BA (Hons)/MArt The Art of Visual Effects

Minimum academic requirements (September 2025 entry)

• GCSE English at grade 4/C or equivalent

• Have or be predicted a minimum of 80 UCAS points.
  Conditional offers are made based on applicant's predicted grades (but we do not set conditions above 120 UCAS points even if your predicted grades are higher than this).

We are a specialist institution with a flexible approach to admissions, to allow students with creative potential to access our courses. Contact our Admissions Team if you're not sure about your qualifications: admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk / +44 (0) 20 4570 5091.

Academic requirements for international students (non-UK)

We welcome applications from qualified candidates all over the world. 

Undergraduate applicants will usually need good high school grades and an undergraduate portfolio.

Head to our international hub for more information. For any questions, reach out to our Admissions Team: admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk

Portfolio submission

Once we receive your UCAS application, you’ll be invited to submit an online portfolio of your work. We take students who have the talent to succeed, and we know the best way to judge this is not necessarily by just a set of academic grades. Our tutors will review your portfolio to determine whether we can offer you a place.

Your portfolio can be submitted to your applicant portal in the form of an online link (e.g. ArtStation, Google Drive, Dropbox etc.). You can also include an optional supporting statement (written, video or audio) to be reviewed with your portfolio.

Check out detailed guidance in our Undergraduate Portfolio Guide.

English language requirements

All our courses are taught in English. If your first language is not English, you may need to complete an English language test, such as a Pearson English language test (PTE Academic) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, to demonstrate you have the language skills needed to complete your degree.  

International students will be required to hold a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B2 in order to be able to apply for a visa to study at Escape Studios on a student visa. Visit the government website for guidance.

You may be exempt from proving your English level if you are from an English-speaking country listed as recognised for visa purposes or have a degree level qualification obtained in one of these countries. The latest list is available on the UK Government website.

For students who have a SELT at B2 but who do not meet our requirements, we can also consider alternative qualifications. Please contact admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk for more information.

UK students

You should submit your application via UCAS. Our institution code is P34 and our institution name is Escape Studios.

• Apply for The Art of Visual Effects (three year undergraduate degree)

• Apply for The Art of Visual Effects (four year integrated masters)

International students

International undergraduate applications for September 2025 can be submitted directly using our applicant portal (international students only).

• International application form: The Art of Visual Effects (three year undergraduate degree)

• International application form: The Art of Visual Effects (four year integrated masters)

We also accept international applications via UCAS.

If we make you an offer for a place on the programme, you will need to agree to our terms and conditions for your place on the course to be secured.

Take a look at our application and admissions process.

Fees for 2025 entry*

• UK students: £9,535 per year

• International students: £17,995 per year

*Fees are provisional and subject to change.

For self-funded students, we offer payment plans to divide the cost of tuition in up to three instalments.

Additional costs

In addition to your tuition fee, you will need to budget for your living costs and some other costs associated with your studies.

An additional re-attendance fee of £750 per 15 credit module is charged if you need to repeat a module.

Computers are available for you to work on your projects and coursework during opening hours on campus. It is not, therefore, essential for you to purchase your own computer and software. However, many students prefer to have a computer at home as well, so we have prepared some guidance on the specifications to choose.

At our London campus, you will have access to free printing and photocopying facilities. However, you will have to purchase notebooks and other ordinary stationery items. You may wish to purchase your own copies of recommended textbooks, but please note that all textbooks are available to students in electronic editions.

If you will not live at home, you might need to pay for accommodation. Check out our Accommodation information to find out about your options. You will need to budget for transport costs travelling to your classes and to events, such as industry workshops, which may take place elsewhere in central London. Details of public transport costs are available from Transport for London. There may be occasional and optional opportunities for you to attend an event outside central London, for which you would need to pay the transport costs.

Bursaries

We offer financial assistance including a travel bursary, hardship bursary and laptop loan to ensure that all students can access our learning, no matter their background.

Scholarships

Our industry-sponsored scholarships offer a unique opportunity to be hand-picked by some of the biggest names in the industry, from the likes of DNEG, Cinesite and BAFTA Games.

