SAE Institute Australia

What SAE Institute Australia does

SAE Institute Australia, legally SAE Institute Pty Limited and trading as SAE University College and SAE Creative Media Institute, is an Australian private higher education institution specializing in creative media and technology. Founded in 1976 and headquartered in Australia, it operates six physical campuses across Adelaide, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney, plus an online delivery channel. In 2026 the institution was rebranded to SAE University College after receiving self-accreditation authority from TEQSA (Provider No: PRV12042), with CRICOS registration (00312F) enabling international student enrollment.

The institution offers accredited programs from diploma through master's level across ten disciplines: Animation, Audio, Computer Science, Creative Industries, Design, Film, Games, Information Technology, Music, and VFX & Virtual Production. Pedagogy emphasizes project-based learning, industry-standard facilities (e.g., AVID audio consoles), and instruction by practicing creative professionals, with a trimester system that allows bachelor's degrees to be completed in two years. Notable alumni include individuals placed at Industrial Light & Magic, Pixar, and DreamWorks.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring tuition fees from domestic and international students, supplemented by short-course offerings such as Create for a Day workshops (A$25 per student). Distribution relies on direct enrollment via the website and campuses, education agents for international markets, and Open Days for experiential recruitment. SAE Institute Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navitas Pty Limited, a global education conglomerate headquartered in Perth that serves over 60,000 students annually across its broader portfolio.

Name

SAE Institute Australia

Legal name

SAE Institute Pty Limited

Website

https://sae.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SAE Institute Australia (trading as SAE University College) is a TEQSA-accredited private higher education provider offering diploma-to-master's programs across ten creative media and technology disciplines, delivered via six Australian campuses and online. It serves domestic and international students and is a subsidiary of Navitas Pty Limited.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education & Creative Media Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Animation, Game Art & Digital Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Higher Education Course Design & Online Program Development (EDAGAKAB), Interdisciplinary/General Education & Study Skills (EDAGABAN)

Keywords

• Creative media education
• Higher education courses
• Audio engineering training
• Animation and VFX programs
• Music production degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Byron Bay

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Domestic Student Tuition: Tuition fees from domestic Australian students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate programs across creative media and technology disciplines.
2. International Student Tuition: Tuition fees from international students studying in Australia, with additional services including visa support, orientation, and international student services.
3. Short Course Programs: Revenue from Create for a Day workshops and other short course offerings, including the $25 per student fee for holiday workshop programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAE Institute Australia (trading as SAE University College) delivers accredited higher education programs across ten creative media and technology disciplines — Animation, Audio, Computer Science, Creative Industries, Design, Film, Games, Information Technology, Music, and VFX & Virtual Production — at Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor, Postgraduate and Master's levels. Courses are taught via project-based learning with industry-standard software and equipment across six Australian campuses and an online campus, targeting both domestic and international students.

