Unis are offering degrees in content creation for £30,000. But are they worth it?
Content creation degrees aim to help people make money from their social media posts.
In July, Destiny McGowan, a 21-year-old from Nottingham Trent University, graduated with a degree in content creation. The course taught her how to create and monetise content on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as how to engage with brands. Destiny, who always wanted to be an entrepreneur, believes the course provided valuable transferable skills.
She now makes money through her own social media accounts, creating videos for others, and working as a TikTok live selling host. The university claims the course offers hands-on experience and access to industry contacts.
Several other UK universities now offer similar content creation degrees, with annual fees around £9,790 for UK students at Nottingham Trent and Brighton. In the US, Arizona State University charges $11,000 per year for a similar qualification.
However, some content creators question the value of such degrees. Knightenator, a UK-based content creator with 65,000 Twitch followers and over 100,000 on TikTok, doesn't think a degree would have helped her much. She believes companies wouldn't care much about the degree and that there's plenty of free advice online to start a career in content creation. Instead, she advises aspiring creators to find their niche and watch others' content.
Aiesha Beasley, a 36-year-old food, fashion, and lifestyle influencer from Arizona, disagrees. She believes a degree would have given her a clearer pathway for turning her hobby into a money-making venture. She thinks a business mindset is crucial for transitioning a content creation hobby into a profitable career.
The content creator economy is booming, contributing £2.2bn to the UK economy and with one in three US adults aged 18-30 aspiring to become influencers. Universities like Nottingham Trent and Arizona State see the value in teaching content creation skills as organisations increasingly need professionals who can plan and produce video content, develop campaigns, and understand audiences.
However, Jacky Gurr, the course leader at Nottingham Trent, warns that while the course teaches valuable skills, success as an influencer also depends on luck and personality.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
