Brand Managers are responsible for adapting a brand strategy for the respective target audience. Brand Managers are also responsible for creating the promotional campaign that would help the company establish an exclusive brand image for itself.
Students aspiring to become Brand Managers can take up marketing courses at Diploma, UG, PG or Doctorate level. To become a brand manager, candidates can pursue courses such as BBA Marketing, MBA Advertisement, PG Diploma in Advertising and Brand management.
Some of the top colleges offering these courses are Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication, Xavier’s Institute of Communication etc. Admissions to these colleges are usually done on the basis of entrance exams, however some colleges grant admission on the basis of merit as well.
The average fees of the courses range from INR 10,000-INR 6 LPA. As per PayScale, the average salary of Brand manager in India is INR 9,12,000 LPA. The average salary is expected to increase with experience.
- All about Career as a Brand Manager
- Steps to Become a Brand Manager
- Types of Brand Managers
- How to Become a Brand Manager in India
4.1 How to Become a Brand Manager After 12th
5.1 PG Diploma in Advertising and Brand Management
5.2 BBA Marketing
5.3 MBA Advertising Management
6.1 How to Become a Brand Manager in UK
6.2 How to Become a Brand Manager in USA
6.3 How to Become a Brand Manager in Canada
6.4 How to Become a Brand Manager in Australia
- Benefits of Becoming a Brand Manager
- Skills Required to Become a Brand Manager
- Average Salary of a Brand Manager
9.1 City Wise
9.2 Gender Wise
9.3 Experience Wise
All About Career as a Brand Manager
| Industry | Marketing |
| Eligibility | Diploma: Class 12th Bachelor’s: Class 12th Master’s: Bachelor’s degree Doctorate: Master’s degree |
| Average Course Fee | INR 10,000 to INR 6 LPA |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 3.67 to INR 17 LPA |
| Job Opportunity | Marketing Executive, Assistant Brand Manager, Brand Manager, Brand Analyst, Marketing Manager, Marketing Head |
Steps to Become a Brand Manager
To help students to gain knowledge of the admission process of Brand Management. The step-by-step process will be different from university to university. The following states a generalized step-by-step guide to become a Brand Manager.
- Decision Making: Before commencing on starting a career in Brand Management, individuals need to do certain groundwork. Research must be done on what subjects are to be chosen at class 12th, bachelors and masters level. The available job prospects with pay ranges should be noted too before one starts working.
- Subject Choices: There is no requirement of pursuing any specific subject for bachelor's level degrees. Individuals can be from any stream at class 12th. For master's programs like MBA, there is also a requirement of a specific bachelor's degree concentration. However, for doctorate degrees, a masters degree in Marketing or Brand Management is needed.
- Entrance Examination Preparation: Entrance examination scores are asked for PG diploma, bachelors and masters courses. At the bachelors level, university-level test scores asked are NPAT, DU JAT, IPU CET etc. For masters and PG diploma courses, popularly asked for test scores are CAT, XAT, MAT, GMAT etc. Doctorate degrees require GATE or NET exam score.
- Selecting Correct Colleges: Many top-ranking Management colleges offer Marketing courses. Aspirants must do proper research regarding rankings, placements, faculty, internships, training etc. There are international colleges too that provide quality Brand Management courses.
- After Qualifying Exam: As per admission processes at most colleges, candidates must first qualify for the entrance examination round. Individuals must meet the college cut-offs before advancing to the next round. The process is wrapped with group discussions and personal interviews. For doctorate courses, a research proposal is also required to be submitted.
Types of Brand Managers
Brand Management departments have a hierarchy that is followed. All positions from an executive to the director are as follows,
- Brand Executive: A Brand Executive is someone who is in charge of conducting research on the competition, working on brand communications and promotions etc. Brand Executives usually act as an in between contact with the creative team and finance teams. The average Brand Executive pay is INR 2.91 LPA.
