Advertising Creativity Major - Bachelor of Communication Studies

Advertising is about thinking laterally and developing effective brand and product campaigns. You start with 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 TVNZ, Spark, MediaWorks, Saatchi & Saatchi, DDB, Colenso BBDO, FCB New Zealand and Film Construction.

Develop a professional portfolio you can use to apply for work as a copywriter, art director and other roles in an ad agency. You collaborate with your classmates on advertising briefs, writing and designing ads for real products and clients. 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.


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:

You also choose 30 points from the optional papers listed below or any other paper in the Bachelor of Communication Studies.

Year 2

You study the following papers:

You also choose 60 points from the optional papers listed below or any other paper in the Bachelor of Communication Studies.

Year 3

You study the following papers:

And choose 15 points from:

You also choose 45 points from the optional papers listed below or any other paper in the Bachelor of Communication Studies.

Optional papers

Level 5 papers

Level 6 papers

Level 7 papers

More details about papers in this programme

Detailed programme structure and paper outlines (Blackboard)

Search for a paper (Arion)

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
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Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.

Advertising Creativity Careers

Key features
  • The only NZ university degree in advertising 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 and cheeky
  • Hard-working and committed
Natassja Cox
Jono Aidney
Taylor Duncan
Sophie Aitken
Eamonn Dobson
Natassja Cox
Great graduatesNatassja CoxMarketing and Communications Associate, Customer Success; Goodworld, Washington, DCBachelor of Communication StudiesDeciding what to study was easy, says AUT communication studies alumna Natassja Cox who is currently interning at Goodworld in Washington, DC.Deciding what to study was easy, says AUT communication studies alumna Natassja Cox who is currently interning at Goodworld in Washington, DC. The advertising major challenges you creatively and pushes you to create your best work, Natassja says.
Jono Aidney
Great graduatesJono AidneyCreative Group Head, The Wilderness Society, MelbourneBachelor of Communication StudiesCommunication skills are vital for anything, says AUT advertising alumnus Jono Aidney who now works for Australian environmental group The Wilderness Society.Communication skills are vital for anyone doing anything, anywhere, says AUT advertising alumnus Jono Aidney who now works in Melbourne for the environmental group The Wilderness Society. Jono decided to pursue his passion for environmentalism after a successful career as an advertising executive in New Zealand and Australia. The mix of theory and practice was what Jono enjoyed most about his studies at AUT.
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.
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.
Eamonn Dobson
Great graduatesEamonn DobsonTechnical Production Intern, Oxygen Eventworks, New YorkBachelor of Communication StudiesInterning in New York through the AUT Internz International Scholarship Programme is one of the best things that ever happened to him, says Eamonn Dobson.Interning in New York through the AUT Internz International Scholarship Programme is one of the best things that ever happened to him, says communication studies alumnus Eamonn Dobson. After initially dreaming of being a journalist, Eamonn fell in love with advertising in his second year at AUT. Being able to work on advertising campaigns for clients was a highpoint for Eamonn.

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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