Build Your Creative Career in Glasgow
Our SAE Glasgow campus sits in one of the UK’s most active creative hubs, surrounded by BBC Scotland, STV, Blazing Griffin, King Tut’s, and the Barras.
You’ll work in professional studios, high-spec Mac and games labs, film and production spaces designed to mirror industry environments. You don’t just learn the theory. You make work, every week, using the tools creatives actually use. But more than that, you’ll be learning from BAFTA-connected lecturers, screening work to industry professionals, and building the connections that lead to actual jobs.
So, what makes SAE Glasgow different? You’re not studying near the industry. You’re inside it.
Take a look at our Glasgow Campus
Like what you see in Glasgow? Come and experience it for yourself.
Life in Glasgow
Glasgow is a creative city that means it.
This is one of the UK’s most respected music cities, globally known for its venues, its scene, and its spirit. You’re as likely to find inspiration in a basement venue as you are in a gallery. Students are everywhere. The city is affordable, walkable, and genuinely welcoming.
SAE Glasgow is an active campus community too:
- Student union based in Glasgow
- Regular social events and student-led activities
- Film screenings, listening groups, creative meetups
- Live performance and showcase events
- Cross-discipline collaboration and team building
GLASGOW LECTURERS = INDUSTRY INSIDERS
Your lecturers collaborate with major brands and contribute to award-winning projects, bringing real industry experience directly into the classroom. Check out who you can learn from at SAE Glasgow.
Paul Barrie
An award-winning filmmaker and SAE Glasgow lecturer with over 15 years of experience across film and television. A Royal Television Society Scotland award-winning writer and director, his work spans festival screenings, broadcast collaborations and industry development, which he brings directly into the classroom. Senior Film Lecturer
Sarah Grant
A BAFTA-qualifying writer-director whose work spans BBC The Social, BBC Short Stuff and her debut feature Fight Me, starring Sharon Rooney and Peter Mullen. Her documentary Big Moves earned a Grierson Award nomination, alongside RTS Scotland nominations for Best Director and Best Short Form. Developing projects with BBC Studios, Candle and Bell and Northbridge Media, she brings award-winning, socially driven storytelling into the classroom. Film Production Lecturer
Scott Jones
A sound designer and engineer whose work spans film, games and experimental audio. He has collaborated on projects including Harris Distillery’s Ceremony, mixing and mastering sound art for the launch of their first whisky, The Hearach. With a Master’s from the Glasgow School of Art, he bridges field recording, electronic production and post-production, giving students hands-on insight into the evolving world of sound for screen. Audio Lecturer
Craig Hamilton
An audio producer whose work spans live performance, studio recording and national commercial campaigns. He has recorded and mixed for artists including Count 4dB, Mickey 9’s, Make Model and Lucky 38, and produced adverts for major brands such as RBS, Superdrug and B&Q. From festival stages like Eden and Bearded Theory to high-end commercial studios, he brings versatile, real-world production insight into the classroom. Audio Production Lecturer
Dr John Markey
A Programme Leader for Postgraduate Provision at SAE and published academic specialising in music industries and culture. Combining a PhD in Music with active work across the global dance music scene, including deals with Columbia Records and major brand partnerships, he brings both academic insight and real industry strategy into postgraduate education. Programme Leader for Postgraduate Provision
EMPLOYABILITY IN GLASGOW
SAE Glasgow isn’t new here. We’re part of the landscape.
For over three decades, we’ve been training the people Scotland’s creative industries rely on. We’re known across the country for producing skilled practitioners in audio, film, games, animation, and content creation.
That’s 30 years of industry relationships. 30 years of graduates working in studios like No Code Games, production companies, and creative businesses across Scotland and beyond. 30 years of industry relationships, bringing professionals in for screenings, exhibitions, and talks. 30 years of reputation built on results.
When employers in Scotland see SAE Glasgow on a CV, they know what it means.
Support at SAE Glasgow
SAE Glasgow keeps things personal. Staff know your name. Support is easy to access.
Academic, wellbeing, and technical teams work closely together. With a dedicated student wellbeing officer, weekly academic support, and staff who’ve been here for years, you’re not navigating this alone. We monitor progress proactively, not reactively, and support covers everything from coursework to mental health to building your professional network.
You’re supported from day one, not just when things go wrong.
Glasgow looks good on screen. It's even better in person.
Glasgow FAQs
Yes. Glasgow is one of the UK’s best student cities: affordable, welcoming, and full of students from across Scotland and internationally. It’s built for young people, with a strong creative community, active nightlife, and cultural scene. The city is walkable, safe, and genuinely friendly. Students make up a significant part of Glasgow’s population, so you’ll never feel out of place.
Yes. It’s compact enough that most places you’ll want to be are within walking distance or a short subway ride. The city has excellent transport links, green spaces, museums, galleries, music venues, and creative hubs. The people are known for being warm and welcoming.
Glasgow is one of the most affordable cities in the UK for students. Food, transport, and social life are all reasonably priced. Students can live well here without the financial pressure of more expensive cities. Many students find part-time work in the city’s hospitality, retail, and creative sectors to support themselves.
Popular student areas include the Shawlands,Dennistoun, the city centre, and the West End.
While SAE doesn’t offer its own accommodation, we’ve gathered popular options that Glasgow students use, all in central locations with good access to campus and the city. You can view your accommodation options here.
Yes. Glasgow is one of the UK’s most important creative cities, internationally recognised for music and increasingly respected for film, TV, and games production. The city hosts major broadcasters (BBC Scotland, STV), post-production studios (Blazing Griffin), games companies, and countless independent creative businesses. Students at SAE Glasgow are studying in the same area where much of this industry operates, which creates natural networking and employment opportunities.
SAE Glasgow has over 30 years of industry connections across Scotland’s creative sectors. Students benefit from:
- Industry professionals invited to screenings, exhibitions, and talks
- Studio visits and networking events
- Dedicated modules on business skills, marketing, and self-employment
- Lecturers who are actively working in industry
- A reputation employers across Scotland recognise and trust
Our graduates work in games studios (including No Code Games), film and TV production, audio post-production, and freelance creative practice. Many find work through connections made during their studies.
Yes. Employability is built into the course: students develop professional networks while studying, learn business and marketing skills, and showcase their work to industry professionals. SAE Glasgow’s long-standing reputation across Scotland’s creative industries means employers know the quality of our graduates. Staff also provide guidance on portfolios, showreels, CVs, and career pathways.
SAE Glasgow is located in a highly active creative area of the city, close to BBC Scotland, STV, Blazing Griffin post-production, and iconic music venues like King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut and the Barras:
Our Address:
SAE Institute Glasgow
85-87 Portman Street,
Kinning Park,
Glasgow
G41 1EJ
Yes. SAE Glasgow offers dedicated wellbeing and academic support:
- A dedicated student wellbeing support officer
- One-to-one wellbeing sessions
- Weekly academic support availability
+ more!
Help is there when you need it, and staff actively check in on students’ academic progress, mental health, and professional development.
Opening Hours
Trimester Breaks
You can email us at glasgow@sae.ac.uk or call us on 07360272305.
Any questions?
For any questions regarding our Glasgow Campus or if you’d like more information about studying at SAE, please contact our Enquiries Team on 03330 112 315 or email glasgow@sae.ac.uk