- Senior Brand Analyst: Senior Brand Analysts are basically a promoted version of Brand Executives. Senior Brand Analysts are majorly responsible for developing various strategies for Brand Management. They are also in charge of executing the strategies . They make use of analytics to work on different campaigns. The average Brand Analyst pay is INR 4.85 LPA.
- Brand Manager: The Brand Manager is responsible for the brand image of a company. They are responsible for ensuring the brand image is always on point. They decide how the brand is to look like, what is to be communicated, product development, pricing, promotions, budgeting etc.
- Luxury Brand Manager: The Luxury Brand Managers are responsible for maintaining the communication and positioning strategies of premium brands in India. They are responsible for the conduction of market research and determine the price and profitability of the product and services. They are responsible for coming up with the names of the existing brands and also supervise the launch of various brands.
- R&D Manager: The Research and Development Manager is responsible for the development and launching of new products and services. Apart from launching they are also incharge of testing the products and making simultaneous changes that would be benefit the company in terms of its profit. The average pay for this position is INR 11.73 LPA.
- Head of Marketing: The Marketing Head is the manager on top of the entire department. They are entrusted with communicating the correct brand image to the customers. They oversee the branding, promotion, and advertising of all marketing campaigns. The average pay for this role is INR 24 LPA.
How to Become a Brand Manager in India?
Indian students have access to certificates, diplomas and full-time degree programmes in Brand Management. Students can also enrol in a related specialisation like Marketing or Advertising to make a career in Brand Management. A brief description of how to prepare to become a Brand Manager is done below.
School Level Preparation
- At the school level, there is no specific subject combinations or stream necessary to be taken up.
- Students from Science, Arts and Commerce streams can apply for Brand Management. One can, however, look into improving English fluency.
How to Become a Brand Manager after the 12th?
After completing school, students can now take up a short term professional course in the related field. Full-time degree programmes will be taught over 2 to 4 years. Elaborated below is how to prepare for a PG and UG course.
UG Preparation
- At the undergraduate level, management degrees such as BBA and BBM can be opted by the candidates.
- Candidates must choose Marketing or Advertising specialization.
- Applicants must score at least 50% aggregate score at class 12th level.
- Candidates are required to prepare for various entrance examination for the different PG level Courses such as CAT, MAT, XAT, etc.
PG Preparation
- For postgraduate courses, a bachelors degree in the same field is required.
- The most commonly pursued degree at the PG level is the MBA.
- A minimum aggregate score of 55% is necessary.
- Candidates are required to go for internship during the PG level. Those willing to go for PhD are required to take up RETs for admission..
Courses to Become a Brand Manager
The following are some of the top courses that the candidates can take up to become brand manager in India
PG Diploma in Advertising and Brand Management
Postgraduate Diploma in Advertising and Brand Management is a 2-year long course. The course admits students on a merit basis. Applicants must have a bachelors degree in any concentration to be eligible. Some universities that provide this course are Amity University and Pearl Academy.
| Duration | 1 year |
| Eligibility | Undergraduation |
| Admission Process | Merit-Based |
| Course Fee | INR 20,000 to INR 1,20,000 LPA |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2 to 5 LPA |
| Top Recruiting Areas | Marketing firms, Advertising agencies, Fashion houses etc. |
BBA Marketing
BBA in Marketing is a Management undergraduate programme of 3 years in duration. Universities providing this course conducts both merit-based and entrance test based admissions. Some popular entrance tests for BBA Marketing Course are are CUCET, IPU CET, AIMA UGAT, SET etc. BBA Marketing is offered in universities like Symbiosis International, Sharda University, Manipal University etc.
| Duration | 3 year |
| Eligibility | 10+2 |
| Admission Process | Merit or entrance exam |
| Course Fee | INR 2 LPA to 6 LPA |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 3 LPA to 8 LPA |
| Top Recruiting Areas | Marketing firms, Advertising agencies, Fashion houses etc. |
BBA Marketing: Eligibility Criteria
- All applicants must have a class 12th completion certificate.
