Best uni/course for creative advertising? (1 Viewer)

[rooster1908]

So my dream job is to be a copywriter at an advertising agency. I'm struggling to figure out what course would be most useful to me.

I can't decide whether to do a business degree or a communications degree. While it seems that a communications degree would allow me to focus on advertising more thoroughly, a bachelor of business with a major in marketing would surely be more practical, and increase my future job prospects. Is this a correct assumption?

The media/communications degrees that I'm considering are:

BA Communication (Public Communication) @ UTS

or

B Media (PR & Advertising) @ UNSW

The UTS course would allow me to specialise more in advertising, as the UNSW course has more of a focus on PR, with only one subject dedicated solely to advertising. However, I've heard that the subjects in the UTS course are very repetitive and mundane.

I also have worries about doing these degrees as I've heard that they focus more on the strategic side of advertising, with little to no focus on creative.

In terms of business degrees, I would be looking to major in marketing. I see this as being much more practical, as with the advertising industry being so intensely competitive, a business degree would leave me with many more options if I don't succeed in advertising. On the other hand, I don't see much opportunity to foster my creative abilities in the advertising realm in this degree.

Has anyone got any insight that could help me with my decision? Even some uneducated advice would be somewhat beneficial.

 

[Ivorytw]

communications.

 

[Lolsmith]

Just watch every season of Mad Men over and over

 

[MrOrange]

So my dream job is to be a copywriter at an advertising agency. I'm struggling to figure out what course would be most useful to me.

I can't decide whether to do a business degree or a communications degree. While it seems that a communications degree would allow me to focus on advertising more thoroughly, a bachelor of business with a major in marketing would surely be more practical, and increase my future job prospects. Is this a correct assumption?

The media/communications degrees that I'm considering are:

BA Communication (Public Communication) @ UTS

or

B Media (PR & Advertising) @ UNSW

The UTS course would allow me to specialise more in advertising, as the UNSW course has more of a focus on PR, with only one subject dedicated solely to advertising. However, I've heard that the subjects in the UTS course are very repetitive and mundane.

I also have worries about doing these degrees as I've heard that they focus more on the strategic side of advertising, with little to no focus on creative.

In terms of business degrees, I would be looking to major in marketing. I see this as being much more practical, as with the advertising industry being so intensely competitive, a business degree would leave me with many more options if I don't succeed in advertising. On the other hand, I don't see much opportunity to foster my creative abilities in the advertising realm in this degree.

Has anyone got any insight that could help me with my decision? Even some uneducated advice would be somewhat beneficial.

I am having the exact same problem as you! I to have narrowed down my degrees to that but I don't know which university will be better. I seem to be only able to locate old threads and reports from the early 2000's which isn't much help.
Have you found out any more information on this? I would love if you could let me know

 

[Absolutezero]

Majoring in Marketing in a Commerce degree does have creative options, but it depends on the subjects you do. I'm doing a subject at the moment, where the major assignment has been developing a media and advertising campaign for a product, and a chunk of it is creative. However, the degree as a whole is limiting in the amount of creative work you actually get to do. You have to cover key topics like market research and consumer behaviour, which can get a bit dry at times.

There's very few courses that would allow you to focus a majority of your time on creative projects, namely because there is a lot of theoretical content that goes into them. You have to know why to do something before you do it. That's where the theory comes into it.

As for the two degrees, the communications one is probably better if your more into advertising than PR. I don't know much about them though, so I can't give you any real advice in that area.

 

[ochaguy]

In the media industry, no one gives a damn what degree you study. Copywriting is not a professional accreditation so in the end, it doesn't really matter whether you have a commerce or communications degree under your belt.

If you want to become a copywriter, start blogging, writing articles, scripts, posters etc and build up your portfolio. Start hunting for internships as soon as you can (even in first year) and be prepared to slug out for unpaid internships. Also, start to build an online presence and skill up with social media, wordpress and other online mediums because that's where the future copywriting jobs are (entry level at least). Remember, you'll be competing with people from all disciplines such as arts, English, history, etc so competition is cut throat ferocious out there.

If you're dead set on a copywriting career, I'd suggest going with a communications degree purely because it has less contact hours than commerce degrees (9 hrs vs 12). This means that you should have at least 3 days for work. Also remember that PR work is more to do with press releases, and getting your message out there, as opposed to creating a distinct message (advertising)

It's also worth noting that commerce/business courses are charged at band 3, while arts/communication courses are charged at band 2. You're looking at a difference of $6k over a 3 year degree. (HECS) You'll also be required to study core economics and accounting subjects in commerce which may not be your cup of tea.

Good luck

 

[KidDang]

Have you considered the marketing and media degree at Macquarie? it's integrated so that students can apply marketing in the media industry and its only a 3year degree. By any chance you later feel copywriting is not for you, the marketing part of the degree will always help. And if you pop by Macquarie's website you'll see on the careers section of that degree Copywriter as one of the top few choices.

If you're worried about the Atar it is supply and demand I'm sure this year it will drop down to about 88-94

 

[Cl324]

If you can get in, the usyd media degree lets you do 3 majors: one in media, and random arts majors including marketing

 

[SoniaAgg]

In the media industry, no one gives a damn what degree you study. Copywriting is not a professional accreditation so in the end, it doesn't really matter whether you have a commerce or communications degree under your belt.

If you want to become a copywriter, start blogging, writing articles, scripts, posters etc and build up your portfolio. Start hunting for internships as soon as you can (even in first year) and be prepared to slug out for unpaid internships. Also, start to build an online presence and skill up with social media, wordpress and other online mediums because that's where the future copywriting jobs are (entry level at least). Remember, you'll be competing with people from all disciplines such as arts, English, history, etc so competition is cut throat ferocious out there.

If you're dead set on a copywriting career, I'd suggest going with a communications degree purely because it has less contact hours than commerce degrees (9 hrs vs 12). This means that you should have at least 3 days for work. Also remember that PR work is more to do with press releases, and getting your message out there, as opposed to creating a distinct message (advertising)

It's also worth noting that commerce/business courses are charged at band 3, while arts/communication courses are charged at band 2. You're looking at a difference of $6k over a 3 year degree. (HECS) You'll also be required to study core economics and accounting subjects in commerce which may not be your cup of tea.

Good luck

This is really helpful suggestion. Thanks a lot

 

[1to1 Tutor]

Buckinghamshire New University is supposably meant to be very good. I've encountered a few graduates who are now successfully working in advertising, and they seemed content with how the course was ran. It's worth noting that the course divides at some point where certain students focus on advertising primarily and others focus on the application/execution and strive to become designers. According to their experiences, those that chose to become the designers were frowned and looked down upon by tutors and students who chose to focus on advertising, - where you solely focus on the development of ideas, rather than realizing those ideas.
Thank you!