) and their advantages and disadvantages
- Key factors and challenges that influence digital marketing and growth performance
- Characteristics and functions of various digital platforms and channels
- Importance and purpose of measuring and optimizing digital marketing
- Tools and techniques for digital marketing objective and target markets
- Evaluating the principles of growth hacking and experimentation
- Potential risks and challenges of digital marketing practices
Advanced Brand Management
3
ECTS
- Brand and brand management and their scope and importance
- Key components and objectives of a brand strategy
- Brand identity system and the elements of brand identity
- The concept and methods of brand positioning
- The concept of brand equity and the factors that influence brand equity
- Brand strategies and tactics
- Brand extension, brand portfolio management,
- Brand architecture and brand hierarchy
- Brand co-creation and brand communication
- Importance and purpose of measuring and evaluating brand performance
- Challenges and opportunities that brands face in the digital era
- Potential risks and threats, such as brand dilution, brand erosion, brand imitation, brand crisis
Advanced Brand Management
3
ECTS
- Brand and brand management and their scope and importance
- Key components and objectives of a brand strategy
- Brand identity system and the elements of brand identity
- The concept and methods of brand positioning
- The concept of brand equity and the factors that influence brand equity
- Brand strategies and tactics
- Brand extension, brand portfolio management,
- Brand architecture and brand hierarchy
- Brand co-creation and brand communication
- Importance and purpose of measuring and evaluating brand performance
- Challenges and opportunities that brands face in the digital era
- Potential risks and threats, such as brand dilution, brand erosion, brand imitation, brand crisis
Advanced Negotiation & Influencing Skill
2
ECTS
- Positional and principal negotiations – advanced strategies and tactics
- Identifying the opponent’s negotiation profile
- Understanding the personal negotiation profile and preferences
- General persuasion techniques
- Negotiation maneuvers and tactics for advanced players
- Techniques for opponent engagment
- Managing emotions and self- programming for defending your point of view
- Cialdini’s 6 principles of persuasion
Advanced Negotiation & Influencing Skill
2
ECTS
- Positional and principal negotiations – advanced strategies and tactics
- Identifying the opponent’s negotiation profile
- Understanding the personal negotiation profile and preferences
- General persuasion techniques
- Negotiation maneuvers and tactics for advanced players
- Techniques for opponent engagment
- Managing emotions and self- programming for defending your point of view
- Cialdini’s 6 principles of persuasion
Language & Communication Skills
2
ECTS
The “Scholarly Writing and Analysis” course is offered for German native speakers. German as a foreign language is offered as an obligatory course for Non-native German speakers.
Language & Communication Skills
2
ECTS
The “Scholarly Writing and Analysis” course is offered for German native speakers. German as a foreign language is offered as an obligatory course for Non-native German speakers.
Why CBS UNIVERSITY
Your path to CBS
Starting your studies at CBS University of Applied Sciences is as unique as you are – and at the same time, completely hassle-free. With our user-friendly online application process, you can apply from anywhere, with no numerus clausus restrictions. Instead of rigid admission requirements, we focus on a personal selection process that highlights your strengths and potential.
Whether you choose a dual, part-time, or full-time programme, CBS University offers the perfect combination of theory and practice.

