FAQs

All SAE HE and VET courses are government accredited. This means that the qualifications you receive upon graduation are recognised all around Australia and internationally.

You can choose to study most of our courses at a part-time capacity. An SAE course advisor will be able to give you more information about the study options for your chosen course.

Do you offer distance education?

All SAE courses have a focus on practical, hands-on delivery. The amount of practical time you experience during your studies does vary, depending on your course. You will also have opportunities to access campus resources and facilities outside of class time, during campus opening hours.

We carefully design and deliver all our units to help you develop the knowledge you need to be successful in your chosen field of study. Courses and course units at SAE follow best practice teaching and learning.

Diplomas

A diploma is niche skills focussed. By undertaking an SAE diploma in animation, audio, film or games, you will develop foundation skills in these specific discipline areas. Students can use the SAE diploma as a pathway to degree level study at SAE and at other Australian tertiary institutions. Diplomas are a great option for people who haven’t studied before and/or those looking for an alternative pathway to degree level studies.

Bachelor Degree

A bachelor degree offers a rigorous combination of niche skills combined with a greater depth and breadth of theoretical knowledge and analytical skills. This knowledge is applicable to both your creative media discipline and the professional world more broadly. A bachelor degree offers you an entry point to professional work, builds portable skills, and develops sustainable, lifelong learning. Key high learning skills are a requisite of the bachelor degree and graduate study options are available upon completion. Bachelor degrees are suitable for people looking to develop professional skills and knowledge and to build long-term, successful careers in their industry of choice. SAE bachelor degree courses attract Fee-Help for Australian students.

Successful creative media graduates need both practical skills and theoretical knowledge. It is important to know the “how” and the “why” of your industry. SAE courses are specifically designed to give you practical expertise and a solid theoretical foundation.

When are your start dates?

SAE does not have a minimum ATAR requirement for entry.

A balanced program of subjects in your senior studies is the best preparation for our programs. If you are interested in visual aspects of creative media (animation, graphic design, web design) then visual art is a great preparation. If you are interested in audio production, then music performance or production is ideal. Mathematics is great for games programming. English, especially storytelling and drama, is ideal for filmmaking.

When is the next Open Day?

SAE does not have a minimum ATAR requirement for entry.

A balanced program of subjects in your senior studies is the best preparation for our programs. If you are interested in visual aspects of creative media (animation, graphic design, web design) then visual art is a great preparation. If you are interested in audio production, then music performance or production is ideal. Mathematics is great for games programming. English, especially storytelling and drama, is ideal for filmmaking.

At SAE we consider your creative potential and commitment to the Creative Industries, not just your academic history. Which is why you don’t need a minimum ATAR to study with us.

For domestic student entry requirements click here

For international student entry requirements click here

What is the application process?

I don’t have a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE). What options are there for me?

What should I expect or prepare for the Alternative Entry process?

Where can I get an application form and how do I apply?

Enrolment documents do not need to be certified however

PLEASE NOTE: At any time, you should be willing and able to provide original documents or original certified copies of supporting documentation. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected. Requests for the provision of original or certified documentation may also involve asking the relevant tertiary admissions centres, issuing authorities or other relevant organisations for verification. For documents submitted in a language other than English, an English translation must be provided by an accredited translator with a Government body or authorised personnel of the issuing institution.

How do I get documents certified?

I’m applying for FEE-HELP. Do I need certified copies for this?

When do applications close for each intake?

What is OSHC and when does it need to be paid?

Applying for a student visa can be a complicated process. While you are able to do this yourself, an approved SAE Agent can help you with the process. Agents are trained to assist applicants with their university and visa applications.

So long as you meet the entry requirements for the course that you want to study, the Admissions team can assist you in changing your enrolment over. This needs to be done no later than your first census date.

What do I do if I want to defer or leave?

You must withdraw prior to census date in order to be eligible for a refund of tuition fees. If you have not paid your fees and withdraw after the census date, you will incur a debt. Non-completion of studies does not normally entitle a student to any refund.

What is the Census Date?

The maximum time you are able to defer study is 12 months.

Financial penalties will apply to students who leave their courses after the allocated census date.

FEE‑HELP is a ln Australian Governement loan scheme that assists eligible fee paying students pay all or part of their tuition fees. It cannot be used for additional study costs such as accommodation or text books. The total amount of FEE‑HELP a person can use is known as the ‘FEE‑HELP limit’.

