Advertising

You’ll develop the cultural awareness and critical thinking skills you need to analyze and produce a broad range of discourse in a full spectrum of careers — and to make a difference in whatever you do.

Overview

Advertising at Auckland Royal Academy trains creative and strategic thinkers to develop campaigns that capture attention, shift perceptions, and drive action. The programme covers the full advertising process — from consumer research and creative concept development through to media planning, production, and campaign measurement. Students learn to work effectively across broadcast, print, outdoor, and digital media environments.

The programme is studio-based, with regular briefs set by advertising industry partners and judged by creative directors and media strategists. You will develop a professional portfolio of campaign concepts and executed work across multiple categories, including consumer goods, public health, social advocacy, and tourism — sectors central to New Zealand's advertising landscape.

Career Opportunities

Advertising graduates from Auckland Royal Academy work as copywriters, art directors, account managers, media planners, and creative strategists at agencies, in-house marketing teams, and media companies throughout New Zealand and Australia. Many graduates have won industry awards and built careers at internationally recognised creative agencies.

Program Learning Outcomes

Develop integrated advertising campaigns that combine original creative concepts with strategic media planning, targeting, and budget allocation to achieve clearly defined communication objectives.

Apply consumer behaviour research, semiotics, and cultural analysis to create advertising messages that resonate with diverse New Zealand and international audiences across multiple media platforms.

Evaluate the effectiveness of advertising campaigns using industry measurement tools and analytics, applying findings to optimise creative and media strategies for improved return on investment.

Programme

Semester 1	Credits	Number
Introduction to Advertising	4	ADVT 101
Consumer Behaviour	3	MKTG 105
Visual Communication	4	DSGN 110

Semester 2	Credits	Number
Copywriting & Creative Strategy	4	ADVT 210
Media Planning & Buying	3	ADVT 201
Digital Advertising	4	ADVT 220

Semester 3	Credits	Number
Campaign Development	4	ADVT 310
Brand Management	4	MKTG 301
Advertising Research	3	ADVT 320

Semester 4	Credits	Number
Integrated Marketing Communications	4	MKTG 401
Advertising Ethics & Law	3	ADVT 410
Advertising Portfolio Capstone	4	ADVT 490
Total for the entire period of study	11