Product overview

SAE University College offers a unified educational platform providing accredited courses across 10 creative media and technology disciplines. The portfolio spans Animation, Audio, Computer Science, Creative Industries, Design, Film, Games, Information Technology, Music, and VFX & Virtual Production. Programs are delivered at multiple study levels (Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor, Postgraduate Certificates/Diplomas, and Masters) across six physical campuses (Adelaide, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney) and online. The institution emphasizes project-based learning with industry-standard facilities and connections to creative industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animation Courses Animation courses covering 3D animation production from diploma to bachelor's degree level, teaching skills for careers in animation and motion graphics. Targeted at students seeking creative industry careers.
• Audio Courses Audio engineering and music production courses from diploma to bachelor's degree, preparing students for careers in sound design, music production, and audio post-production. Delivered using professional-grade AVID consoles.
• Film Courses Film production courses from diploma to bachelor's degree teaching skills from concept development through to final cut, for careers in film and television.
• Music Courses Music courses from diploma to bachelor's degree covering music performance, production, and business, preparing students for careers in the music industry.
• Games Courses Games development courses from diploma to bachelor's degree covering game design, development, and production for careers in interactive entertainment.
• Design Courses Design and visual communication courses from diploma to bachelor's degree covering graphic design and visual arts, available on-campus and online.
• VFX & Virtual Production Courses Visual effects and virtual production courses from diploma to bachelor's degree teaching technologies including VR, AR, and real-time production techniques.
• Computer Science Courses Computer science programs from diploma to bachelor's degree including specializations in software development and cyber security.
• Creative Industries Courses Multidisciplinary creative industries programs from diploma to master's level, including online delivery options for graduate certificates and diplomas.
• Information Technology Courses IT courses including master's level programs providing tech and creativity blended education for careers in information technology.
• Create for a Day Workshop Short workshop program at AUD $25 per student (including lunch), open to students in Years 10-12 and young creatives up to age 21, providing hands-on creative media taster experience.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students can complete a Bachelor degree qualified in 2 years through trimester system
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• FormatminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Format partnered with SAE to present the annual Format Portfolio Award, celebrating students who demonstrate creativity, intention, and professionalism through their online portfolio. The 2026 winner received a lifetime Format subscription to support their creative career.
• QMusiccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2025SAE has a 12-month marketing partnership with QMusic supporting student engagement across key industry initiatives including the Queensland Music Awards, Friends of Parliament, Industry Connect Regional Program, BIGSOUND, and networking/professional development opportunities. Six SAE students participated in placement opportunities at the 2026 QMAs, gaining behind-the-scenes experience at a major live music event.
• Navitas Pty LimitedflagshipOthersSAE Institute Australia is a subsidiary of Navitas Pty Limited, a global education provider headquartered in Perth, Western Australia. Navitas operates subsidiary companies and affiliated organisations across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe, Africa, South East Asia, North Asia, South America, the Middle East, and the USA. The group helps transform lives through education, serving over 60,000 aspirational students globally each year.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vancouver Film School: Canadian private post-secondary institution specializing in film, animation, video games, VR/AR, and entertainment business. Comparable as a specialized, industry-focused creative media school serving both domestic and international students with accelerated programs.
• Billy Blue College of Design (Torrens University): Australian creative higher education institution within Torrens University offering degrees in design, communication, and creative technology. Comparable as an Australian private creative-arts college competing for the same domestic and international students.
• Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS): Australia's national screen and broadcast school offering postgraduate degrees in film, television, radio, and screenwriting. Comparable to SAE's film and audio disciplines and competes for similar creative talent in the Australian market.
• Full Sail University: US-based private creative media university offering degrees in entertainment, media, arts, and technology including film, music production, games, animation, and graphic design. Closely comparable to SAE's discipline mix and project-based, industry-equipment-focused delivery model.
• JMC Academy: Australian private creative media higher education institution offering degrees in audio, animation, film, games, music, and entertainment technology across multiple campuses. Directly comparable to SAE's discipline portfolio and target student segments.
• Think Education (Torrens University): Australian higher education provider (part of Torrens University Australia) offering specialized creative and applied programs. Comparable as a private Australian creative education competitor for domestic and international students.
• Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE): Australian vocational higher education provider specializing in game development, 3D animation, and film, with campuses in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, and online. Closely overlaps SAE's games, animation, and VFX programs.

Regional players

• Media Design School: New Zealand-based private creative technology school (part of Laureate Education) offering degrees in game programming, 3D animation, VFX, graphic design, and creative advertising. Operates in adjacent geography with a near-identical discipline portfolio to SAE.
• LaSalle College of the Arts: Singapore-based private arts college offering degrees in design, fine arts, film, music, dance, and performing arts. Comparable in discipline scope and creative-arts focus, though geographically distinct and targeting the Asian student market.

Broad incumbents

• RMIT University (School of Media and Communication): Major Australian public university with substantial offerings in media, communication, film, animation, and design. Overlaps with SAE but as a broader portfolio institution rather than a creative-media specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SAEInstituteAUS
• Facebookfacebook.com/SAEInstituteAU
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sae-institute-australia

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAE Institute Australia