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Studies & Degrees in Culture and Audiovisual Communication

Culture and audiovisual communication is the study of film, television, radio and digital media from two sides at once: how audiovisual works are made, and what they mean for the societies that watch them. Students learn the craft of telling stories with image and sound, and they also learn to analyse media as part of culture, politics and the economy.

The balance between the two sides depends on the programme. The Bachelor of Science in Media, Culture, and Communication at New York University is grounded in the liberal arts and gives students tools to analyse the sociological, political and cultural dimensions of the media landscape. The Film & Television major at Drexel University is built around production: students work with cameras, sound and editing from the first week, alongside critical studies of cinema and television from around the globe.

What students learn

  • History and theory of film, television and the media
  • Media, culture and society, including global and digital media
  • Screenwriting and storytelling
  • Directing, cinematography and camera work
  • Sound recording, editing and post-production
  • Production planning and management
  • Research methods for communication studies

Facilities and practice matter in this subject. The University of Sunderland teaches film and media in its David Puttnam Media Centre, which has a 4K-UHD virtual studio, a broadcast-standard HD television studio and a radio studio. At Drexel University, students spend six months of their junior year on co-op, working professionally in their chosen field.

Qualifications and levels

  • United States. The subject is a major within a four-year bachelor's degree. At New York University the Bachelor of Science in Media, Culture, and Communication is a full-time programme of 128 credits.
  • United Kingdom. Universities offer bachelor's degrees with honours in film and media. The University of Sunderland states that some of its film and media courses are accredited by ScreenSkills.
  • Germany. The Universität Duisburg-Essen teaches Kommunikationswissenschaft (communication science) as one subject of a two-subject bachelor's degree and of a two-subject master's degree. According to its institute, about 480 students are enrolled in the bachelor's subject and just under 60 in the master's subject.
  • Spain. The usual degree is the Grado en Comunicación Audiovisual, an official bachelor's degree of 240 ECTS credits; official master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The Universidad Complutense de Madrid describes its Facultad de Ciencias de la Información as the pioneer of these university studies in Spain, which entered the university under Decree 2070/1971.
  • Film and media schools. Specialised schools, such as those on the list in Mexico, concentrate on practical training in directing, cinematography or editing. Their qualifications vary, so ask the school what recognition its diploma has.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 7 active schools for culture and audiovisual communication: two in the United States, two in the United Kingdom, two in Mexico and one in Germany. The list includes New York University, Drexel University in Philadelphia, the University of Sunderland, the Universität Duisburg-Essen and, in Mexico, the Centro Universitario de Medios Audiovisuales CAAV in Guadalajara and CINEARTE in Puebla.

Teaching follows the language of the country: English in the United States and the United Kingdom, German in Duisburg-Essen and Spanish in Mexico. New York University also runs a Global Media Scholars programme through its academic sites in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Careers

Graduates work in film and television production, broadcasting, streaming and online video, advertising, corporate video, cultural institutions and media research. Typical roles are producer, director, screenwriter, camera operator, editor, sound designer and production coordinator.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that film and video editors and camera operators typically need a bachelor's degree, often in film, broadcasting or a related arts or communications field. It counted 72,000 such jobs in the United States in 2025 and projects growth of 3 percent from 2025 to 2035. For producers and directors it counted 181,000 jobs and projects growth of 4 percent; these roles typically also require several years of experience on set. Much of the work in this sector is project-based, so a portfolio and contacts made during placements count as much as the degree.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between audiovisual communication and film studies?

Film studies concentrates on cinema, often from a critical and historical angle. Audiovisual communication is wider: it covers television, radio and digital media as well, and usually combines production practice with the study of media in society.

How long does a degree in audiovisual communication take?

An official bachelor's degree in Spain has 240 ECTS credits, which is four years of full-time study. In the United States the subject is studied within a four-year bachelor's degree; the New York University programme has 128 credits.

Do I need a portfolio to apply?

It depends on the school. Production-oriented programmes and film schools often ask for creative work, while theory-oriented degrees usually do not. Check the admission page of each programme.

Is work experience part of the degree?

Often it is. At Drexel University, Film & Television students spend six months of their junior year on co-op, working professionally in the field.