Course Overview

About This Course

Get on track to make serious noise in the audio industry. You will engage in collaborative studio based 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 to a specific brief, under the support and guidance of our expert lecturers. 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.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

SAE Adelaide, Adelaide SA

15-19 Franklin Street, Adelaide, SA 5000

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Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic Students must meet one of the following criteria:

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (QCE, WACE, HSC or SACE) or equivalent; OR
Completion of a Certificate III-level qualification, or higher, issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF); OR
For applicants who do not meet the requirements of the above entry criteria, refer to SAE's Experience Based Entry scheme.

International Students:

International students must be 18 years or above when they arrive in Australia to commence studies.
Completion of Year 12 English at an Australian secondary school or college, or equivalent.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS): Academic IELTS minimum overall band of 5.5 with no individual band below 5 completed in the last two years (or equivalent); OR
Completion of Year 12 English in an Australian secondary school or college or equivalent with a minimum result of "Satisfactory" or equivalent; OR
Successful completion of an Academic English program with an SAE-approved Australian-based English partner.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Upon completion, you will be eligible for up to 80 credit points towards the Bachelor of Audio. You will graduate with employability skills, introductory project management skills, and scholarly techniques for higher education. Career pathways include studio production, live sound production, and DAW operation within the audio industry.

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

ASQA

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units6 units

AIM111

Thinking About Audio & Music

Introduces you to creative and scholarly thinking in your discipline. By examining leading thinkers and movements in audio and music, you will develop an understanding of key practical and professional skills that will enable you to develop a deeper understanding of the industry, scholarship, and the nature of creativity.

AUD175

Foundations of Sound

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.

AUD176

Foundations of Recording and Mixing

Gain the audio recording skills required to operate studio equipment and a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) system by undertaking simple recording and mixing projects. Covers session planning, studio etiquette, microphone placement, signal flow, multi-track recording and signal processing.

CIE152

Project Design and the Entrepreneur

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.

AUD177

Foundations of Audio Technology & Live Sound

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.

AUD181

Audio Studio 1

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.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Diploma of Audio Production take to complete?

The Diploma of Audio Production can be completed in approximately 7 months (2 trimesters) via the Full Time Fast Track option, or over approximately one year (3 trimesters) via the standard Full Time option. A part-time option is also available for domestic students who want to take a little longer, and SAE will help you work out the best study load to suit your needs.

What are the fees for the Diploma of Audio Production?

For domestic students, the Annual Course Fee (Indicative) is $23,992 AUD (based on 1.0 EFTSL), structured as 4 units at $2,999 each and 2 units at $5,998 each, plus the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). FEE-HELP is available for eligible domestic students. For international students, the Annual Course Fee (Indicative) is $27,960 AUD, structured as 4 units at $3,495 each and 2 units at $6,990 each, plus SSAF.

Can the Diploma of Audio Production lead to further study?

Yes. The Diploma of Audio Production is Stage 1 of the 3 stages of a Bachelor degree. Upon completion, you will be eligible for up to 80 credit points towards the Bachelor of Audio, allowing you to continue your studies and build on the foundational skills developed during the Diploma.

What campuses offer the Diploma of Audio Production and when do classes start?

The Diploma of Audio Production is available at Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney campuses. Adelaide has an upcoming intake in September 2025, while Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney have intakes starting September 2026, with further intakes in February 2027 and May 2027 across all campuses.

What delivery modes are available for the Diploma of Audio Production?

The course is offered in On-Campus and Blended delivery modes. On-Campus includes 2 hours of weekly on-campus classes plus 1 hour of national content (online or asynchronous), with classes running Monday to Friday. Blended delivery combines 2 hours of live (on-campus or online) classes with 1 hour of national content each week, balancing in-person connection with the convenience of remote access. Regardless of delivery mode, students learn from SAE's national team of expert, industry-aligned faculty.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

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