Once a person begins using FEE‑HELP, the amount of FEE‑HELP they have left to use is known as their ‘FEE‑HELP balance’.

To get a FEE-HELP loan, you must:

be an Australian citizen and study at least part of your course in Australia or be a New Zealand Special Category visa (SCV) holder or permanent humanitarian visa holder and meet the residency requirements

– permanent residents can only get FEE-HELP for approved bridging studies be enrolled in a fee-paying place at a provider that offers FEE-HELP loans be enrolled in an eligible course at your provider by the census date (your provider can tell you if your course is eligible)

submit the Request for FEE-HELP loan form to your provider by the census date

have an available HELP balance.

not have undertaken more than 2 years worth of higher education study in the last 12 months, unless your provider has assessed you as capable of taking on a higher study load.

you must have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) prior to the first census date to be eligible for FEE-HELP if you are starting a new course in 2021. Applying for a USI is fast and free, and you keep the same USI for life. You can apply for a USI, or check if you already have one, at www.usi.gov.au.

If you are studying at a non-university higher education provider, you must maintain a pass-rate of 50 per cent or above to continue to be eligible for FEE-HELP.

You can borrow up to the combined HELP loan limit to pay your tuition fees. This includes all FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans and any HECS-HELP loans incurred from 1 January 2020.

For 2021, the HELP loan limit is $108,232.

Your HELP balance is renewable. Any compulsory or voluntary HELP or VSL debt repayments starting from the 2019–20 income year will top up a person’s HELP balance. These repayments will be applied to your HELP balance from 1 July 2020 onwards. Repaid amounts, applied up to the HELP loan limit, may be borrowed for future study.

There’s currently a FEE-HELP loan fee exemption until 31 December 2021. This means that undergraduate students accessing a FEE-HELP loan will not be charged the FEE-HELP loan fee for census dates in 2021.

From 1 January 2022, the loan fee will be 20 per cent for units of study with a census date on or after 1 January 2022.

When you attend university or an approved higher education provider, you can get a FEE-HELP loan to pay all or part of your tuition fees.

A FEE-HELP loan does not cover costs like accommodation, laptops or text books.

You can borrow up to the combined HELP loan limit to pay your tuition fees. This includes all FEE-HELP, VET FEE-HELP and VET Student Loans and any HECS-HELP loans incurred from 1 January 2020. For 2021, the HELP loan limit is $108,232.

No (unless you have already reached your FEE‑HELP limit). Any previous study you have undertaken, and any other financial debts you may have incurred will not affect your eligibility to access a FEE‑HELP loan. As long as you meet the above eligibility criteria and have enough of your FEE‑HELP balance left to cover your tuition fees, you will be able to access FEE‑HELP.

Remember, the FEE‑HELP limit is a lifetime limit. Any loans used under FEE‑HELP or VET Student L will reduce your FEE‑HELP balance until you have reached the FEE‑HELP limit.

You pay back your HELP debt through the tax system once you earn above the compulsory repayment threshold. The compulsory repayment threshold is different each year.

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2021-22 income year is $47,014.

The compulsory repayment threshold for the 2020-21 income year was $46,620.

You can make a voluntary repayment to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) at any time.

Repayment income is calculated from the amounts given on your income tax return for:

your taxable income;

reportable fringe benefits (reported on your payment summary);

total net investment loss (which includes net rental loss);

reportable super contributions; and

exempt foreign employment income amounts.

From 1 July 2017, anyone who has a HELP debt, and earns above the minimum repayment threshold, will be required to repay their debt regardless of where they live, whether in Australia or overseas. Visit www.studyassist.gov.au for more information.

The amount you repay each year is a percentage of your income. The percentage increases as your income increases, so the more you earn, the higher your repayment will be. The ATO will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include it on your income tax notice of assessment.

Need more information on FEE-HELP?

What is a VET Student Loan?

To be an eligible student for the purposes of accessing VET Student Loans, you must meet ALL of these criteria:

You are: an Australian citizen; OR

a qualifying New Zealand citizen (see information about NZ citizen); OR

a permanent humanitarian visa holder, who is usually resident in Australia. Your FEE-HELP balance is more than $0 and is sufficient to cover the amount you wish to access.

You are enrolled with an approved course provider (SAE is an approved provider of VET Student Loans) and have enrolled in accordance with the application requirements.

