Associate Degree of Songwritng and Music Production

The Associate Degree of Songwriting and Music Production is a two-year qualification at SAE University College, built for people who write songs and want to record, produce and mix them properly. You study both sides of the craft: lyric writing, melody, harmony, song form and arrangement, alongside studio recording, digital audio workstations, MIDI programming, mixing and mastering. Expect to spend time in studios and labs rather than only in lecture rooms, because the work is practical. You write songs, record them, produce them, and present finished material.

How the qualification is structured

An associate degree sits between a diploma and a bachelor degree on the Australian Qualifications Framework. It normally takes two years of full-time study. SAE delivers its programs across trimesters, so you generally complete three study periods a year rather than two semesters. Each unit of study carries credit points, and you need to pass the required number of credit points to graduate. The course code on the CRICOS register is 105150B, which is the code international students use when checking the course is registered for overseas students.

During the degree you build a portfolio of original work. Many students finish with a body of recorded songs they can release or use to get work. Assessment tends to be project-based: you submit tracks, mixes, written reflections and collaborative productions. You also work with other students as musicians, vocalists and engineers, which mirrors how recording sessions actually run.

SAE has campuses in several Australian cities, and the music industry here is real and active, live venues, independent labels, sync licensing for film and television, and a steady demand for producers who can work across genres. Studying in Australia also means you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work. Confirm current visa rules with the Department of Home Affairs.

Who it suits

This degree suits songwriters who are tired of rough demos and want to make records that sound finished. It also suits producers who want stronger songwriting instincts, and musicians who want to move into the studio side of the industry. You do not need to be a virtuoso, but you do need to write songs and be willing to have them critiqued. International applicants need to meet English requirements, IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the usual undergraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and SAE's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Student visa has its own separate English threshold set by the Department of Home Affairs.

Tuition is published on the CRICOS register. Check the official SAE University College page and the CRICOS listing for current fees, intake dates and campus availability before you apply.

• Songwriter or topline writer for artists, publishers and sync licensing
• Music producer working in project studios or commercial facilities
• Recording engineer or assistant engineer in Australian studios
• Mix engineer or mastering assistant
• Electronic music producer and beat maker
• Live sound technician for venues, festivals and touring acts
• Podcast and audio post-production editor
• Artist self-managing and releasing independent music
• Music director or arranger for small ensembles
• Content creator producing original audio for online platforms

Hiring happens across Australian recording studios, independent labels, live music venues, festival production companies, advertising and screen post-production houses, radio, podcast networks and the broader creative industries. Some graduates go on to further study, such as a bachelor degree with credit for prior learning, or build a freelance practice combining production, performance and teaching.