Who is better a CIM diploma or masters in marketing?

Answer 1

It's not that one is better than the other; it's just that they are different. The question should be, "which one is best for me?" In order to determine that, you must first acquire a vision; a specific and clearly articulated picture of the future you intend to create for yourself. This vision should be based on a passion for what you want to do and the benefit it will bring to others as well as yourself. Once you acquire that vision, your path will become clear.

I understand that you would want to decide which is more appropriate for you. The CIM is a professional qualification, which means that it is designed for those who are working in marketing already so is taught part-time, has lots of distance learning options available and is shorter so that it can be completed in a reasonable time through part time study.

From an academic point of view, even the Chartered Postgraduate Diploma only 'might' be given exemptions towards a small proportion of the credit towards a masters degree at some universities- Indeed many of these are those who provide the CIM themselves. This is ironic, because the CIM asks for a bachelors or masters level qualification with a significant proportion of (half of the course) marketing content (or work experience, or its own earlier qualifications) to undertake particularly its higher level qualifications.

Basically it depends what you are using the qualification for - you wont do the research project (which means you arecreating your own independent original input into the area yourself), and you will not cover as many areas of marketing as you wont do as many taught modules etc if you do CIM (i.e. not a route to a PhD or specific academic research position directly in itself) but it is a useful, vocationally recognised qualification by employers in marketing to show that you are serious about marketing and to add to your gaining experience.