AIE (Academic Institute of Excellence) is a private South African higher education group founded in 2013 and headquartered at 1 Oracle Close, Halfway Gardens, Midrand, Johannesburg, with an additional Cape Town site and course delivery also branded under a Hatfield (Pretoria) location for music programmes. In 2026 AIE unified four legacy brands (Greenside Design Center, Emendy Multimedia Institute, Concept Interactive and Learn3D) into one institution offering 80+ qualifications across eight schools spanning engineering, IT, business, architecture, art and design, draughting, beauty, and artisan trades, delivered full-time (on-campus/hybrid), full-time online, and part-time flexi-online. AIE states it is provisionally registered as a Private College and as a Higher Education institution with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), and holds accreditation/registration from Umalusi, the QCTO (as a skills development provider), and CETA, with DHET-registered exam centres for N1-N6 engineering subjects. It also holds unconditional SACAP accreditation for its School of Architecture (Midrand), SAIPA accreditation for its BCom in Accounting, and partner status with CIMA, PMI/PMSA, Cisco, Autodesk and AWS Academy.
Qualifications & Programmes
- School of Engineering & Science: Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (NQF7); Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Mechanical Engineering (NQF7); Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Civil Engineering (NQF7); Diploma in Electrical & Electronics Engineering (NQF6); Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (NQF6); Diploma in Civil Engineering (NQF6); Higher Certificate in Civil Engineering (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Mechanical Engineering (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Mechatronic Engineering (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Renewable Energy (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Electrical & Electronics Engineering (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Engineering in Industrial Engineering (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Project Management (Construction Management) (NQF5); National Certificate N4-N6 Civil Engineering; National Certificate N4-N6 Mechanical Engineering; National Certificate N4-N6 Electrical Engineering; National Certificate N4-N6 Chemical Engineering; Foundation Programme (Engineering)
- School of Architecture & Built Environment: Bachelor of Architecture (NQF7); Diploma in Architectural Technology (NQF6); Higher Certificate in Architectural Technology (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Project Management (Construction Management) (NQF5); Higher Occupational Certificate: Quantity Surveyor Assistant (NQF5); Foundation Programme (Architecture)
- School of Information Technology & Data Science: Bachelor of Information Technology in Data Science (NQF7); Bachelor of Information Technology in Network and Cybersecurity (NQF7); Bachelor of Information Technology in Software Engineering (NQF7); Occupational Certificate: Software Engineer (NQF6); Certificate: Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems; Higher Certificate in Project Management (Information Technology) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Information Technology in Artificial Intelligence (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Information Technology (Computer Systems and Networking) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Information Technology (Software Engineering) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Information Technology (Data Science) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Information Technology (Systems Architecture) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Information Technology (Cybersecurity Analyst) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Information Technology (Full Stack Web Development) (NQF5); Foundation Programme (Information Technology)
- School of Business, Entrepreneurship & Finance: Bachelor of Commerce; Bachelor of Commerce in Economics; Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management; Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting; Bachelor of Commerce in Project Management; Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management; Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management; Higher Certificate in Finance (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Entrepreneurship (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Management (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Digital Marketing (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Project Management (Construction Management) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Project Management (Operations Management) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Project Management (Information Technology) (NQF5); Occupational Certificate: Bookkeeping (NQF5); Occupational Certificate: Tax Technician (NQF6); Occupational Certificate: Tax Professional (NQF8); Occupational Certificate: Management Accounting Officer (NQF5); Occupational Certificate: Management Accounting Specialist (NQF6); Occupational Certificate: Management Accounting Practitioner (NQF7); Occupational Certificate: Real Estate Agent (NQF4); Occupational Certificate: Journalist (NQF5); Occupational Certificate: Paralegal (NQF5); Higher Occupational Certificate: Human Resource Management Administrator (NQF5); Advanced Occupational Diploma: Human Resource Management Officer (NQF6); CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting; CIMA Diploma in Management Accounting; CIMA Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting; Foundation Programme (Business)
- School of Art & Design (formerly Greenside Design Center): Bachelor of Arts Honours in Interior Design (NQF8); Bachelor of Arts Honours in Visual Communication (NQF8); Bachelor of Arts Honours in Multimedia Design (NQF8); Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design; Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design; Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Design; Bachelor of Arts in Product and Craft Design (Furniture Design); Bachelor of Arts in Product and Craft Design (Craft Design); Bachelor of Arts in Product and Craft Design (Product Design); Bachelor of Arts in Product and Craft Design (Jewellery Design); Bachelor of Arts in Digital Arts (2D Animation and Digital Illustration); Bachelor of Arts in Digital Arts (3D Modelling, Animation, and Visual Effects); Bachelor of Arts in Game Design and Development; Higher Certificate in Digital Art (2D Animation and Digital Illustration) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Digital Art (3D Modelling, Animation, and Visual Effects) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Digital Art (Game Art and Design) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Design (Interior) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Design (Inter-disciplinary Design) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Design (Graphic Design) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Design (Multimedia Design) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Product and Craft Design (Craft Design) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Product and Craft Design (Product Design) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Product and Craft Design (Jewellery Design) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Product and Craft Design (Furniture Design) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Design (Fashion Design) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Game Design and Development (NQF5); Foundation Programme (Design & Arts)
- School of Draughting & Technical Design: Multi-Disciplinary Draughting National Certificate (MDDOP N4/N5); Higher Certificate in Multi-Disciplinary Engineering Draughting and Design (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Architectural Technology (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Digital Art (3D Modelling, Animation, and Visual Effects) (NQF5); Foundation Programme (Design & Arts)
- School of Sound & Music Production: Diploma in Music Technology (NQF6); Higher Certificate in Creative Music Technology (Music Production) (NQF5); Higher Certificate in Creative Music Technology (DJ & Electronic Music Production) (NQF5)
- School of Beauty & Health Science: Occupational Certificate: Beauty Therapist (NQF4); additional courses referenced in skincare, make-up, massage, and nail technology, though only the Beauty Therapist qualification was fully detailed on the site
- School of Artisans & Technical Trades (Red Seal trades): Occupational Certificate: Electrician (NQF4); Occupational Certificate: Diesel Mechanic (NQF4); Occupational Certificate: Automotive Motor Mechanic (NQF4); Occupational Certificate: Transportation Electrician / Automotive Electrician (NQF4); Occupational Certificate: Welder (NQF4); Occupational Certificate: Boilermaker (NQF4); Occupational Certificate: Fitter and Turner (NQF4); Occupational Certificate: Millwright (NQF4); Occupational Certificate: Plumber (NQF4)