Practical degrees for the creative industries
At SAE, you can study undergraduate and postgraduate courses designed for the creative industries.
Our undergraduate degrees are validated and recognised, with the option to study over two years or three years depending on the route that suits you. Whichever path you choose, you’ll learn through practical projects, creative briefs and industry-style workflows.
You’ll build the skills, confidence and portfolio-ready work connected to the career you want to pursue, with learning that is more hands-on than theory-led.
Explore our undergraduate and postgraduate courses below.
Which course is right for me?
Not sure which course to choose? Start with what you want to create, then use the guide below to find the SAE course that best matches your interests and career goals.
Undergraduate Courses
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Qualification: BA / BSc (Hons)
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London
Train in professional recording and post-production studios using industry-standard software including Pro Tools, Ableton, FMOD and Unreal Engine. Develop hands-on skills across music production, sound design and post-production, while building experience through live projects and real-world creative briefs.
Graduate with a portfolio tailored for careers across music, film, TV and games.
Career Opportunities
- Sound Engineer
- Music Producer
- Audio Post-Production Specialist
- Broadcast Technician
- Game Audio Designer
- Music Supervisor
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Entry Requirements: 72 UCAS Points
Qualification: BSc (Hons)
Campuses: Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London
Combine audio production knowledge with software development to learn how the music and audio industries build the tools they rely on. Develop practical skills in programming, audio systems, plugins and software workflows using technologies and frameworks used across the industry today.
You’ll graduate with experience working at the intersection of sound and code, preparing you for careers in audio technology, games and software development.
Career Opportunities
- Audio Software Developer
- Plugin Engineer
- DSP Programmer
- Game Audio Programmer
- Broadcast Systems Developer
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Entry Requirements: 72 UCAS Points
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Leeds, Leamington Spa, Liverpool, London
Develop the creative and strategic skills needed to succeed in today’s content-driven industries. Gain hands-on experience across video production, photography, editing, copywriting, social media strategy and digital marketing while working on real briefs for real audiences.
Learn how to create content that connects with audiences, builds brands and delivers results across digital platforms.
Career Opportunities
- Content Creator
- Social Media Manager
- Digital Marketer
- Brand Strategist
- Creative Director
- Campaign Producer
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Entry Requirements: 72 UCAS Points
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Leeds, Leamington Spa, Liverpool, London
Develop the programming, design and technical skills needed to work at the intersection of creativity and AI. Learn how to build interactive experiences, create AI-assisted tools and explore the technologies shaping the future of creative industries.
Gain hands-on experience across creative computing, digital product development and emerging AI workflows while developing practical skills for real-world creative and technology projects.
Career Opportunities
- Creative Technologist
- AI Content Developer
- Interactive Media Designer
- Digital Product Developer
- UX Engineer
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Entry Requirements: 72 UCAS Points
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Leeds, Leamington Spa, Liverpool, London
Develop hands-on filmmaking skills from concept through to final edit using industry-standard cameras, lighting setups and editing suites. Work on real productions from day one while building experience across directing, cinematography, editing, producing and sound.
Learn how professional film crews collaborate and graduate with a portfolio designed to showcase your creative and technical abilities across film, television and digital media.
Career Opportunities
- Director
- Producer
- Camera Operator
- Editor
- Production Manager
- Broadcast Journalist
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Entry Requirements: 72 UCAS Points
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Leeds, Leamington Spa, Liverpool, London
Develop the artistic and technical skills needed to create characters, worlds and visual experiences for the games industry. Learn industry-standard workflows across 3D modelling, texturing, animation, environment art and visual effects while building projects inspired by real studio pipelines and production briefs.
Gain hands-on experience creating professional-quality game art and graduate with a portfolio designed for careers across games, animation and digital media.
Career Opportunities
- 3D Artist
- Character Artist
- Environment Artist
- Animator
- Concept Artist
- VFX Artist
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Entry Requirements: 72 UCAS Points
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Leeds, Leamington Spa, Liverpool, London
Learn how to design games that players genuinely want to experience. Develop practical skills across game mechanics, level design, narrative design and user experience while working with the tools and workflows used throughout the games industry.
Build games from concept through to completion, focusing on creative problem-solving, player experience and production-ready design skills through hands-on projects and real development pipelines.
