Frequently Asked Questions

Full-time students at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) earn an Advanced Diploma of Professional Game Development, specializing in Game Programming, Game Design or Game Art & Animation, OR an Advanced Diploma of Screen and Media, specializing in 3D Animation & VFX for Film

Our Lafayette Campus also offers Associate Degrees in each of these areas.

AIE campuses in Seattle and Lafayette are both accredited by the Commission of the Council on Occupational Education, 7840 Roswell Road, Building 300, Suite 325, Atlanta, GA 30350, Telephone: 770-396-3898 / FAX: 770-396-3790 www.council.org

The AIE Lafayette campus is also authorized by the Louisiana Board of Regents for Higher Education

All Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) certificate and diploma programs are nationally accredited and recognized through the Australian Qualifications Framework, which is based on industry skill standards.

Our Seattle campus is located in the heart of the city right next to the iconic Space Needle. The campus is close to public transportation and parking.

Our Lafayette campus is located in the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise (LITE) building, on the University of Louisiana’s Lafayette campus.

For more information, visit the campus pages: Seattle or Lafayette. Our Australian campuses are located in Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne. You can find out more about our Australian campuses at www.aie.edu.au.

AIE has to ensure graduates are placed into jobs after completion of their programs. AIE consistently meets or exceeds the COE requirements of placement. The requirement is that 70% of each graduating class are placed within 18 months of graduation.

AIE creates opportunities for students to interact with industry professionals through our advisory committee, guest speakers and local professional organizations such as the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). Students are encouraged to set up internships and complete the program with a show reel and portfolio of their work.

AIE is a non-profit educator established in 1996 to grow and support the game industry. Our unique curriculum is offered in the United States and Australia, and provides you with the training needed to join our other graduates as entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators in the video game industry.

The curriculum is taught by experienced instructors who have “been there and done that.” Our history stretches back to 1996 and through the years we have developed strong industry connections with many notable companies around the world. Read more about what makes AIE different.

If you missed the application process, you can review the process and download your application HERE. Because enrollment in our programs is first-come, first-served, you are encouraged to apply at the next available priority application deadline. Pay careful attention to the application materials and portfolio requirements for the program you are applying for, since incomplete applications will not be reviewed until the next application deadline after they are completed. Application deadlines may be cancelled if our seats are filled, so we recommend applying early!

If you have questions about the application process or what you can do to prepare yourself for studying at AIE, contact uscampus@aie.edu.au

Yes, AIE does cap enrollment for its courses. We seek to ensure that all of our students receive a quality education which means keeping our class sizes small. Students seeking to enroll after we reach our cap will be put on a waiting list.

• The programs we use change depending on the demands of the interactive media industry. If the tools change then our curriculum must change in order to stay in tune with the industry we are preparing students to enter.
• Programming Students utilize industry standard languages and tools such as: Visual Studio (C, C++ and C#), Open GL, Unity, UDK (Unreal), Perforce, Python, GITHUB.
• 3D Animation & VFX students utilize industry standard software and resources such as: Maya, ZBrush, Photoshop, After Effects, Nuke and Premiere.

• The Lafayette campus accepts FAFSA. The Federal School code for the Lafayette campus is: 042484.
• The Seattle campus accepts FAFSA. The Federal School code for the Seattle campus is: 04223600.

Yes, AIE offers a number of scholarships check them out here!

Yes, Seattle campus can accept international students who can provide proof of work or student visa and meet the other entry requirements. Contact seattle@aie.edu.au with further questions.

Our Lafayette campus partners with local student-based apartment complexes. Check out the list we have here: https://aie.edu/student-information/lafayette-housing-resources/ Conventional apartments are also plentiful, but we recommend student housing for our incoming students.

Our Seattle campus is located in the heart of the city, next to the iconic Space Needle. Our recommendations about housing can be seen here: Housing Resources - Academy of Interactive Entertainment Seattle (aie.edu) Areas to consider include Ballard, Queen Anne, U District, Belltown, Capitol Hill and Fremont. We suggest you use the local transit schedules metro.kingcounty.gov to gauge how quickly you can get to and from AIE from potential housing.

Sure! We check the Coming Events sidebar link for upcoming Open Houses, Interactive Experience Days and other campus events. If you can’t make one of those events, contact us via seattle@aie.edu or lafayette@aie.edu to arrange a date and time.

Absolutely, we encourage all of our students to have a job while attending AIE. Many of our students work in the same area as our campus, including places like The Apple Store and Starbucks, or even game testing at various game studios. Second year students should seek internships and look for ways to apply what they have learned in their first year toward industry projects. Connecting with faculty and staff, the advisory committee, guest speakers and industry trade organizations such as IGDA can all point to potential internship opportunities.

• Students at AIE enjoy a set schedule each year. They will not need to worry about signing up for classes or be concerned about if they will get into the classes they need to graduate. AIE students are in class for 20 hours per week.
• Students are either in class Monday and Tuesday from 9:00 AM – 6 PM and Wednesday from 9 AM-1:00 PM OR Wednesday from 2:00 PM- 6 PM and Thursday and Friday from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. We usually have industry professionals in as guest speakers at 1:00 PM on Wednesday afternoons.

Classes are taught on a studio model, emulating, in so far as possible, the industry workplace environment, with project-based assessment against industry skills standards and criteria. Learning and practice are integrated and take place in the same space, so transitions between theory and practice are unhindered.

Great question! You could take one (or more) of our Summer Camps or Intro Programs. Students use industry tools to either create a video game or animation.

AIE will accept some non-core courses from regionally accredited institutions. Students are not allowed to transfer upper divisional units or units that are core courses (especially production courses.) You may also ask to be tested or have a portfolio review for prior learning. See the Prior Learning Assessment section of the handbook for the appropriate campus.

The Seattle and Lafayette Campuses do not presently offer individual classes.

You can go ahead and ask us a question on this page! We will usually get back to you within one business day.