You are studying the approved course primarily at a campus in Australia. You have been assessed by your approved course provider as academically suited to undertake the approved course on the basis of either:

providing your Australian Year 12 Certificate; OR

providing evidence of successful completion of an Australian Qualifications Framework Certificate IV or higher qualification (where the language of instruction is English); OR

displaying competence at Exit Level 3 in the Australian Core Skills Framework in both reading and numeracy through an approved Language, Literacy and Numeracy test.

In addition, your approved course provider must reasonably believe you show competence in completing the course.

You meet the Tax File Number (TFN) requirements. You have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) or are otherwise exempt.

You have read the VET Student Loans information booklet.

You have given the required documents to your approved course provider and submitted the loan application form by the first census day no less than two business days after enrolling.

There’s currently a FEE-HELP loan fee exemption until 31 December 2021. This means that undergraduate students accessing a FEE-HELP loan will not be charged the FEE-HELP loan fee for census dates in 2021.

From 1 January 2022, the loan fee will be 20 per cent for units of study with a census date on or after 1 January 2022.

You will be sent an Invoice Notice 14 days before each census day, indicating your fees and census dates. Your debt is incurred on the day after the census day. After a census day has passed, SAE will also send you a Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN) for that study period. The CAN will provide you with information about your debt, including the loan fee if applicable. If you believe your CAN is incorrect, you should contact your college immediately.

For a few courses, there may be a gap between the course fee and the loan cap that the Commonwealth will allow for your course. You will be advised of this when you enquire, and also about other payment options that may be available.

For information on benefits and eligibility visit the Department of Human Services.

Your tuition fees are due prior to the trimester start date. If you are applying for Fee-Help or VET Student Loans, you must submit the required application form and supporting documents prior to the intake start date.

For information on tuition fees visit the Fee Schedule section of the website.

You may elect to pay tuition fees using one of the following methods:

Cheque or Australian Money Order

Visa or Mastercard

Electronic Transfer or Direct Deposit

FEE-HELP VET student loan.

SAE is committed to providing equal opportunities for students with disabilities or special learning needs. For more information visit Student Services.

SAE campuses offer “Strong Foundations” programs at each campus and provide bespoke written English and other academic support through the Library and Learning Centers.

Your local student services team will be able to help you.

This can vary depending on the campus and course. You may, for example, have a larger lecture group for common units, and a smaller tutorial group of 8-15 students. In most cases tutorial sizes average 15 – 30 students.

Students who are well organised find casual or part-time work most manageable.

This is dependant on how many units you study per trimester. You should expect to be on campus one day a week per unit of study. If, for example, you are completing your studies via the full time fast track mode, you should expect to be on campus four days a week.

We always welcome feedback. Any member of SAE staff is happy to hear what you have to say and ensure that this information makes its way to the most appropriate person. Students are also welcomed to provide feedback via our student surveys and Staff-Student Consultative Committees which are held at each SAE campus. SAE students may also become members of the local student council and/or SAE Academic Board. These bodies provide students with an excellent opportunity to enhance the student life. For more information, contact your local student services team.

Can I come in and work on assessments on the weekend?

You can have your email password reset by emailing the request through to service.desk@navitas.com

You have 10 days after the due date to lodge a Special Consideration form.

SAE Alumni is a network of SAE graduates. When you graduate, you will have the opportunity to join the global Alumni Association as well as the Australia & New Zealand Alumni Association. See some of our Alumni here.

If you need to provide a medical certificate for any reason, please ensure that you provide this to the Student Services Advisor at your campus.

A full time fast track study load is defined as 40 hours per week. Of this 40 hours you can expect 12-15 hours of face-to-face teaching time. The additional hours of study include collaborative work (i.e. recording sessions) and individual study time.

Visa extensions are subject to approval by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). If you need to extend your visa, you must apply to SAE for a new electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE). For information about visa extensions and renewals please visit the extending your stay section of the DIAC website.

You will have access to the facilities and equipment relevant to your course and on which you have been trained.

No, this is not required. Students have access to our campus computer labs for assessment work.

Do you have accommodation on campus/Can you tell me about local accommodation?

Is your equipment industry standard?

What are the campus opening hours?

What is the situation with parking on campus?

What software will I be using?

What time can I collect the film gear?

When do the studios open?

Yes – all SAE programs use a learning management system to help you prepare for your classes, reflect upon your learning, submit assessments and collaborate and communicate with your peers. For this reason, we recommend that you have access to high-speed internet access while you are studying.