SAE Institute Amsterdam

"I dont know where to start, this has been one of the worst experiences of my life.
I have started studying at SAE in 2020 in the Game department. Everything is just disorganized, the teachers had little experience on the subjects and a lot of the times the classes ended up being in a form of a YouTube tutorial (you are better of watching online courses). The teachers were not the worst part surprisingly, as the whole coordination and support for the program was even worse, the staff that was there to help us was the opposite of helpful (anytime we needed help they just replied “yea I’m not sure I can help you with that” without even trying) and the program coordinators did not know how to structure a game art course because they have no previous experience in game art.
Reconsider applying to this university, because for the amount of money that they ask for it is definitely not worth it. Another thing that was really shocking was that there was no networking events or internships during the course, so essentially you have to do everything yourself and since there are no internships, you will have to go straight into a junior position in the industry after your studies which is rare without previous experience or internship. So even if you manage to somehow get all the skills to work in the industry (which you won’t unless you do loads of self-study) it will be really hard to get into the industry.
Also, the fact that they promote things they are not able to provide on their social media is ridiculous. This school does not provide you half of the technology they say they do including software licenses – the computers are old and can barely handle the game workflows you need to do. These are all just fake marketing tactics to get you to sign up. It just seems like all the money we give the school doesn’t get invested into anything we use.
These are the main problems I faced during my studies but there were many more which I won’t go into because this should be plenty enough for anyone to see that this school doesn’t deserve to have game art as one of the courses.
" - 31-03-2024 14:45

"The points I provide goes towards the few staff members that are helpful, organised and kind people. In my opinion, this only relates to 4 members of staff out of all employees, both internal and external. The rest of the staff can be quite unorganised, have attitude, impatient and on edge.
It's a shame that the good employees have to endure this negative review as I feel they really don't deserve it, but a majority of staff and institutional practices are not up to par with the price tag at hand.

When I arrived at the start of my course, I was really excited to start a new chapter in my life and to be inspired by a practical course. I must admit that I feel like my dream of filmmaking and flame of inspiration has burnt out. I cannot put all of the blame on the university itself as this course clashed with the covid-19 pandemic, which put a lot of limitations on practices and ability to conduct projects. Not being able to book equipment or have practical lessons really took the experience out of this course. Students asked for financial compensation for the lack of being able to rent equipment and was denied.

Since the beginning of the course there has been difficulties with the equipment booking system. This discouraged me from booking equipment to use for external projects, furthermore I didn't end up doing any side projects, which I was really hoping to do. The equipment overall is quite limited and there's nothing grand to expect. No big rigs or set-building. Bare bones and basics.

A lot of disorganisation occured within the film department; lecturers sometimes not knowing which location nor time they're supposed to be teaching, some assignment requirements or deadlines were not explained to us, following up about questions we have and not getting helpful responses and slow at responding and some classes not being useful. I remember a lesson where we were only shown a colour grading card and that was that. Only took 15 minutes.

I expected this course to be a lot more intense and information packed than it actually was and for the price of the course, was very dissapointing. I've seen other film schools with similar fees where students have full crews, get to build sets and have big studios to film in." - 19-05-2021 16:51

"Fraudsters. Don't fall for the smooth talk!
They prentend to be a real school, but all they want is to make a lot of money. They don't care about the students. The content is outdated and nicked from the internet. The teachers don't have a lot of experience or started teaching because they couldn't make it in the industry themselves.
You are better off buying a online course and some nice gear yourself." - 05-05-2021 09:35

"Please, please, please don't fall for this scam!

I have met many people who have followed the Game Art Animation course in other country outside of the Netherlands and they had such great experiences, but when I joined SAE Amsterdam it was such a dissapointment.

The teachers have almost no experience in both teachhing and their subjects. What little they do teach is embarisinly outdated compared to current industry standards.

It is an absolute waste of money. The worst part is, they are not open to change (despite claiming they do).

Please, you are better of spending your money on courses from CGMA from actual industry expierenced teachers." - 11-04-2021 12:52

"I studied Audio Production at SAE Amsterdam after completing my previous university studies. I was looking for a strongly practical approach, next to a curricula capable of teaching everything I wanted to know and I truly found both. My aim was to be able to work with audio and music being self sufficient and capable of doing everything I wished to, without limitations. The foundation provided by SAE is so solid that, right after finishing, I was able to work into different fields of the audio industry with confidence. The study was hard but fun, thanks also to the positive vibe of the school, teachers, supervisors and other students. A big plus was the chance to use the school studios and gears for any project I wanted to, opening unlimoted chances of collaborations.
I understand why people might give a negative review, though. This school can be the best place to develop your passion but a high level of motivation and self organisation is required to get the best out of it. Lecturers and staff are available to help almost at any time, as long as you go and ask for it, of course.
I would do all over again without any doubt,since SAE has been the fundamental step towards the realisation of my main goal and dream: become a professional producer, able to live and earn from what I love the most.
" - 02-09-2020 08:29

"I can only agree with negative feed beck here.Lessons are very poor organised if i can call them lessons.Some of them where even same.In the second year of study i expected more advanced 3d lessons but lessons where same with little changes.This course was not about game art and animation and that is for sure.I far from cg industry standard and not worth of that money.Don,t fall on what they say." - 20-08-2020 09:38

"This course is aimed to give those following it a general look at many parts of the industry which it accomplishes without a doubt. These glimpses can feel too short in some areas but that is usually because you have an affinity with the subject and have to stop studying that to move to the next module.

The course is noted as 30 hours per week, with 2.5 lesson hours per day and an expected 5 hours of homework. Be warned:
1. if you think following the 2,5 hours will get you through the course, forget it, invest your time elsewhere, you will just disrupt the class for serious people.

