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Diploma of Audio Production

GET ON TRACK TO MAKE SERIOUS NOISE IN THE AUDIO INDUSTRY
Student on Neve Audio Desk
Available at
Adelaide, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
Fees
FEE-HELP available
Diploma of Audio Production
Domestic Fees

Units x Costs ($AUD)
2 x $2,999
2 x $3,236
1 x $5,998
1 x $6,472

Indicative Annual Course Fee*
(based on 1.0 EFTSL)
$24,940 AUD
Plus Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

* The Indicative Annual Course Fee reflects that students are charged fees on a per unit basis and the fee for a unit may increase.

For more information view the SAE Fee Schedule or visit the Fees & Payment page.

FEE-HELP Available
Diploma of Audio Production
International Fees

Units x Costs ($AUD)
2 x $3,495
2 x $3,773
1 x $6,990
1 x $7,546

Indicative Annual Course Fee*
(based on 1.0 EFTSL)
$29,072 AUD
Plus Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

* The Indicative Annual Course Fee reflects that students are charged fees on a per unit basis and the fee for a unit may increase.

For more information view the SAE Fee Schedule or visit the Fees & Payment page.

Duration(s)
2 Trimesters Full Time (Fast Track)

Complete your course faster by studying the course units over approximately 7 months (2 trimesters).

Diploma of Audio Production
Course Durations
2 Trimesters Full Time (Fast Track)

Complete your course faster by studying the course units over approximately 7 months (2 trimesters).

3 Trimesters Full Time

Whilst still classified as a full-time study load, you will complete the course units over one year (3 trimesters).

Part-time option available

If you want to take a little longer, that’s ok too. We’ll help you work out the best study load to suit your needs.

Note: Part-time is not available for international students.


We understand that things can change, so you'll have the flexibility to change your study load throughout your course if you need to.
Start Date(s)
February 2025
Diploma of Audio Production
Start Dates
Adelaide
  • February 2025

  • May 2025

  • September 2025

Brisbane
  • February 2025

  • May 2025

  • September 2025

Byron Bay
  • February 2025

  • May 2025

  • September 2025

Melbourne
  • February 2025

  • May 2025

  • September 2025

Perth
  • February 2025

  • May 2025

  • September 2025

Sydney
  • February 2025

  • May 2025

  • September 2025

Entry Requirements
Diploma of Audio Production
Domestic Entry Requirements
Domestic students must meet one of the following criteria:
Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (QCE, WACE, HSC, SACE, etc.), like your Year 12 certificate or equivalent; OR
Completion of a Certificate III-level qualification, or higher, issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF); OR
Experience-based entry – for applicants who do not meet the requirements of entry criteria above.
More info
Diploma of Audio Production
International Entry Requirements
International Entry Requirements
Minimum age requirements
International students seeking admission to SAE must be 18 years of age OR must be turning 18 during their first trimester of studies at SAE.
Academic requirements
Successful completion of secondary school studies (assessed as an equivalent of Australian Year 12 secondary studies). Minimum overall pass is required.
English language requirements
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): An overall score of 6.0 or higher, OR
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 63 overall (internet-based test); OR
Pearson Test of English (PTE): Academic score of 36 or higher, OR
Completion of Year 12 English in an Australian secondary school or college or equivalent with a minimum result of “Satisfactory” or equivalent.
More info
Successful completion of an Academic English program with an SAE-approved Australian-based English partner. Please refer to our SAE International Study Pathways for more information.
More info

Your creative career starts with SAE

Apply Now

DIPLOMA OF AUDIO PRODUCTION

In a matter of months, you’ll learn the key fundamentals of studio production, live sound production, and DAW Operation.

The Diploma of Audio Production has been built in a way that gives you plenty of time with expert practitioners and many hours on the latest tools and software.

You will engage in collaborative learning and apply the skills learned throughout the course to a real-life scenario. Demonstrating your recording and mixing techniques you will deliver a practical recording from a specified brief, under the support and mentorship of our network of expert lecturers.

To complement your technical skills, you will graduate with employability skills, introductory project management skills, and scholarly techniques for higher education.

Upon completion, you will be eligible for up to 80 credit points towards the Bachelor of Audio.

Two people sitting in front of and using Audio mixing Desk and monitor with editing software on screen. The room is backlit blue but dark.

Career Outcomes

What jobs will this course lead me into?

  • Assistant Sound Engineer
  • Radio/Broadcast Personnel
  • Junior Studio Administrator or Sound Designer
  • Voice over Recordist/Engineer
  • Junior Sound Editor
  • Live Sound Operator/Assistant
  • Studio Engineer

SAE Diploma of Audio Production offers:

Hands on Audio Desk. SAE Brisbane campus
Access to world class studio environments Apply your learning to a range of hardware and software packages like Ableton, Pro Tools and Logic.
Practical, immersive training Learn as you collaborate on real-world projects and briefs. Build a portfolio to share with an employer or first client.
Collaboration opportunities You could collaborate with musicians to create remixes and produce tracks.
Flexible course options Completing one of the three stages of the Bachelor, this course provides an excellent pathway into the Associate Degree and the Bachelor.

