Advertising and Brand Creativity Major - Bachelor of Communication Studies

Study advertising and collaborate with your classmates on advertising briefs, writing and designing ads for real products and clients.

Advertising is about thinking laterally and developing effective brand and product campaigns. You start with a blank piece of paper, do the hard work to get to a great idea and then choose various media to create a campaign. AUT is the only New Zealand university that teaches advertising creativity specifically and at degree level.

We work closely with the advertising industry, and you learn from guest speakers from leading advertising agencies and client companies like Google, TVNZ, Spark, MediaWorks, Saatchi & Saatchi, DDB, Colenso BBDO, FCB New Zealand and Film Construction.

Clients and agencies brief our students directly, and your completed ads may even be published in the media. Many students are also offered workplace experience at major advertising agencies. By the end of your degree you’ll have a professional portfolio to apply for work as a copywriter, art director and other roles in an ad agency.


This is part of the Bachelor of Communication Studies.

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You develop ideation, art direction and copywriting skills for print, radio, outdoor, television and digital advertising, as well as creative problem-solving skills and the ability to communicate information in a compelling way.

Most papers last one semester and are worth 15 points. You must complete 120 points each year (360 points for the entire degree).

Year 1

You study the following papers:

Year 2

You study the following papers:

You also complete papers from your second major and your chosen minor(s).

Year 3

You study the following papers:

You also complete papers from your second major and your chosen minor(s).

Enrolment in papers is subject to meeting all requirements and availability of papers.

Majoring in advertising creativity will prepare you for a wide range of roles, including:

  • Account director or planner
  • Art director
  • Copywriter
  • Digital creative or strategist
  • Media buyer/planner
  • Strategic planner
  • Web content creator
  • Marketing manager
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Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.

Advertising and Brand Creativity

Key features
  • The only NZ university degree in advertising and brand creativity
  • Supported by the advertising industry and CCC (Commercial Communication Council)
  • Recognised by the International Design and Art Direction (D&AD) University Network
See yourself as
  • A strong writer or visual communicator, with a vivid imagination
  • A boundary breaker, a trend spotter
  • Inquisitive
  • Hard-working and committed
Joy Wood
Emma Hanley
Jake Flashman
Sophie Aitken
Taylor Duncan
Joy Wood
Great graduatesJoy WoodGrowth and Partnerships Manager, Goodworld, Washington DCBachelor of Business
Bachelor of Communication StudiesShe had been dreaming of the AUT Internz Scholarship since her first year at university, says Joy Wood who is now interning at Goodworld in Washington DC.She had been dreaming of the AUT Internz Scholarship since her first year at university, says Joy Wood who is now interning at Goodworld in Washington DC through the AUT Internz programme. As a growth and partnerships manager at Goodworld, Joy helps non-profit organisations reach their fundraising goals.
Emma Hanley
Great graduatesEmma HanleyMarketing Coordinator, ArchiProBachelor of Communication StudiesShe had her sights set on getting an AUT Internz internship from her first year at AUT, says Emma Hanley who interned at Oxygen Eventworks in New York City.She had her sights set on getting an AUT Internz internship from her first year at AUT, says communication studies alumna Emma Hanley who interned at Oxygen Eventworks in New York City after graduating from AUT. Since returning to New Zealand, Emma now works as a marketing coordinator for ArchiPro; a position she really loves.
Jake Flashman
Great graduatesJake FlashmanArt Director, FCB West, San FranciscoBachelor of Communication StudiesHe has always been creative, says communications alumnus Jake Flashman who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Advertising Creativity.He has always been creative, says Jake Flashman who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Advertising Creativity. Through the AUT Internz programme Jake is now based in San Francisco where he’s experiencing life as an art director at leading ad agency FCB West. He loves the variety of the work he is involved in, Jake says.
Sophie Aitken
Great graduatesSophie AitkenCopywriter Intern, FCB West, San FranciscoBachelor of Communication StudiesShe has always wanted to be a copywriter, says AUT alumna Sophie Aitken who completed a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Advertising Creativity.She has always wanted to be a copywriter, says AUT alumna Sophie Aitken who completed a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Advertising Creativity. After graduating at the end of 2018, Sophie has now fulfilled her dream of becoming a copywriter and is interning at creative agency FCB West in San Francisco. She got the sought-after internship through the AUT Internz International Scholarship Programme.
Taylor Duncan
Great graduatesTaylor DuncanPartnerships Manager, Customer/Client Success, Goodworld, Washington DCBachelor of Communication StudiesLike any young Kiwi she wanted get to get out and make her mark on the world, says communications alumna Taylor Duncan who now works in Washington DC.Like any young Kiwi she wanted get to get out and make her mark on the world, says communications alumna Taylor Duncan. After graduating at the end of 2017, Taylor is now interning for social enterprise Goodworld in Washington DC. She got this sought-after internship through the AUT Internz International Scholarships Programme.

The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.

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