Studies & Degrees in Audiovisual Communication
Audiovisual Communication Study Programs
Audiovisual communication is the study of how stories and information are created, produced and distributed through image and sound: film, television, radio, online video and related media. A degree in the subject combines media theory and history with practical training in scriptwriting, directing, camera work, sound, editing, production management and, increasingly, graphics and interactive content.
The Universidad de Málaga describes the aim of its degree as preparing students to create, produce and direct fiction and non-fiction for film, radio, television, the internet and associated media. According to the same university, the degree suits people interested in photography, video recording and editing, sound and image processing or graphic design.
What students learn
Most programmes are built around projects. Mondragon Unibertsitatea, for example, lists short films, documentaries, radio programmes, scripts, multimedia content, animation and graphics, photography, the organisation of film festivals, and marketing and advertising campaigns among the work its students carry out.
Facilities matter in this subject, so it is worth checking what a faculty has. The Facultad de Ciencias de la Información of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, which describes itself as the pioneer of university studies in audiovisual communication in Spain (they entered the university under a decree of 1971), has television studios, editing rooms, sound studios and radio studios.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree (grado): in Spain an official bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits, taken at 60 credits per year over four years, and ends with a final degree project. The degree is called Grado en Comunicación Audiovisual and belongs to the social sciences and law branch. It does not lead to a regulated profession.
- Master's degree: official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. Graduates use them to specialise in areas such as scriptwriting, post-production, documentary or media management.
- Vocational training (FP): the Spanish image and sound family (Imagen y Sonido) includes the intermediate qualification Técnico en Vídeo Disc-Jockey y Sonido and higher qualifications in 3D animation, games and interactive environments, lighting and image capture, production, direction of audiovisual projects and shows, and sound. There is also a specialisation course in audio description and subtitling.
Some universities connect the two routes. Mondragon Unibertsitatea states that holders of a higher vocational qualification in image and sound can complete its degree in three years instead of four, and it reserves 15 of its 50 places for a dual track that combines study and work.
Where to study it
The directory lists 35 active schools for audiovisual communication. Of these, 32 are in Spain, and there is one each in Chile, Ecuador and Mexico. In Spain the degree is taught at universities across the country, among them the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (Getafe campus), the Universidad de Málaga, the Universidad de Granada, the Universidad de Murcia and the Universidad del País Vasco, and at private universities such as Universidad CEU San Pablo in Madrid and the Universitat Abat Oliba CEU in Barcelona. In Latin America the list includes Universidad SEK Chile in Santiago and the Universidad Internacional SEK Ecuador in Quito.
The usual language of instruction in Spain is Spanish. Some universities add other requirements: the Universidad de Murcia teaches in Spanish and asks students who start from the 2026-27 academic year to provide a B1 certificate in English before enrolling in the third year, and Mondragon Unibertsitatea teaches in Basque, Spanish and English. In Catalonia and the Basque Country, ask each university which subjects are taught in the co-official language.
Students with school qualifications from outside Spain normally apply through UNEDasiss, the service of the UNED that evaluates the academic records of international students and runs the tests needed for access to bachelor's degrees at Spanish universities. Each university sets its own admission criteria, so check them with the university before applying.
Careers
Graduates work in production companies, television and radio broadcasters, streaming and online media, advertising and corporate communication. Typical roles named by universities include:
- Production and management of audiovisual media
- Director, scriptwriter and programme-maker
- Production and post-production of image, sound, graphics and animation
- Writing, graphic design and content management for online and other media
- Corporate communication manager
Because the profession is not regulated in Spain, employers look at a candidate's portfolio and practical experience as much as at the title. Work placements, student productions and festival entries made during the degree are therefore part of the preparation for the job market.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a degree in audiovisual communication take in Spain?
The bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years. An official master's degree adds 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits.
Is audiovisual communication a regulated profession in Spain?
No. The degree does not lead to a regulated profession, so there is no professional licence; a portfolio and work experience count for a lot.
Can I study audiovisual communication in English in Spain?
Most degrees are taught in Spanish. Some universities teach part of the programme in English or in a co-official language, so check the language of instruction of each programme before applying.
Is vocational training an alternative to the university degree?
Yes. The Spanish image and sound vocational family offers intermediate and higher qualifications in production, direction, sound, lighting and 3D animation. At some universities a higher vocational qualification in this family shortens the degree.