SAE is now a University College

The decision, made on 22 December 2023, reinforces SAE’s position as a leader in creative media education and is a recognition of its sustained delivery of quality and excellence in this area.

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency’s (TEQSA’s) University College category is reserved for the highest performing Institutes of Higher Education.

Dr McMillan said the new category designation recognises SAE’s superior student outcomes, processes for quality assurance and academic integrity, depth of academic leadership, support for scholarship, good teaching and learning practices that can be shared with the sector, and genuine engagement with employers, industry and the professions.

“This milestone reflects not just our commitment to superior student outcomes, robust academic processes, and deep industry engagement, but also the significant contribution our staff make to our students, and the industries and communities we serve,” he said.

This decision places SAE in an elite group of just seven University Colleges in Australia – and the only one delivering creative media education nationally.

Dr McMillian said that while SAE is proud of its new University College status, students can still expect to enjoy the same practical hands-on approach to learning for which SAE has become world renowned, including state-of-the-art facilities, teaching staff with strong industry experience and small class sizes offering an immersive learning environment.