Name: Graduate Diploma of Creative Advertising
Price: 10500 NZD

Qualification

Graduate Diploma

Level 7 (140 Credits)

Start Dates

16 February 2026

Course Fees (Year 1. See fees information.)

Domestic $11,658.00 NZD

International $34,999.80 NZD

Admission Requirements

Applicants must hold a Bachelor's Degree or be able to evidence equivalent work experience.

Portfolio Requirements

Creative Advertising Task Sheet

Click here to access key information about this qualification

Study on campus

Apply Now

A career in ideas. Solve problems. Change the world.

We aren’t about annoying ads. We’re about ideas. Powerful ideas that surprise, delight, and create their own buzz. Ideas that change culture and behaviour through innovative brand products and services that demonstrate rather than talk about what a brand can do.

So, if you have a creative itch, if you crave a life-changing year, if you want a career in ideas, and you need it yesterday – talk to us. #ASAP

Why choose our programme?

Your career advantage: learn from industry creatives

We offer a unique, immersion-based approach where you work in a real creative department setting, with your timetable organised around national and global industry competitions. Your work is marked and judged by industry creatives – not academics.

In your final 10 weeks, you’ll work under the guidance of a dedicated industry mentor.

Proven results

Year after year, our students win multiple national awards and achieve excellent employment outcomes. In 2024, in recognition of the impact our graduates have had on the creative industries, our Programme Leader received an Axis Outstanding Achievement Award.

Who should apply?

Is this you? Find your fit and your work whānau.

You might be in the workforce and feeling stuck, or you may have just finished studying and are figuring out what’s next. It doesn’t matter if you’re an extrovert or an introvert, deeply into tech or not, or even a little wary of brands.

What matters is your curiosity about people, culture, and media – and that undeniable creative itch.

You’re likely in your 20s to late 30s, and ready for a meaningful next step. Get in touch today. We think you’ll know when it feels right – and so will we.

The Graduate Diploma begins with the foundations of visual communication, copywriting, and techniques for generating ideas.

You’ll work in creative partnerships to turn those ideas into fully realised concepts, benchmark your work in national and international competitions, and respond to live briefs. Along the way, you’ll develop the ability to work creatively and effectively to tight deadlines – just as you would in an agency – while learning directly from proven industry creatives.

The course culminates in our annual industry showcase, where creative directors, senior creatives, and past graduates are personally invited to view your portfolio. We see this event as your first major step into the industry, with many students securing interviews and internships on the night.

Component Name	Credits	Toggle
Art Direction	15
Level 6 CA100 PC3148

Copywriting	15
Level 6 CA700 PC3148

Creative Thinking and Idea Generation	20
Level 6 CA300 PC3148

Creative Development for Static Mediums	20
Level 7 CA400 PC3148

Creative Development in Dynamic Mediums	35
Level 7 CA500 PC3148

Integrated Creative Development	35
Level 7 CA600 PC3148

Graduates have gone on to work as Art Directors, Copywriters and Creative Directors in the creative departments of advertising, PR, social and production agencies both domestically and globally. Graduates are also increasingly working as creative generalists alongside software engineers and digital specific specialists in places such as Facebook and IBM.

Creative Director

As a Creative Director, you will be responsible for overseeing the entire design department within an agency or company. This role involves setting design standards, leading creative strategy, and ensuring cohesive direction across multiple projects. It requires a combination of leadership skills, design expertise, creativity and the ability to present a brand’s vision in a way that is both innovative and fresh. Creative Directors are sought after by high-profile agencies and agencies, making this a prestigious role in the Advertising world.

Junior Art Director

A Junior Art Director uses their design eye to help promote a cause , product or event for their clients, by showing it off in the best possible light, or imagining it in an unorthodox way. Art Directors work closely with their Copywriters to produce campaigns for a range of different formats.

Junior Copywriter

A Junior Copywriter uses their sharp wit and mastery of language to create catchy headlines and engaging stories to help promote a cause , product or event for their clients, working closely with Art Directors to produce campaigns for a range of different formats.