Visit our admissions page for more information on fees, funding and scholarships.

Formative assessment

The majority of modules contain at least one piece of practice or ‘formative’ assessment for which you receive feedback. Formative assessments are developmental and do not count towards your overall module mark.

Summative assessment breakdown

Level 4 and 5

For level 4 and 5 modules, your assessment will be split into two parts:

• 75% product - you will be required to create a product (short computer animation, rendered image of a 3D object composited shot, etc) to a specified brief, then present it in front of a panel and demonstrate how you have met the learning outcomes in your work

• 25% retrospective - you will be required to write a reflective analysis and present it for moderation and assessment.

Level 6

The professional studio project module will be assessed just like level 4 and 5 modules; for the two other modules (advanced specialism, professional practice), 100% of your mark will be based on a self-evaluative portfolio.

Level 7

If you’re doing the four-year MArt programme, you will be required to complete level 7 modules. The assessment of these modules will be split into four parts corresponding to four stages of the project - explore, ideate, accelerate, and incubate. Each stage will be equal to 25% of your final mark.

Progression

In order to progress to the next stage (from first to second year, and from second to third year), you will have to achieve 120 credits at the end of the academic year.

Your overall workload will be divided between teaching sessions and independent learning. 

During your course, you’ll be able to develop your knowledge and skills in a number of ways. Some learning time will be closely directed and supervised by your tutors, at other times you’ll be free to organise your own study with guidance. All your scheduled studio time, except for some information sessions and presentations, will be in smaller groups based on specialism. 

For many of your projects, you’ll work in smaller teams, collaborating to meet a shared brief, with the support and assistance that you need. The craft modules have a higher contact time, as this is where you will learn the knowledge and skills associated with your chosen subject, directed and informed by your tutors’ expertise and experience. These will normally involve a large part of each day in the studio with your tutor and studio assistant, following demonstrations and working on set exercises to help you develop your craft. 

The project modules will have a lower contact time, with your tutors taking on the roles of supervisors or studio leads. You’ll meet with them regularly to get feedback and help you stay on the right path, but these modules are much more about you managing the learning experience to meet your objectives. The majority of projects will be team-based, and you’ll have the opportunity to take on different roles in several teams during your studies. Again, you’ll be expected to work in the studios for a significant part of each day, and attendance will be recorded, but outside those times, you’ll be free to organise your work as a team to best suit your project requirements. 

Each module has its own area on our Online Learning Environment (OLE) where you will find information about the module and the resources that are provided to support your learning. Some of this information will be dedicated to the module, other elements may be shared across different modules and some may be external assets that can help with your further study. There may be links to videos, online journals and e-books, and you should take advantage of these to enhance your development and take it beyond the studio experience. Tutors may highlight some of these during their sessions. The OLE and our online library also include resources to help you improve your study skills. 

Students with additional needs or disabilities are supported by our Student Services Team. 

Contact hours

The academic year consists of three terms: Autumn, Spring and Summer. Students on a typical three-year degree attend classes during the Autumn and Spring term, for a total of 30 weeks, and will normally not attend during the Summer term, unless they have to re-attempt assessments. 

Per week, your overall workload will be approximately 40 hours. Each week, you will spend 15 hours in workshops and practical classes and 20-25 hours on self-study learning and working on your projects. 

For more details about modules, credits and workload, see full programme specifications. 

• Maya

• ZBrush

• 3D Equalizer

• Nuke

• Houdini

• Arnold

• Photoshop

• Unreal Engine

You’ll graduate with a degree and a killer portfolio put together with advice from tutors and industry professionals. Ready to apply to your first job in the industry!

Some of the opportunities you can consider once you’ve finished your studies include:

• Runner

• Junior Texture/Modelling/CFX Artist

• Previs Artist

• Roto/Prep Artist

• Layout Artist 

• Production Assistant 

• Production Coordinator

Our students have gone to work as both specialist and generalist artists in creative studios, across TV shows, films and commercials. Read some of our VFX Escapee success stories.

Check out our Careers Guide for more information about career opportunities and progression routes.