Macleay College has a long tradition of offering highly regarded, industry focused education in Business, Journalism and Advertising from it’s Sydney campus. Following the successful launch of it’s much talked about multi-media journalism courses from the new campus on Swanston Street, the college is proud to announce the launch of the Bachelor of Advertising & Media and Diploma of Advertising courses in Melbourne from February 2016.

The advertising and media industries are calling out for educators to fill the talent gap in the rapidly emerging digital and media spaces. Macleay College is positioning itself on the forefront of the ever-increasing collaborative space between creative, management and media.

The newly accredited Bachelor of Advertising & Media is Australia’s only dedicated advertising degree (not simply a major as part of a marketing or communications qualification), and combines units of study in marketing & media, creative and digital, with management & production. So students have the opportunity to learn industry-based skills in a truly integrated and collaborative environment – and that, due to the 3-trimester system, in 2 rather than 3 years of full-time of study. It is also interesting to note that when planning an international career, a bachelor qualification is mandatory for a US working visa.

In addition, the college is also offering it’s well established Diploma of Advertising, a one year intensive course that gives career starters a great overview of all areas of the advertising industry, and career and/or study changers a fast-track into a career in Adland. Graduates include Robert Concepcion, art director at Anomaly in New York, Will Edwards, associate creative director in JWT Sydney, Daniel Cutrone, investment director at Initiative Media, Jo Butler, founder & managing director at Platinum Media & Communications and Alex Roberts, Director at Finch Film Production, just to name a few.

Study-changers who have found great success and immediate jobs on completion of the one-year diploma have come from such diverse areas of study as: psychology to become brand strategists, graphic design to become art directors, journalists to become copywriters, and marketers to become social media specialists.

“The advertising industry is going through a dynamic and exciting period of change, where there are fantastic opportunities for young people (digital natives) with an innovative approach to solving problems coupled with digital production skills” says the program leader Ian Thomson. He adds “Macleay’s unique focus on industry based learning; featuring lectures who are working in the industry; student’s working on live agency briefs; and the compulsory internship program, aim to prime the next generation of advertising and media professionals to be strategic thinkers with a multi-disciplinary skill-set.”

The Bachelor of Advertising and Media was developed in consultation with key industry leaders to ensure that graduates will be highly relevant and useful from day one in emerging job roles. The advisory panelists include:

• Linda Anderson, Professional Development Manager, The Communications Council
• Andrew Barnum, Creative Principal at Barnum Group
• Tim Brierley, Managing Partner at Grey Healthcare Advertising
• Matthew Deprado, Creative Director
• Sophie Madden, Chief Executive Officer, Media Federation Australia
• Aaron Michie, Chief Innovation Officer, ZenithOptimedia
• Ross Raeburn, CEO UM Australia
• Alex Ritchie, Creative Director at e2 Creative Group
• Gaye Steel, Marketing Consultant
• Ian Thomson, Head of Advertising, Macleay College
• Andy Wright, recent Managing Director at R/GA

The course will appeal to enterprising individuals who are interested in combining their know-how as strategic thinkers, innovative organisers, creative spirits or numbers people – and who are interested in the emerging career opportunities in the increasingly diverse industries of advertising and media.

Day and evening classes start at the new Melbourne campus at 55 Swanston Street on February 8.

For more information contact Ellen Rafferty on 0477 733 522.