- A minimum aggregate score of 50% (45% for SC and ST) is required.
- Based on the programme applying to, required subjects are Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and/or Biology.
MBA Advertising Management
MBA in Advertising Management is a two-year long programme. The course provides basic to advanced study on all aspects of Marketing and Advertising. Admissions are done through entrance examinations and GD/PI. The top colleges that offer this programme are AIIMS Chennai, PIMR, RNB Global University, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya etc.
| Duration | 2 years |
| Eligibility | Bachelors degree |
| Admission Process | Entrance Examination and GD/PI |
| Course Fee | INR 1,20,000 to INR 2,80,000 LPA |
| Average Starting Salary | INR 2 to 11 LPA |
| Top Recruiting Areas | Marketing firms, Advertising agencies, Fashion houses etc. |
| MBA Advertising Management: Eligibility Criteria |
- Individuals must have a bachelors degree in any concentration.
- The minimum aggregate score required is 55%.
- Final year students can also apply.
How to Become a Brand Manager Abroad?
Apart from India there are several colleges / universities abroad where students who aspire to become Brand Managers can get admissions to. Soem of the most preferred destinations for students who want to study abroad are UK, USA, Canada and Australia. However there are certain criterias that need to be fulfiled in order to be eligible to study abroad in these countries, they are as follows,
- Students must maintain a consistent performance for their overall academic records
- They must clear various langauge proficiency tests such as TOEFL or IELTS etc for being able to study abroad
Listed below are the various prerequisites and other details that needs to be catered to while applying for Brand Management courses abroad.
How to Become a Brand Manager in UK
The United Kingdom has a number of Brand Management courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
- Top specialisations are Marketing, Advertising, Luxury Brand Management, Fashion Brand Management etc.
- The average course fee is between INR 3.55 to INR 20.35 LPA
Admission Process
- Undergraduate admissions are to be done through the UCAS portal while masters admissions are done through the university website.
- Create a profile and start the application process.
- Fill up the application form with all the correct details.
- Submit English proficiency test scores like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, Cambridge English Assessment Test.
- Also upload letters of recommendation and work experience, if present. Pay the application fee and submit.
Top Colleges
| Course Name | University Name | Programme Fees |
|---|---|---|
| B.A. Hons Marketing Advertising and Branding | University of Gloucestershire | INR 13.05 LPA |
| B.A. Hons. Advertising Public Relations and Branding | Middlesex University | INR 12.43 LPA |
| B.A. Hons. Graphic Branding and Identity | University of Arts London | INR 20.35 LPA |
| M.Sc. Marketing and Brand Management | Kingston University | INR 14.65 LPA |
| M.A. Luxury Brand Management | Regents University | INR 3.55 LPA |
| M.Sc. Corporate Brand Management | Brunel University | INR 15.87 LPA |
How to Become a Brand Manager in US
In the USA, international candidates can earn a full-time undergraduate and masters degree in Brand Management.
- International candidates must be fluent in English and should submit an English proficiency test score.
- The duration of a bachelors course is 4 years while masters courses are of 2 years.
- The course fee is between INR 16.54 to INR 38.51 LPA.
Admission Process
- Undergraduate courses applications can be submitted through the Common Application portal. Masters course applicants can use the university website for the same.
- Register on the website and log in to start applying.
- Fill up the application form. Submit English proficiency test scores like TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, GMAT, GRE etc.
- Submit letters of recommendation and statement of purpose. Some programmes require prior work experience, for which relevant documents are necessary.
- Submit the application after paying the application fee.