Career Opportunities
- Game Designer
- Level Designer
- Narrative Designer
- UX Designer
- Producer
- QA Tester
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Qualification: BA / BSc (Hons) – Audio, Games & Web
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Leeds, Leamington Spa, Liverpool, London
Develop the creative and technical skills needed to design sound for games and interactive media. Learn how to create, implement and mix immersive audio experiences using professional middleware, game engines and interactive audio workflows used throughout the industry.
Gain hands-on experience across sound design, interactive audio systems, music composition and audio implementation while building projects for real-time game environments.
Career Opportunities
- Game Audio Designer
- Sound Designer
- Interactive Audio Programmer
- Composer for Games
- Audio Director
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Qualification: BA / BSc (Hons) – Audio, Games & Web
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Leeds, Leamington Spa, Liverpool, London
Develop the technical skills needed to build modern games and interactive experiences. Learn programming languages, game engine workflows and development pipelines while gaining hands-on experience across C++, AI systems, graphics programming and engine architecture.
Work on real projects using professional tools and game engines, building a portfolio designed to showcase your practical programming and problem-solving abilities to the games industry.
Career Opportunities
- Games Programmer
- Engine Developer
- AI Programmer
- Graphics Programmer
- Tools Developer
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Entry Requirements: 72 UCAS Points
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Liverpool, London
Develop the creative, commercial and strategic skills needed to succeed in today’s music industry. Explore areas including artist management, music marketing, publishing, live events, rights management and the streaming economy while learning from industry professionals and real-world case studies.
Build an understanding of how the modern music business operates while developing practical knowledge and industry insight across labels, agencies and independent music ventures.
Career Opportunities
- A&R
- Artist Manager
- Music Marketer
- Music Publisher
- Sync Licensing Coordinator
- Live Events Producer
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Entry Requirements: 72 UCAS Points
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Liverpool, London
Develop the creative and technical skills needed for careers in visual effects and animation. Learn professional production workflows across compositing, motion graphics, 3D animation and post-production while working with industry-standard software and real-world creative briefs.
Build experience creating high-quality visual content for film, television and digital media while developing a professional portfolio designed for the creative industries.
Career Opportunities
- VFX Artist
- Compositor
- Motion Graphics Designer
- 3D Animator
- Post-Production Supervisor
Duration(s): 2 years full-time (Accelerated) or 3 years full-time
Qualification: BA / BSc (Hons) – Audio, Games & Web
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campuses: Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London
Develop the technical and creative skills needed to build modern digital experiences. Learn front-end and full-stack web development using the languages, frameworks and tools used across the industry today while working on real-world digital projects.
Alongside coding and development, you’ll build an understanding of user experience, design and digital product creation, helping you develop a professional portfolio that showcases both technical ability and creative thinking.
Career Opportunities
- Front-End Developer
- Full-Stack Developer
- UX Developer
- Web Designer
- Digital Product Manager
POSTGRADUATE COURSES
Duration(s): 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Qualification: MSc
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campus: London
Advance your expertise in audio engineering, acoustics and music technology through a postgraduate degree designed for professionals and graduates looking to deepen their technical and creative knowledge. Explore advanced audio workflows, emerging technologies and research methods across music, broadcast, games and immersive audio.
Develop specialist skills alongside a research-led approach to audio innovation, preparing you for advanced technical and leadership roles within the industry.
Career Opportunities
- Senior Audio Engineer
- Acoustics Consultant
- Research & Development Specialist
- Music Technology Educator
- Broadcast Systems Specialist
Duration(s): 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time
Qualification: MA / MSc
Available to: Domestic & International Students
Campus: Online
Designed for creative professionals looking to advance their careers while continuing to work in the industry, this flexible postgraduate degree allows you to specialise in an area aligned to your professional practice. Develop advanced creative, research and critical thinking skills through a major body of practical and theoretical work.
Explore current industry challenges, refine your professional expertise and build work that reflects a higher level of creative and professional development.
Career Opportunities
- Creative Director
- Head of Production
- Studio Manager
- Independent Creative Practitioner
- Senior Creative Leadership Roles
Take the first step. Send us an enquiry and we'll be in touch.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our courses or if you’d like more information on our Undergraduate and Postgraduate Courses at SAE, please contact our Enquiries Team on 03330 112 315 or email ukenquiries@ad-education.ac.uk.