Admission requirements
The Zugangsvoraussetzungen für dein Master-Studium an der CBS University of Applied Sciences variieren je nach Studiengang . into your studies at CBSSciences is so Like yourself — and at the same time designed. With our easy to use Can you yourself apply, completely without . Instead of staring Waiting for you with us is a that is your strengthsand focuses on potential. Regardless of whether you opt for dual, part-time or full-time study, the CBSUniversity offers you the of
Deadlines
The application deadline is year round open, even before you graduate from high school. For dual study programs, you should sufficient lead time Plan so that we can find your suitable practice partner. The start of studies is flexible: in the winter semester or, for selected programs, also in the summer semester. One early candidature is particularly important for limited study places secure and apply for any necessary visas in good time.
funding
A dual or part-time study Is often used by the Practice partner financed, which is also a valuable occupational provides accompaniment. A full-time study On the other hand, can be achieved by numerous Funding opportunities like BAföG or stipends Personalize to give you an optimal connection of personal Development and academic To make the future possible.
HANDS-ON LEARNING AT ITS BEST
At CBS, we are committed to seamlessly integrating theory and practice, allowing you to apply your knowledge directly and gain valuable insights into the real working world.
Business Projects
Im Rahmen der Business Projects an der CBS International Business School haben Studierende die Möglichkeit, gemeinsam mit renommierten Unternehmen an realitätsnahen Projekten zu arbeiten. Diese praxisorientierte Lehrform verbindet theoretisches Wissen mit konkreten wirtschaftlichen Fragestellungen und gewährt tiefe Einblicke in berufliche Abläufe.
Unternehmenskooperation
Dank eines Netzwerks von über 1.300 etablierten Unternehmen aus diversen Branchen profitieren Studierende von exklusiven Einblicken in die Arbeitswelt. Diese Kooperationen eröffnen nicht nur spannende Perspektiven, sondern fördern auch die Entwicklung wichtiger Kontakte und bieten nachhaltige Karrieremöglichkeiten.
Praktikum/Berufserfahrung
Ob in Form von Pflichtpraktika, die fester Bestandteil vieler Studiengänge sind, oder durch die Integration von Berufserfahrung in duale und berufsbegleitende Programme: Du kannst dein Fachwissen direkt in der realen Arbeitswelt anwenden.
HOW DO I FIND MY PERFECT CAREER PATH?
The Career Service and Talent Development team at CBS support you in finding your ideal partner company. With 1:1 coaching, workshops, and a wide network of corporate partners, we guide you throughout your entire time at university. Together, we’ll develop a strategy that matches your strengths and career goals.

Ablauf und Präsenzzeiten deS Masterstudiums


Inspiration and Impact – What Our Alumni Say
Let yourself be inspired by the experiences of our alumni and discover how the Master’s degree at CBS has shaped their professional and personal development.
FAQ: The most important questions about studying Digital Marketing
Here you can find answers to all important questions all around your Digital Marketing master's degree. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us at any time.
What is the Digital Marketing?
The English-taught Digital Marketing Master’s programme provides in-depth knowledge and hands-on skills in online marketing strategies, social media management, content marketing, and data-driven marketing. This programme equips students with the expertise to develop innovative digital campaigns and prepares them for leadership roles in the fast-evolving digital marketing sector.
Why should you study the Digital Marketing Master’s programme?
The Master’s in Digital Marketing offers a unique combination of theoretical knowledge and practical application. Students learn how to develop, implement, and optimise digital marketing strategies using the latest tools and technologies. Graduates are highly sought-after in industries such as e-commerce, media, consulting, and digital agencies.
How long does the Digital Marketing Master’s programme last?
The Digital Marketing Master’s programme typically lasts 4 semesters (2 years) and concludes with the award of a Master of Arts (M.A.).
Does the Digital Marketing Master’s programme have a Numerus Clausus (NC)?
There is no fixed NC for the Digital Marketing Master’s programme. Admission is based on your Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience in marketing or a related field.
What are the admission requirements for the Digital Marketing Master’s programme?
Applicants need a first academic degree (e.g., Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field). Strong English skills are required, as the Digital Marketing Master’s programme is taught entirely in English.
How is the Digital Marketing Master’s programme structured?
The Digital Marketing Master’s programme combines lectures, seminars, and hands-on projects. Students work on real-world case studies and gain experience with industry-leading digital marketing tools such as Google Analytics, SEO tools, social media management systems, and CRM platforms.
Where can I study the Digital Marketing Master’s programme?
The Digital Marketing Master’s programme is offered at the Cologne campus.
What will I learn in the Digital Marketing Master’s programme? What are the core subjects?
Key study areas in the Digital Marketing Master’s programme include:
• SEO & SEA (Search Engine Marketing)
• Social Media Marketing & Influencer Strategies
• Performance Marketing & Data Analytics
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
• Digital Brand Management & Content Strategy
Can I study abroad during the Digital Marketing Master’s programme?
Yes! In the fourth semester, you can either study abroad and write your Master’s thesis internationally or complete a minimum seven-week internship as part of the Digital Marketing Master’s programme.
Can I write my Master’s thesis in collaboration with a company during the Digital Marketing Master’s programme?
Yes! In the final semester, you can either spend a semester abroad or complete a corporate internship, providing the perfect opportunity to write your Master’s thesis with a business focus in the Digital Marketing Master’s programme.
Any questions? We're here to help
Do you have any questions about our bachelor's or master's degree programs? Our Student Advisory team is here to support you! Schedule your personal consultation—online or in person—for tailored, non-binding guidance on finding the right study program for you.