Top Colleges
| Course Name | University Name | Programme Cost |
|---|---|---|
| B.S. in Luxury Brand Marketing and Management | Susquehanna University | INR 38.51 LPA |
| Graduate Certificate in Marketing and Brand Management | George Washington University | NA |
| M.S. in Business concentration in Branding and Strategy | Virginia Commonwealth University | NA |
| M.S. in Integrated Marketing concentration in Branding | NYU | INR 16.54 LPA |
How to Become a Brand Manager in Canada
- In Canada, colleges have certificate courses in Brand Management. Also, the University of Toronto offers a full-time MBA in the same specialisation.
- The duration of the courses from 1 month to 2 years for the full-time degree programme.
- Admission is done through the university websites.
- International students must be fluent in either English or French.
Admission Process
- Canadian colleges accept applications from their official websites.
- Before the start of the semester, register on the website to start applying.
- Fill up the application form and upload documents.
- Language proficiency test scores for English are IELTS, TOEFL , PTE etc.
- Submit financial proof and apply for scholarships.
- Submit the application.
Top Colleges
| Course Name | University Name | Programme cost |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Certificate in Brand Management | Seneca College | INR 9.15 lakh |
| MBA in Brand Management | University of Toronto | INR 77.21 LPA |
| Graduate Certificate in Brand Management | Algonquin College | INR 3 LPA |
| Strategic Branding in the Digital Age: Building, Communicating, and Revitalizing Your Brand | York University | INR 1.91 lakh |
How to Become a Brand Manager in Australia
Australia offers full-time masters degree programmes in Marketing, Advertising and Brand Management.
- International applicants must submit one English fluency test scores. Accepted tests are IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, PTE Academic, OET etc.
- Some programmes require candidates to have prior work experience in a related field. In such a case, relevant documents must be submitted with the application.
- The average course fee ranges between INR 20.20 to INR 39.84 LPA.
Admission Process
- Open up the official website of the college of choice.
- Register using an active email id and phone number.
- Log in and start applying. Fill up the application form.
- Submit language proficiency test scores like IELTS, TOEFL, CAE, PTE Academic, OET etc.
- Upload previous work experience, letters of recommendation etc.
- Review application, pay application pay and submit.
Top Colleges
| Course Name | University Name | Programme Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Management Advertising and Brand Management | University of South Australia | INR 20.20 LPA |
| Master of Marketing Brand Strategy | RMIT | NA |
| BBM Fashion and Global Brand Management | ICMS | INR 39.84 LPA |
| Master of Management Marketing | University of Melbourne | INR 25.78 LPA |
| Master of Marketing | University of Western Australia | INR 36.12 LPA |
Benefits of Becoming a Brand Manager
Brand Management is a career that might seem intimidating for the uninitiated. However, there are many benefits to be enjoyed in this field. Some of such benefits are as follows.
- Salary: Brand Management is a fast-paced and demanding field. However, the pay is equally attractive. The growth opportunities are immense in this field. The average pay for Brand Managers, irrespective of experience, is INR 9.41 LPA. The highest salary is INR 17 LPA.
- Job Security: When candidates keep earning experience in any field, job security is not a problem. Brand Managers with an impressive portfolio and years of work experience are in much demand. Candidates with more than 20 years of experience upwards of INR 16 LPA and more.
- Positive Impact on Career: Brand Management is a field that requires a lot of creativity. Brand Managers are helping brands enhance their image and build up a strong customer base. As one handles more and more projects, their credibility improves too.
- Higher studies: Brand Management is offered at all levels of education. For candidates who are working, there are short term certificate and diploma courses. Full-time degrees include Management courses in Marketing specialisation. The field also has immense research capacity to earn a doctorate degree.
- Unique Experience: Brand Management is a unique career in the aspect of its job responsibilities. Managers get to travel to exciting events, meet with the higher-ups of top brands, get perks like discounts and freebies etc.
Skills Required to Become a Brand Manager
Every profession requires certain skill sets, which if inculcated can promise a bright career ahead. Similarly inorder to become a Brand Manager there are certain set of skills that needs to be practised and inculcated inorder to make rock solid foundation in the same.
