SAE Institute South AfricaSAE

SAE Institute South Africa is a private higher education institution specialising in creative media. It is registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution under registration number 2013/HE07/001, and it is owned and operated by the Invictus Education Group under licence from Navitas, which holds the SAE brand internationally. SAE itself dates back to 1976, and the global network reports 47 campuses across 23 countries.

Teaching happens on three South African campuses, in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, and through a separate online arm. Programmes are advertised as full-time, part-time, blended or fully online, so a learner can study on campus, from home, or in a mix of the two. Four subject areas make up the offering: animation, audio and sound production, film, and games.

Qualifications run from higher certificates at NQF level 5, such as the Higher Certificate in Sound Production (SAQA ID 88643), to three-year bachelor's degrees at NQF level 7, such as the Bachelor of Arts in Sound Production (SAQA ID 90673), and a Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Media Production at NQF level 8 (SAQA ID 125179), which is taught online over eighteen months. Alongside these sit four-week part-time short courses in subjects such as music production, digital filmmaking, cinematography and 2D animation.

Entry to a higher certificate requires a National Senior Certificate with higher certificate entry, with communication in English and mathematics or mathematical literacy at NQF level 4 and computer literacy at NQF level 3. A degree requires a National Senior Certificate with bachelor entry, or an equivalent. Intakes happen more than once a year: the Higher Certificate in Sound Production takes students in March and July, the degree in March, and the postgraduate diploma in March, May, July and October.

As a private institution, SAE does not carry NSFAS funding. It publishes interest-free monthly payment plans that follow an enrolment deposit, a referral service for student loan applications, an internal bursary scheme for second- and third-year students, and guidance on applying for external bursaries. Published prices include R6 950 for most four-week short courses and R65 000 for the postgraduate diploma.