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Short Course

AI Essentials for Digital Marketers Course

17 December 2025

Learn to leverage generative artificial intelligence for digital marketing in just 20-hours. Get to grips with AI tools, strategies and applications in our online AI for Marketers course.

HOW TO APPLY

Price

Domestic learners

$395 NZD incl GST where applicable

International learners

$821 NZD incl GST where applicable

Qualification

Short course

Duration

20 hours

Entry times

2 February 2026*
9 March 2026
27 April 2026
1 June 2026

*For the best learning experience, we recommend 5 hours of study per week over 4 weeks. Learning must be completed within 2 months. 

Coming soon

Overview

Have you ever used AI in your work or personal life? If you think the answer is no, you might be surprised...

Almost everything we do online is powered by AI, from finding the fastest route on a map to designing presentations or analysing data. When marketers talk about AI, they're usually referring to Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) or Large Language Models (LLMs): tools that mimic human behaviour and creativity.

In this AI for Marketers course, you’ll explore how GenAI is transforming digital marketing, and how you can harness it to work smarter, not harder. The real challenge isn’t humans versus AI — it’s humans versus humans using AI. By building practical AI skills for marketing, you'll gain a competitive edge.

It can be hard to know where to start, which is why this course gives you a foundation in AI for marketing that'll help you stay adaptable as new tools and opportunities emerge. By the end of this 20 hour course, you’ll understand how to use AI to enhance your work, improve efficiency, and make smarter digital marketing decisions.

This course is ideal for

  • Marketing and account managers
  • Marketing coordinators and assistants
  • Copywriters and content managers
  • Digital marketers and social media managers 
  • Public relations and communication specialists
  • Any marketers who want to use AI to enhance their work but need help getting started

Your pathway to postgraduate study starts here

AI Essentials for Digital Marketers is more than a short course — it’s a chance to experience the type of content and learning available in our Postgraduate Certificate in Digital Marketing.

Adapted from the programme's foundational Digital Marketing course, this 20-hour AI course online lets you experience online learning, build practical skills, and decide if further study is right for you.

If you enjoy this course, the PGCertDigiMktg — made up of four nine-week courses — will help you progress your career as professional marketer. 

You’ll be learning online with a flexible, supportive programme designed to fit around your life and career. 

What you'll learn

In this AI for Marketers course you'll explore: 

  • What GenAI is, how it works, its purpose, and the main players that you can use in your marketing efforts to best utilise ai for marketing
  • The impact of GenAI for digital marketing — and how you can  best utilise it for strategic gains
  • Ethics you need to be aware of and consider when utilising GenAI tools for marketing
  • The skills to complete a marketing task more efficiently or effectively by strategically using GenAI for marketing

How it works

 

Our AI for Marketers course is flexible, enabling you to plan your study around your other commitments. You can choose to complete the 20 hours of study when it suits you during the learning period. 

We recommend completing around 5 hours of study per week over 4 weeks, but you'll have 8 weeks to complete all learning. 

Nervous about studying online?
You'll start your course with an optional UC Online Essentials course, giving you a chance to get familiar with the learning management system (LMS). Learn more about how online study with us really works.

Online, not alone
Study anywhere, feel supported everywhere. This accelerated learning course is designed to help you gain new skills quickly and effectively — maximum learning and minimum time commitment. This means there will not be a dedicated course facilitator, but our Enrolment Support and Learner Support teams are always here to help.

Qualification
This is a standalone course that recognises the achievement of specific skills, experience, or knowledge. There are no academic points associated with this course.

Recognition
Upon successful completion of the course you will be issued a digital badge to recognise your learning achievements

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Course outline

The course is divided into four modules you'll work your way through over the learning period. Each module includes specific learning objectives, educational content across a range of media, activities to apply what you've learnt, plus a 'temperature check' survey to make sure you're getting what you need as a learner. 

Module 1: GenAI basics
Understand and identify what GenAI is, how it works, its creative limits, and how you can best use prompt engineering in your work. 

Module 2: GenAI use in digital marketing
Explore the impact that GenAI is having on digital marketing, and how you can best utilise AI tools for marketing effectively and efficiently. 

Module 3: Ethical and appropriate use of GenAI
Explore the appropriate and ethical use of GenAI for digital marketing, including plagiarism; accuracy and confirmation bias; laziness; and lack of oversight. 

Module 4: Take it to work
Put your learning into action, and complete a digital marketing task more efficiently or effectively by strategically using GenAI tools for marketing.

Assessments  
All assessments are self-assessments, mostly short quizzes with instant feedback to help check your understanding. To complete the course, you’ll simply need to work through all learning modules and complete the self-assessment activities. There are no formal grades for this course.


Requirements

There are no prerequisites for this AI for Marketers course – it is open to anyone who has confidence listening, reading, and writing in English. 

This AI course online is designed for people working or aspiring to work in marketing – if you're not sure please contact us via info@uconline.ac.nz to check if this course is right for you. 

Technology requirements 

  • We recommend a laptop or desktop computer and a reliable internet connection.
  • A PDF reader (like Adobe Acrobat Reader DC) to download PDFs with assessment instructions.
  • Word processing software (like Microsoft Word or Google Docs) to complete your assignments.

Course fees
Course fees must be paid before learning can begin, either via online credit-card payment, or you can request an invoice by filling out this form. Invoice requests must be submitted by the Monday before the course entry date. If you’re enquiring after that, we recommend paying by credit card to avoid any delay to enrolment.

Group discounts
Get your colleagues together to take advantage of our group discounts: 

  • 10% for 3 - 6 learners
  • 15% for 7+ learners

Contact our Enrolment Support Team to learn more and enquire now.

Withdrawals and refunds
Once learning begins, you are eligible for a withdrawal with refund up until the end of day 3. After this date, refunds may be available if your circumstances are exceptional, for example if you've experienced a serious medical event.


Our people

kant Veer a Professor of Marketing in the Department of Management, Marketing and Tourism at the University of Canterbury, leads UC Online’s AI for Marketers

Professor Ekant Veer

MBA Director and Professor, University of Canterbury

Ekant Veer is a Professor of Marketing in the Department of Management, Marketing and Tourism at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. He is a multi-award winning teacher and researcher having been named in the Top 40 under 40 Business School Professors worldwide; an Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award winner; UC’s Teaching Medal awardee in 2017 and six times winner of a UCSA lecturer/staff of the year award.

His work looks at the role that marketing can play in both driving social change and community wellbeing as well as what impact digital technology plays in consumer interactions and their sense of identity. His research has been published in numerous international journals and he was the Associate Dean of Postgraduate Research from 2019-2023, supporting the learning journey of UC's research ākonga and supervisors. He was also the founding Kaihautu | Director of Te Pae Rakahau | Canterbury Knowledge Commons from 2020-2022, which sought to bolster relationships between the university and our wider regional partners.

Please note: our subject-matter experts develop and present video content within their courses, but are not always available to answer queries. Our learner experience team will be available to answer your AI for Marketers course queries via support@uconline.ac.nz

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