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Studies & Degrees in Audiovisual Entertainment Production

Audiovisual entertainment production is the work of turning a script or an idea into a finished film, series, television programme or video. Production is the organising side of that process: finding the money, planning the shoot, hiring the crew and the cast, controlling the budget and delivering the work to distributors, broadcasters and platforms. Many programmes teach it together with the creative and technical crafts of directing, camera, sound and editing.

The Spanish vocational qualification in this field shows what a production student learns: to plan the phases of a project while optimising time, resources, costs and quality; to calculate production costs and draw up budgets; to manage the selection and hiring of human, technical and artistic resources; and to take part in the negotiation with distributors, cinemas and broadcasters. University and film school programmes add storytelling, film language and project work, usually by making short films, documentaries or series in teams.

Qualifications and levels

  • Vocational training. In Spain, the Técnico Superior en Producción de Audiovisuales y Espectáculos is a higher vocational (FP) qualification of 2,000 hours in the Imagen y Sonido family. Its modules include project management for film, video and multimedia and for television and radio, and it includes a training period in a company. Entry is possible with the Bachiller, among other routes, and holders can go on to a university degree with possible recognition of modules. CEU FP Madrid teaches the related Técnico Superior en Realización de Proyectos Audiovisuales y Espectáculos over two academic years and 2,000 hours, in Spanish.
  • Bachelor's degree. A Spanish bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits. The Grado en Creación Audiovisual at the Universidad de Navarra is an official degree of 240 credits and 4 years in Pamplona, in which students work on 8 real projects. The Universitat Abat Oliba CEU in Barcelona offers a Grado en Comunicación y Creación de Contenidos Digitales of 4 years and 240 ECTS credits, taught in Spanish. In Argentina, the Licenciatura en Cine y Artes Audiovisuales at the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba lasts 5 years plus a final project, with an intermediate qualification of Técnico Productor en Medios Audiovisuales after 3 years. In Mexico, the Licenciatura en Cinematografía y Medios Audiovisuales at CINEMA in Puebla lasts 8 semesters.
  • Master's degree. Official master's degrees in Spain have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. CINEMA in Puebla also offers a Maestría en Cinematografía of 4 semesters.

Private film and design schools also award their own diplomas. Ask each school what recognition its qualification has before enrolling.

Where to study audiovisual production

SpainExchange lists 9 active schools for audiovisual entertainment production: 5 in Spain, 2 in Mexico and 1 each in Argentina and Singapore. The Spanish schools are the Universidad de Navarra in Pamplona, CEU FP Madrid, the Universitat Abat Oliba CEU and Idep Barcelona, Escola Superior d'Imatge i Disseny in Barcelona, and EADE - Estudios Universitarios in Málaga. In Mexico the list has CINEMA - Escuela de Cinematografía y Medios Audiovisuales and CINEARTE, both in Puebla; in Argentina, the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; and in Singapore, First Media Design School.

Most of the listed programmes are taught in Spanish, which makes Spain, Mexico and Argentina natural choices for Spanish-speaking students and for those who want to work in Spanish-language production. Students who want to study in English should check the language of each programme with the school.

When comparing programmes, look at the hours of practical work and the equipment and studios available, the number of productions each student completes, the company placement, and whether the qualification is an official degree, an FP qualification or the school's own diploma.

Careers

Graduates work in film and television production companies, broadcasters, streaming and advertising, and in the production of live shows and events. Typical first jobs are production assistant, production coordinator or assistant director, leading to production manager, line producer or producer. The Universidad Nacional de Córdoba describes its graduates as able to coordinate, manage, design, direct and evaluate audiovisual production processes in media and production companies.

In the United States, producers and directors held 181,000 jobs in 2025 and employment is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS adds that they typically need a bachelor's degree in film or cinema studies or a related field, and several years of experience working on set.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between audiovisual production and directing?

Production organises and finances a project: budget, schedule, crew, contracts and distribution. Directing takes the creative decisions on set. The BLS describes producers and directors together as the people who make business and creative decisions about film, television and stage productions.

Can I study audiovisual production in Spain without going to university?

Yes. The Técnico Superior en Producción de Audiovisuales y Espectáculos is a higher vocational (FP) qualification of 2,000 hours, and it gives access to university degrees afterwards.

How long does a degree in audiovisual production take?

A Spanish grado has 240 ECTS credits and takes 4 years. The licenciatura at CINEMA in Puebla lasts 8 semesters and the one at the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba 5 years plus a final project.