TBWA

About TBWA

TBWA is a global advertising network that was founded in Paris in 1970. Its name comes from the initials of its four founders. The group joined the Omnicom Group in 1993. Today it has agencies in more than 100 countries, and it promotes a method it calls Disruption, which aims to help brands challenge habit and convention.

In South Africa, the group is based in Sandton, Johannesburg. It trades locally through TBWA\Hunt\Lascaris and works with a family of sister companies in content, youth and brand services. Together they employ hundreds of creative and strategy staff. The agency also has a long record of training. For example, it was among the first in the country to offer learnerships in marketing communication and brand management.

How TBWA supports students

The TBWA bursary programme is a way to bring new people into a creative industry. Published listings say the agency awards around ten bursaries per year. The fields of study include copywriting, graphic design, marketing, multimedia communication, multimedia design, strategic brand management and visual communication. Some listings also mention finance.

Advertising has often drawn from a narrow group of graduates. Students who cannot afford fees or lack contacts can find it hard to get in. A bursary helps level that field. It also lets the agency meet young talent before the competition does.

Selection is based on your academic record and your need for financial support. The bursary is not limited to people who already have a link to the agency. Details of what the award pays for are not clearly set out in public sources. Earlier information suggests tuition and study-related costs, but you should confirm this with TBWA.

What to know before applying

The application process has been simple in the past. Listings say there was no formal form. Instead, students emailed certified copies of their ID, their matric certificate if they had finished school, and their current academic record to the agency's human resources team. Calls have opened once a year, and one recent closing date was in October. Always check for a current notice, because bursary calls can pause or change.

No work-back or guaranteed job obligation is described in public information. That said, the bursary naturally puts you on the agency's radar. A creative portfolio can help a great deal, even when it is not required. If you study design or copywriting, keep your best work ready to show.

Finally, treat the application as a first impression. Make your copies clear and certified, write a short professional email, and follow the instructions exactly. Agencies value attention to detail, and a careful application shows it.