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Studies & Degrees in Multimedia

Multimedia is the design and production of digital content that combines text, images, sound, video, animation and interaction. A multimedia student learns to build websites and apps, interactive installations, animations, video games and video pieces, and to make them work on different screens. The subject sits between art and technology: part of the course is design and storytelling, and part is programming.

Universities use several names for it: multimedia, new media, digital media, interactive media or audiovisual and multimedia communication. Some degrees lean towards programming and interaction design, others towards film, video and journalism, and others towards graphic design.

What students learn

The University of Lethbridge in Canada lists the typical subjects of its New Media programme: graphic design, web design and development, interaction design, 3D modelling, animation and gaming, narrative screenwriting and new media theory. The Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) describes its bachelor's degree in Multimedia as a balance between artistic creation and advanced programming, in which students design applications, interactive environments and video games.

Other programmes start from communication. At Florida Atlantic University, the Multimedia Studies degree lets students concentrate either in Film, Video and New Media or in Multimedia Journalism. At Western Sydney University, the Bachelor of Design offers majors in data and digital storytelling and in user experience and user interface (UX/UI) design from the second year.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree in Spain: a bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits over four years. The UOC's Grado en Multimedia is an official degree taught fully online in Spanish and Catalan; its 240 ECTS include 60 of basic subjects, 120 compulsory, 48 optional and a 12-credit final project. ERAM, in Salt (Girona), teaches the official Grado en Comunicación Audiovisual y Multimedia on campus, in Catalan, Spanish and English; the degree is awarded by the Universitat de Girona and has been taught since 2001.
  • Bachelor's degree abroad: length depends on the country. The Bachelor of Design at Western Sydney University takes three years full-time. In Canada, Lethbridge awards a Bachelor of Fine Arts in New Media.
  • Vocational training in Spain: the higher-level cycle Técnico Superior en Animaciones 3D, Juegos y Entornos Interactivos has 2,000 hours and includes modules on interactive multimedia projects, games and multi-device interactive environments, according to TodoFP, the vocational training portal of the Spanish Ministry of Education.
  • Admission: in Spain, entry to an official bachelor's degree is through the Bachillerato and the university entrance exam (PAU) or a higher-level FP qualification, among other routes. The FP cycle requires the Bachillerato or an equivalent qualification.
  • Costs: prices vary by country and by school. As one reference, the UOC states that its degree costs less than €900 per semester, at prices regulated by the Catalan government.

Where to study multimedia

SpainExchange lists 86 schools for this subject. The United States has the most (30), followed by Spain (18), the United Kingdom (10) and Australia (6). Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, Italy and Greece have two each, and the Philippines and Azerbaijan one each.

In Spain, examples are the UOC in Barcelona, ERAM in Salt and the Escoles Universitàries Gimbernat i Tomàs Cerdà in Sant Cugat del Vallès. In the United States the list includes Florida Atlantic University, the University of Miami, Northeastern University in Boston and Broward College. In the United Kingdom there are the University of Westminster, Anglia Ruskin University and Bournemouth University, and in Australia Western Sydney University and Billy Blue College of Design. The Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico is also listed.

The language of instruction follows the country: English in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, and Spanish or Catalan in Spain, with some subjects in English. Online study is possible, as at the UOC. When comparing programmes, look at the balance between design and programming, internships and the final project. Students who plan to work in another country should check the recognition of the degree: the UOC notes that the validity of its official degrees abroad depends on the education laws of each country.

Careers

Graduates work in web and app design, animation, video games, video production, advertising and digital communication. The UOC mentions UX/UI designer, front-end developer and digital art director. Lethbridge lists careers in animation, graphic design, video and film production, television, web design and game design. In Spain, TodoFP lists jobs such as 3D animator, 3D modeller and audiovisual multimedia integrator for holders of the FP title.

In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) publishes figures for two related occupations. Special effects artists and animators held about 51,900 jobs in 2025, and 63% were self-employed; employment is projected to show little or no change from 2025 to 2035, with about 4,200 openings a year. They typically need a bachelor's degree in computer graphics, art or a related field, and a portfolio. Employment of web developers and digital designers is projected to grow 5 percent in the same period, with about 13,600 openings a year; educational requirements range from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to know programming to study multimedia?

Not before starting, but most degrees teach it. The UOC describes its degree as a balance between artistic creation and advanced programming, while other programmes focus more on film, video or journalism.

How long does a multimedia degree take?

In Spain, four years and 240 ECTS credits, as at the UOC and ERAM. The Bachelor of Design at Western Sydney University takes three years. The Spanish FP cycle in 3D animation, games and interactive environments has 2,000 hours.

Can I study multimedia online?

Yes. The UOC's Grado en Multimedia is an official degree taught fully online, in Spanish and Catalan.