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Best digital media online courses

If you love editing music or creating vines and videos for uploading, then a career in digital media may be your calling.

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Shirley Liu
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Digital media has made an impact in every area of our lives, from how we shop, to the way we communicate. Almost everyone accesses digital media daily as they interact using smart devices, tablets, laptops and televisions.

This is an industry that is constantly changing, working towards ways of improving the technology. With courses in digital media online, you will be on the cutting edge of all the latest discoveries.

Why should I study digital media?

Since there are so many current career avenues in the field of digital media, reported salaries in field are as diverse as the careers themselves. The industry in which you work, and even the job you hold, will impact your actual salary.

Average salary

You may expect to make $50,000 AUD to $113,000 AUD at the high end, annually. You can also expect your salary to fluctuate with years of experience and job responsibilities.

See our latest deals for digital media online courses

Introduction to Web Design

Introduction to Web Design from Udemy

This course demonstrates the fundamentals of HTML and CSS and finally teach you building a colorful, modern, responsive portfolio website.

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Do I need to work with an employer?

You do not have to work for an employer. If you prefer to work alone in this creative field, you may also consider developing a freelance career where you can be your boss. If that is the case for you, your salary will depend on your personal productivity.

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What are the courses for digital media?

Your study of digital media could result in a diploma, certificate or degree, depending on your needs. Diplomas and certificates may be earned in one year, and a degree, such as a bachelor’s, may be earned in two years.

Areas of specialisation include:

  • Game design
  • Graphic design
  • Interior design
  • Landscape design
  • Photography
  • Web design

Undergraduate courses

There are many undergraduate courses available in digital media for future designers and producers. You may likely focus on computer technology, engineering, development, programming and production.

Within this course framework, you could choose from web development and launch, mobile apps, digital video, copyright and privacy issues, safe workplace concepts and ethics.

You could have the opportunity to take specialised electives as well, in such courses as technology trends, game programming, complex web page layouts, effective work habits, and even 3D animation and printing. You may also discover that you will be required to complete an interdisciplinary project in digital media to show your skills.

Postgraduate courses

Courses for digital media are not popular at a postgraduate level, with a diploma or bachelor considered sufficient in the industry.

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Any short courses for professional development?

Short course in digital media may offer quick learning opportunities designed to give you a competitive edge or simply catch up in a weaker area of study.

You may discover courses that encourage learning more about digital software, verbal and written forms of communication, games, interactive media and audiovisual, and social media.

Some courses that might interest you include:

  • PHP Short Courses
  • Visio Short Courses
  • Photoshop Short Courses
  • HTML/HTML5 Short Courses
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What are the tuition fees and other expenses to study digital media?

Tuition fees in digital media may vary widely. A bachelor’s degree may cost $49,500 AUD for two years of study, not including administrative fees for replacing lost student identification cards, graduation fees or procuring additional transcripts.

If you are not pursuing a bachelor’s degree, and prefer instead to take individual classes of interest to you, you could pay $1,200 AUD to $2,000 AUD per course, depending on how much hands-on technology is involved and at what rigor the course has been set.

In general, a diploma in digital media can cost $16,700 AUD, depending on the course you select for your career path. A certificate may cost $3,500 AUD, and again, this number depends greatly on the actual courses you have selected.

Be sure to enquire with the school of your choice about their technology equipment to make sure they have the resources on which you wish to learn; this is especially important with technology since it changes so rapidly.

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What are the best institutes in Australia to study digital media?

There are plenty of well-known and highly respected schools for digital media studies. For your coursework, you may look no further than these institutes.

  • Australian Institute of Professional Education (AIPE)
  • Martin
  • Open Colleges
  • School of Audio Engineering (SAE Institute)
  • Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Should you wish to pursue postgraduate studies in digital media, both Victoria University and gradschool.edu offer a graduate certificates.

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What are the career opportunities for digital media?

A dynamic and robust career in digital media offers diverse opportunity, and the possibilities are truly endless, especially as technology continues to grow and change. However, your initial course of study will send you down your first path in this burgeoning field.

You may find yourself working as an animator, photographer, web producer, or multimedia artist. Digital media students also find employment in e-commerce, web analytics, advertising, and social media. Some digital media students also work SEO/SEM jobs, as well as blogging and copywriting.

The availability of online courses in digital media makes this an even more attractive career choice for the technically inclined. You have many specialties to think about as well as online schools to consider. When comparing these various options, look for the school that has courses of study which are of special interest to your career goals.

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