YOUR CAREER IN AUDIO BEGINS NOW

TOOLS & SOFTWARE

THIS AUDIO COURSE COVERS:

Music Theory Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Recording Techniques Technical Principles and Practical Applications of Microphones Digital Technology in Audio Production Assembly of a small scale digital recording system

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Course Structure

The Diploma of Audio Production is stage 1 of the 3 stages of a Bachelor.
Blue. Infographic explaining Trimesters 1-6 for the Diploma, Associate Degree and Bachelor Audio courses at SAE.
Stage 1: Foundations
Develop the essential technical skills and the knowledge required to collaborate with other creative media students and professionals.
Credit points: 10

Thinking about Audio will introduce you to creative and scholarly thinking in your discipline. By examining leading thinkers and movements in your discipline, you will develop an understanding of key practical and transferable skills that will enable you to develop a deeper understanding of the learning process, research, and the nature of creativity and scholarship. This forms an essential foundation for your studies and your future career by fostering your skill as an independent learner and reflective practitioner.
Credit points: 10

Establish a basic knowledge of the principles of sound, foundational acoustics, human hearing, perception of sound and the range of technical terms related to audio. You'll sonically assess a listening environment and be able to communicate your ideas using industry terminology.

Potential projects:
Improve the acoustic properties of a home studio setup. Using technology analyse the sound of different rooms.
Credit points: 20

Gain the audio recording skills required to operate studio equipment and a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) system by undertaking simple recording and mixing projects.

You'll be able to demonstrate an understanding of session planning, studio etiquette, microphone placement, signal flow, multi-track recording and signal processing (EQ, filters and dynamics processing) and be able to edit your session in preparation for mixdown.

Potential projects: Develop a plan for a professional recording session. Analyse sound recordings and create multiple mixes using balance, pan, equalisation, automation and FX processing.
Credit points: 10

This unit explores the concepts of entrepreneurship, innovation and project design. You will develop approaches to identify promising opportunities and actionable strategies to transform them into tangible successes. Through exposure to developing new ideas, processes and ways of working - both individually and in entrepreneurial teams - you will hone skills to put creative ideas into practice and achieve real-world impact.

As Alan Kay explained, "The best way to predict the future is to create it", so let's get at it!
Credit points: 10

An introduction to the technology used in various audio systems such as recording studios, live, and audio-visual sound reinforcement systems.

Develop basic soldering and electronics fault-finding skills and investigate the connectivity and terminology of small-scale audio systems.

Potential projects: Safely set up and operate small live sound or audio-visual systems for music or spoken presentations.
Credit Points: 20

Apply your acquired production skills in real-life audio, music or sound design projects, one ‘in the box’ and one in the recording studio.

You'll deliver to a brief, using production skills and researching comparable works to create well-rounded products through iterative processes.

Potential projects:
First project: Enhance an audio production using sequencing, sampling and synthesis for music composition or sound design project.

Second project: Working on a collaborative studio production, You'll apply project management skills to demonstrate effective use of time and resources, whilst documenting and reflecting on the production process, identifying areas for improvements and responding to feedback from your your classmates and facilitator.
CRICOS Course Codes
102827H (2 TRIMESTERS) 094743E (3 TRIMESTERS)
Australian Qualifications Framework
AQF: Level 5 Fully Accredited with TEQSA
INDUSTRY PARTNERS. INDUSTRY PARTNERS.
We consult closely with industry professionals so you can expect a course that’s highly relevant and equips you with sought-after skills.

HELP & SUPPORT

Here are some frequently asked questions.

Read more FAQs

FEE‑HELP* is an Australian Government 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’.

* Terms and conditions apply. For the latest updates regarding FEE-HELP please refer to sae.edu.au/fees

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.

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.

CREDIT AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

SAE may recognise your prior learning and may grant credit towards satisfying the requirements for a higher-level program. This is applied where previous learning is considered equivalent to the content and learning outcomes prescribed for units within the program.
For full details, please refer to SAE’s policy on recognition of prior learning and credit transfers.

Course structure line graph

Easy transition into the Bachelor Course

SAE Diploma, Associate and Bachelor Degrees are structured in an integrated course framework.

This means that when you complete an SAE Diploma you will be awarded the maximum credit points available, providing you with the opportunity to seamlessly transition into the higher level Associate and Bachelor degree qualifications if you choose to do so.

Man pushing audio equipment back of stage at live performance

YOUR DREAM CAREER BEGINS NOW

With our industry connections, specialised teachers and personalised education in world-class facilities, you can unleash your creative future with confidence.
Apply Now