“But how can you not know?” Mehta uncle’s words were still ringing in my ears long after he had left. Harish Mehta was a family friend. He and my father grew up together. In days long before Facebook and Google started becoming dream companies, one could only dream of making it big with engineering. Mehta uncle wanted to defy all career related conventions, and so he became a chartered accountant. His response was simple, “I knew what I wanted to do regardless of what people said.” But I did not. I was a third-year student, nearing one of the most important crossroads of my life. I knew of only one thing; to get into advertising. I was content with that knowledge. The question of how, where, why, never occurred to me, that is, until today evening.
Under Mehta uncle’s gentle chiding I was forced to think about this a little more seriously. Maybe getting into one of the best b-schools in India was the answer? I opened my laptop, and the familiar emblem of the search engine greeted me with all that there was to know.
PRAQTISE Fact File: It is estimated that the ad spends in India would go up to 694 billion rupees by 2018, owing to digitalization and the influence of the internet.
What does a Career in Advertising Demand?
Advertising, as a career path has grown tremendously in scope and preference over the years. A career in advertising entails the best of your creativity with the organised pressure that is synonymous with a marketing or a sales job. Fundamentally, advertising comprises of two categories: the Creative and the Executive.
An MBA in Marketing will give you the necessary tutelage for a career in the Executive department of the advertising sector. Advertising includes roles such as client servicing, business expansion and retention, financial negotiations as some of its many facets.
Most advertising companies recruit individuals with management or formal advertising/mass media qualifications. Graduates from the best b-schools in India get a degree of preference for those roles that require planning and research.
Apart from MBA, there are also postgraduate diplomas and specialised courses for which the minimum qualification is graduation. These courses are specially created for those who wish to pursue a career in the field of advertising.
The industry is infamous for its erratic work timings, long nights in particular, and tremendous pressure. However, advertising continues to be one of the most lucrative sectors owing to its lucrative salary structure.
For a career in any sector, a good institute is of paramount importance.
Our list catalogues the best MBA colleges in India along with institutes that offer courses in Advertising Management and Media Studies (in no particular order).
Best b-schools in India for a Career in Advertising
On an average, 60% of MBA students opt for Marketing as their choice of specialization. It remains as the most popular of all MBA courses. MBA in marketing also offers a natural gateway into the advertising industry.
The best colleges for MBA Marketing have been listed below:
I] MBA in Marketing
- IIM-Ahmedabad
- Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) – Delhi
- IIM- Calcutta
- IIM- Lucknow
- P. Jain Institute of Management and Research- Mumbai
- IIM- Bangalore
- Xavier’s Labour Research Institute- Jamshedpur
- Narsee Monjee institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)- Mumbai
- IIM- Kozhikode
- Management Development Institute (MDI)- Gurgaon
II] MBA in Advertising Management
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Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)- New Delhi
Course: Post Graduate Diploma in Advertising and Public Relations
Duration: One Year
About the Course: The PG Diploma is a dynamic and engaging course, designed to help in decision making in the world of Advertising and Public Relations.
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Mudra Institute of Communications (MICA) – Ahmedabad
Course: Post Graduate Certificate Programme in Advertising Management and Public Relations (PGCPAMPR)
Duration: Online course spread across the year
About the Course: MICA integrates management studies with advertising knowledge for the skills required at the executive level of advertising. Among the best b-schools in India, it is perhaps the most favoured one for pursuing advertising.
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Xavier’s Institute of Communication, St. Xavier’s College- Mumbai
Course: Advertising and Marketing Communication
Duration: 10 months
About the Course: The PG Diploma course gives an exhaustive idea of the advertising industry and its interdependence with marketing. The second semester of this course requires students to execute their theoretical knowledge in projects and practical tests.
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Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication- Pune
Course: MBA in Advertising
Duration: Three Years (4 semesters)
About the Course: The Symbiosis Management Course in advertising is a unique and innovative teaching program that is designed around current market trends. Apart from MBA in advertising, Symbiosis also has MBA programs in Media Management and Public Relations. Industry inputs and professional in-house and visiting faculty make Symbiosis stand out as one of the best b-schools in India.
Although the industry saw a 30% growth rate in the last couple of years, recruitment and selection of candidates is still extremely demanding. Candidates with top notch skills in management and communication, paired with good amount of creative talent are chosen for profiles in this sector. An executive job in the advertising industry offers great opportunities for people who want to get inducted into a fast paced and competitive industry.
Have a college to add to our list? Let us know in the comments below.
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