Tabulated below are some of the crucial yet basic skill sets that needs to be honed to excel in this field,
| Analytical skills | Attention to detail |
| Team working abilities | Customer-first attitude |
| Strong written and verbal communication skills | Creative and passionate |
| Up to date with recent trends | Data based decision making |
Salary of a Brand Manager
Salaries of Brand Managers can range from INR 3.67 to INR 17 LPA. This variance in salary is because of factors like the city in which the Manager works, gender and the number of years of experience. All salaries have been tabulated below.
City Wise
| Cities | Average Annual Salary LPA (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Mumbai | 7,45,000 – 10,00,000 |
| Bengaluru | 7,33,000 – 13,50,000 |
| New Delhi | 7,00,000 – 10,00,000 |
| Gurugram | 6,50,000 – 9,50,000 |
| Pune | 8,50,000 – 14,00,000 |
| Kolkata | 7,00,000 – 10,00,000 |
| Chennai | 7,50,000 – 10,50,000 |
| Hyderabad | 9,50,000 – 15,00,000 |
Gender Wise Salary
| Gender | Average Annual Salary LPA (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Male | 4,50,000 – 6,00,000 |
| Female | 3,50,000 – 5,00,000 |
Experience Wise
| Experience | Average Annual Salary LPA (in INR) |
|---|---|
| Entry Level | 6,45,000 |
| Early Career | 7,50,000 |
| Mid Career | 11,93,493 |
| Experienced | 17,62,030 |
After Brand Management Courses
Candidates after completing a course in Brand Management or Marketing have two major options to choose from, higher education or a job. Both paths have been described below.
Higher Education
After successfully completing marketing or Advertising courses one can choose to pursue higher studies in the same field or relevant field. After completing a Diploma course students can choose to pursue Undergraduate courses and after completing undergraduate courses students can choose to pursue postgraduate courses. Infact students ccan choose to conduct research in their relevant field of study and can pursue PhD in Marketing or Advertising as well. There are a wide variety of options to choose from if one decides to study further in this field.
Start Job
The most popular choice post-graduation is to start working. A large portion of graduates from any level of education seek out jobs in the Marketing industry. Entry-level jobs like Marketing Executive or Marketing Analyst teach the basics practical aspects of brand management. After gaining experience, individuals go on to work as Brand Managers.
How to Become a Brand Manager: FAQs
Ques. What is the average course fee for the Brand Management course?
Ans. The average course fee for all courses in Brand Management is between INR 10,000 to INR 6 LPA annually.
Ques. What is the minimum eligibility criteria for admission to Brand Management courses?
Ans. The minimum eligibility criteria are class 12th in any stream from a recognized education board.
Ques. What are the entrance examinations to study in a master’s course in Brand Management?
Ans. For a master’s course, one needs to qualify in CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT or GMAT etc.
Ques. What are the English language proficiency test scores accepted internationally?
Ans. In international universities, language test scores accepted are TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT, GRE, PTE, Cambridge Language Test etc.
Ques. What are some skills needed to become a Brand Manager?
Ans. Successful Brand Managers possess analytical skills, attention to detail, team working abilities, customer-first attitude, strong written and verbal communication skills and creativity and passion.
Ques. What is the pay gap between female Brand Managers and male Brand Managers?
Ans. In India, male Brand Managers earn INR 5,74,091 LPA while female Brand Managers earn INR 3,67,042 LPA annually.
Ques. Is there financial aid available for international Brand Management courses?
Ans. Yes. Depending on the university, there are scholarships and other forms of financial aid available.
Ques. Which industries are Brand Managers hired in?
Ans. Brand Managers are hired popularly in Marketing, Advertising and Fashion Houses etc.
Ques. Are personal interviews held for the admission process in Brand Management courses?
Ans. The admission process consists of a qualifying entrance examination, a group discussion and personal interviews.
Ques. Is French required as a language in Canadian Brand Management courses?
Ans. Yes. Some universities do require fluency in French by international candidates.
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