Advertising Schools and Programs in Australia

Advertising Studies in Australia

RMIT, named best advertising school in Australia

Advertising combines strategy, creativity and research: how to understand an audience, plan a campaign, write and design messages, choose media and measure results. In Australia it is usually studied within a communication or media degree, often together with public relations, social media and branding. Teaching is in English, and courses tend to mix theory with practical projects for real clients.

SpainExchange lists three schools in Australia that teach advertising: the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Bond University in Robina on the Gold Coast, and Charles Sturt University (CSU), listed under Melbourne.

How advertising degrees are organised in Australia

Australian qualifications sit within the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), which has 10 levels. According to Study Australia, the government's official study portal, a bachelor's degree typically takes 3 years (4 years for a bachelor honours degree), and postgraduate degrees take 1 to 2 years. Vocational education and training (VET) providers, including the government-owned TAFE institutes, also offer shorter certificates and diplomas in creative industries and business, and a diploma can give study credit towards a degree.

Advertising is rarely a degree on its own. Instead, students choose it as a major or specialisation:

• UNSW Bachelor of Media: a 3-year degree of 144 units of credit on the Kensington campus in Sydney, with a public relations & advertising specialisation covering creative advertising, branding and crisis and political communications
• Bond University Bachelor of Communication: students choose majors or minors from 10 study areas, including advertising, public relations, journalism and social media; Bond lists related bachelor's degrees in communication and media as 2 years (6 semesters)

Both programmes include work-integrated learning. At Bond, students produce advertising schedules, public relations campaigns and social media strategies for real clients and can intern with advertising or public relations agencies. UNSW offers internships, industry placements and projects with agencies and media organisations.

Admission and language

Undergraduate courses require an Australian Year 12 certificate or an equivalent; postgraduate courses require at least one completed undergraduate degree. Students who do not meet the academic level for direct entry can take a foundation course, usually one year long. UNSW gives a 2026 lowest selection rank of 83.0 and an IB Diploma score of 31.0 for its Bachelor of Media.

If English is not your first language, most courses set an English language requirement, published by each university. Places can fill up: UNSW states that some programmes are at capacity for 2026 intakes for new international students, while applications to all 2027 intakes are open.

Costs and visa

Tuition fees depend on the provider, the level of study and the location. For its Bachelor of Media, UNSW lists for international students a 2026 indicative first-year fee of $49,000 (tuition only) and an indicative fee of $156,500 to complete the degree (tuition plus an estimate of study-related costs). These are estimates that UNSW reviews every year. International students need a Student visa (subclass 500); from 1 July 2026 the application fee is from AUD$2,500. Student visa holders may work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session and must keep health insurance for their whole stay.

Recognition and careers

AQF qualifications are nationally accredited and recognised internationally in many industries. According to Bond University, its communication graduates work in advertising agencies, public relations consultancies, marketing roles and corporate training. UNSW names agencies, media organisations and creative professionals among the employers its media students connect with. Graduates with a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) to stay and work in Australia.

Frequently asked questions

Can I study a bachelor's degree in advertising in Australia?

Usually advertising is a major or specialisation within a communication or media degree, such as the public relations & advertising specialisation of the UNSW Bachelor of Media or the advertising major of Bond University's Bachelor of Communication.

How long does an advertising degree take in Australia?

A bachelor's degree typically takes 3 years, as the UNSW Bachelor of Media does. Bond University lists its communication and media bachelor's degrees as 2 years (6 semesters).

Do advertising students get practical experience?

Yes. Both UNSW and Bond include internships or work-integrated learning, and at Bond students produce campaigns for real clients as part of their assessments.