Unlike other ESSEC master’s degree programs, the ESSEC MSc in Marketing Management and Digital (MMD) is conducted exclusively at the Asia-Pacific campus in Singapore.

For those keen on careers in marketing, this feature also plays a massive part in their decision to choose the MMD program.

They tell us why this is the case and, having reached the campus, what they love about studying in Singapore.

1 | Exposure to International Perspectives

“I felt being in Singapore would allow me to venture out of my comfort zone and develop greater cultural sensitivity and critical thinking—skills which I believe are crucial for aspiring luxury marketers,” Antoine Habay, who comes from France, shares.

To date, he has been satisfied. “My classmates come from a wide variety of backgrounds and countries. Each experience with them is meaningful—I’ve learned a lot about different cultures as I build deeper relationships with them,” he says.

2 | Understanding a Booming Luxury Market

Indeed, as Antoine accurately identified, cultural capital—especially knowledge of Asia—may be precious for those angling to work in luxury. After all, sales in the Asia-Pacific region are expected to account for 40 percent of global luxury personal goods sales by 2025.

Luxury brands are also increasingly entering countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines—indicating that they will view understanding of business in Asia as an asset.

MMD students, therefore, have an advantage, as they can work with luxury brands on real-world Asia-focused projects during their luxury brand management and retail management classes.

“I gained valuable knowledge of the sector during these projects and was able to share my unique insights on the luxury industry with my interviewers,” testifies Ziyang Wang from China, whose cohort worked with the likes of Vacheron Constantin and Tiffany & Co.

These all helped her secure an internship with Dior upon graduation.

3 | Experience with Asian Businesses

For those not keen on the luxury market, it still helps that “Singapore is the biggest talent hub in Southeast Asia, and many companies have their Asia-Pacific headquarters in the country,” Belgium national Ilse Hilde Van Cauwenberghe observes.

To achieve her goals of working in employer branding and in Asia, being close to these companies is likely to be a boon.

Her classmate, Wenting (Wynter) Huang, from China, agrees. “To work in Asia, I felt it would be important to be in Asia, network with people in the region, and learn more about Asian business practices,” she explains.

This is another area in the MMD program that supports students. Nikita Raman Gundala comes from India.

“There is the Digital Marketing Challenge (DMC), which will allow us to spend a month working on a real business case from an actual company and a study trip to visit companies overseas,” she says, adding: “I’m really looking forward to interacting with the doyens of various industries!”

4 | Excellent Career Services Support

Nikita’s excitement is partly because career services have supported her professional development and helped her build her confidence when meeting recruiters.

Like her, other MMD students, such as Yiting Ke from China, testify to “loving the guest talks and other career services that provide MMD students with networking opportunities”—in addition to the regular staple of resume writing and interview preparation support.

To her, these have helped her become more outgoing, which she ultimately credits for helping her secure a role at Louis Vuitton.

5 | The Warm ESSEC Asia-Pacific Culture

Finally, students love the community at ESSEC Asia-Pacific. “It’s close-knit, and the alumni are very approachable and helpful,” Indian student Pratyush Ranjan declares, noting that he has never been in an environment where the Deputy Dean regularly chats with students in the canteen.

“That’s just how open and easy it is,” he says.

“Students are proactive in conducting various activities, and ESSEC supports us with funding if there are enough participants. For example, there are music, climbing, and volunteering clubs, so students can explore their talents and pursue their interests,” Nikita chimes in.

So, to those who worry about acclimatizing to a new culture, there is no need to fear: At ESSEC-Pacific, there are plenty of avenues to connect with a community that will soon feel like home.