The project is the focus of the Advanced Marketing Diploma Program. Within the third-year students are required to take 2 courses in which students work as marketing research consultants for a live client. They work with a ‘client’ to complete a primary marketing research project spanning two semesters.

Some of the basic parameters of the project are:

This project offers students an immersive, hands-on consulting experience, working directly with a real-world client to analyze market conditions, identify strategic opportunities, and assess potential threats. By leveraging both secondary research and client-directed primary research—such as surveys or focus groups—students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the business landscape.

Beyond traditional research methods, students will engage in advanced market intelligence, including an in-depth social media audit and listening analysis if applicable to the client’s strategy. This ensures that recommendations are not only data-driven but also aligned with current digital engagement trends.

Throughout this two-semester initiative, students will collaborate in teams, forming groups in early September and progressing through rigorous analysis, strategy development, and iterative refinement. The culmination of their work will be a professional-grade report and a strategic presentation delivered to the client in March—providing actionable insights and marketing solutions tailored to the client’s goals. This experience equips students with critical problem-solving skills, real-world research expertise, and the ability to translate data into market-ready strategies, positioning them for success in the dynamic world of marketing.

What Clients Receive at the End?

This project provides students with the opportunity to deliver real, actionable marketing solutions that drive business success. By conducting in-depth market research, analyzing consumer behavior, and leveraging both qualitative and quantitative insights, students will craft data-driven strategies tailored to the client’s needs. The final outcomes of this project could include:

✅ Go-to-Market Marketing Strategies – Students may develop a comprehensive launch plan for a new product or service, identifying key target audiences, messaging, and promotional tactics to maximize market entry success.

✅ Creative Marketing Campaigns – Whether it’s a digital ad campaign, influencer collaboration, or experiential marketing initiative, students will generate innovative, results-driven campaigns designed to boost brand awareness and engagement.

✅ New Channel Distribution Strategies – By assessing market trends and consumer preferences, students may recommend expanding into new sales channels, such as e-commerce platforms, retail partnerships, or direct-to-consumer models.

✅ Business Development Strategies – Students could identify strategic partnerships, untapped revenue streams, or customer acquisition tactics to help the client grow its business and strengthen its competitive edge.

✅ Social Media Strategies & Optimization – Through an in-depth social media listening analysis, students will provide insights into audience sentiment, content performance, and engagement trends, delivering a refined strategy that enhances brand presence and effectiveness across social platforms.

✅ Website Strategy & Optimization – If digital presence is key, students will analyze user experience (UX), SEO performance, and content effectiveness, providing actionable recommendations to improve website visibility, traffic, and conversion rates.

From initial research to final recommendations, students will translate insights into market-ready strategies, equipping the client with tangible solutions that can be implemented immediately. The project culminates in a professional presentation in March, where teams will showcase their findings and strategic recommendations—empowering the client with innovative, research-backed marketing solutions.

Students will spend 8 months working on a project at no cost to the employer.

Students will :

• conduct an in-depth formal market research situational analysis
• conduct marketing research with a given audience
• deliver an engaging and strategic presentation of findings and recommendations