MKT 710 Research Seminar

This seminar prepares participants for writing their master's thesis. Successful completion of this seminar is a requirement to write a master's thesis at any of the chairs in the  Marketing and Sales area.

To apply for participation, you must have successfully completed at least two Master-level marketing courses (MKT 5XX or MKT 6XX).

We recommend taking the courses MKT 510 (Price and Product Management) as well as MKT 520 (Market Research) in parallel or before attending MKT 710.

The application process for the MKT 7x0 seminars in the Marketing & Sales area is organized centrally. Please send your complete application documents (in a bundled PDF document) to marketingseminarmail-uni-mannheim.de within the above mentioned application period.

Application documents:

• Transcript of records of your bachelor programme
• Current transcript of records of your master programme, incl. a preliminary grade point average
• List of your 10 topic priorities (please use the topic priority form)

You will be automatically informed on the above-mentioned date (admission information) which chair you have been assigned to. We therefore ask you to refrain from making an earlier inquiry.

Information on the Topic Priority List:

• Your list must contain exactly 10 topics, ordered from 1 (highest priority) to 10 (lowest priority)
• Your list must contain at least two topics from each of the four chairs of Prof. Homburg, Prof. Kraus, Prof. Kuester, and Prof. Stahl.
  • Exemplary valid priority list: 3x Homburg topic, 2x Stahl topic, 3x Kuester topic, 2x Kraus topic
  • Exemplary invalid priority list: 2x Homburg topic, 4x Stahl topic, 3x Kuester topic, 1x Kraus topic

Information on the Topic Assignment:

Applications will be ranked based on the current overall GPA in your master studies.

In case of a tie between two or more applications after consideration of the criteria, the ranking order will be randomized. Based on this ranking, we will assign applicants to topics on the basis of their list of priorities.

Due to the centralized application process, there is no guarantee that you are assigned to your preferred chair.

For the introduction to the seminar, a kick-off session will take place at the date and location indicated above. At this kick-off, the topics will be announced and expectations as well as tips and hints for the preparation of the seminar paper will be presented. Please note that participation in the kick-off is mandatory.

After the kick-off, please contact your assigned supervisor at the chair to receive a literature starter pack on your topic.

Your grade results from a seminar paper (70%) and a final presentation (30%) on the assigned topic.

Please note that attendance in all presentations of other seminar participants is mandatory to receive your grade.

The seminar papers should be submitted by the above-mentioned deadline to the attention of Alin Schröder in the secretary's office of the chair or to the respective supervisor.

The length of the seminar paper should be approximately 15–20 pages.

Please submit two copies of your seminar paper in printed and bound form. In addition, please hand in two digital copies that include (a) the entire seminar paper as a single, complete file (including name, matriculation number, etc.) and (b) an anonymous version (without name, matriculation number, etc.). Please send the digital copies to the respective supervisor as well as Alin Schröder by the deadline listed above.

The seminar paper's presentations will take place as a block seminar at the date listed above. Please note that attendance of the block seminar is mandatory.

Each seminar presentation should not take longer than 15 minutes. Subsequently, there will be time for 10–15 minutes of discussion.

Please send your presentation as a Power-Point file to Alin Schröder no later than one day before the first day of final presentations. You will have to present using a laptop and projector. All necessary equipment including a pointer will be provided.

After the final presentation, we cordially invite all participants to a get-together to celebrate the end of the seminar.

Any changes to the above mentioned information will be communicated via email.

Please note that you have to be matriculated at the time the seminar paper is handed in.