2. If you think you will only have to do 5 hours work outside your lesson time, again do not start, all students that I have worked with until now that are on their way to good jobs do not have time limits...the job is done when it is right or your deadline comes.

Basically, you will get back what you put in, sometimes it means learning from outside sources because the info you need has not been covered in the course...This can feel a little weird, like" the lessons are not covering the topic", if so pat yourself on the back, then you are probably thinking out of the box and that is not in a general description.

This course is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but it offers a good grounding in the basics on so many fronts it kind of leaves it over to you to see how far you dare to push it...the course is being improved regularly and the SAE rules allow all Alumni students to follow other lessons after graduation which again if you take advantage of is only an advantage for yourself.

If you are big enough to put your life on hold for a few years and give it your all this may well be the course for you...if not you may wish to reconsider." - 16-03-2019 16:00

"Mijn ervaring op SAE Institute Amsterdam heeft mijn carriere in de muziekindustrie een flinke boost gegeven.

De lessen gegeven door proffesionele docenten die verstand hebben van hun vak, hebben mijn muzikale kennis vergroot en ben ik daardoor aan de slag gekomen bij een major recordlabel.

De sfeer die heerst op SAE is warm, en ondanks dat er veel nationaliteiten zijn, heerst er een warme en respectvolle sfeer.

Ook mensen met complicaties met leren (zoals ik) worden hier goed begeleid en klaargestoomd voor de toekomst in de continu veranderende Multimedia sector.

Een dikke aanraader, de reviews die hier staan doen geen recht aan de docenten en school." - 06-03-2019 14:00

"Mijn ervaring bij SAE Institute Amsterdam was zeer positief. De training is van een zeer hoge standaard. Je wordt erg aangemoedigd om veel onderzoek en zelfstudie te doen. De training is als elke filmtraining. Je krijgt studierichtlijnen om de opleiding met succes te voltooien. Je leert veel van cinematografie en filmbewerking. De rest van de tijd analyseer je de nuances van het filmmaken door werken van de meesters te analyseren. Je krijgt ook veel workshops, die worden gegeven door industrei experts. Je krijgt praktische ervaring door aan echte (real life) evenementen mee te werken. Ik raad deze training aan aan iedereen die gemotiveerd is om de nuances van het filmmaken te leren.
" - 24-02-2018 14:18

"Het is dat ik niet lager dan een 1 kan geven voor deze school, want zelfs dat geeft ze nog te veel credit.

Ik heb nog nooit zo'n ongeregelde organisatie meegemaakt. Er valt best het één en ander te leren van de lessen, helaas komst dit echter zwaar te lijden onder de slechte organisatie van deze school.

Vaak zul je niet snel positieve reviews vinden online, omdat mensen vaak niet die moeite willen doen. In het geval van SAE zijn er echter geen positieve reviews te vinden omdat er ook echt niks positief valt te zeggen over SAE.

Ga niet naar SAE het is echt niet z'n geld waard. Wees gewaarschuwd! Wat in de andere reviews staan op deze site is 100% waar." - 28-08-2017 10:14

"Mijn ervaring in SAE amsterdam op de Game opleiding die toen der tijd als ''Interactive Animation'' op hun site stond was in 1 woord te vertellen.
Het was slecht.

Waarom zou je je waarschijnlijk afvragen, dat zal ik je vertellen.

De lessen waren de helft van de tijd eerder showcases van unity plugins of addons and 1/3 van de andere 50% waren youtube filmpjes. De lessen zelf werden half hartig gegeven. Bijna niks geleerd daar naast outdated box modelling wat niet meer word gebruikt. Er word ook gezegd dat je zal leren coderen. Dit is niet waar. De leraar heeft maar een paar keer uberhaubt een regel code laten zien en 1 keer uitgelegd wat een floater is. Dit kan ik me niet eens meer herinneren want daarna werd je weer doodgegooid met unity plugins. Het 2de jaar zelf was ook 1 pot nat. ''Je zal meer advanced dingen leren'' Nee, dat doe je niet. je hebt 3 blokken. het 1ste en het 3de blok zijn om het makkelijk te zeggen alleen maar essays schrijven. en het 2de blok is een herhaling van het 1ste jaar.

TL;DR Ik raad je niet aan deze opleiding te volgen. want de hoeveelheid geld die je dit gaat kosten kan je beter online classes volgen van Gnomon. Dat is wel een aanrader. " - 20-06-2017 15:04

"Slechtste en tegelijk duurste opleiding in me leven. Certificaat en cijfer pas 3 maanden gekregen nadat opleiding was afgelopen. Slechte en hele matige leraren, met zelf niet veel meer dan basiservaring. Ik dacht dat leraren grote klusjes hadden gedaan of nog steeds doen, verre van waar. Drones werden beloofd, maar niks van gezien. Heb op youtube meer geleerd dan van deze leraren. Dacht dat ik na deze opleiding serieuze industrie/markt kwaliteit had, maar verre van. Bijna geen praktijk lessen. In totaal niet meer dan 10 video's gemaakt in een heel jaar. En dat kost je dan 15.000 euro. Als je al enige basiskennis hebt van video's maken raad ik je deze opleiding af, aangezien je nooit meer dan de basis gaat leren." - 16-12-2016 14:58

"Nauwelijks zeg maar geen praktijklessen, geen praktijk begeleiding, lesgevers zijn meer met hun eigen ding bezig. Je hebt wel de mogelijkheid om zelf in een studio te werken maar daar krijg je ook zo goed als geen begeleiding in.
Hoe ik een opname het beste kan aanpakken heb ik op youtube opgezocht .......
Mijn advies : Spaar je geld of koop er leuke apparatuur voor en zoek andere opleiding" - 05-09-2016 19:56