Visual Effects - courses, degrees and events

Why should I get into VFX?

The UK has some of the best visual effects studios in the world, some of which are our industry partners, including DNEG, Industrial Light & Magic and Framestore. There are a variety of departments in the VFX industry, including 3D modelling, simulations, compositing and more. Did you know... More than 90% of the UK VFX work force is based in London?

Our alumni (dubbed 'Escapees') have gone on to work for some of the biggest studios in the world and on projects such as Oscar-winning The Jungle Book, Thor: Ragnarok, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Ex Machina, The Revenant, Spectre, Interstellar, Gravity and Harry Potter.

Explore our free Industry Beginner's Guide to find out why there has never been a better time to enter the VFX industry!

Visual effects course list

Get you skilled in various departments within post-production, from 3D to compositing and finishing (2D), with software such as Autodesk Maya, The Foundry's Nuke, SideFX Houdini and more.

The difference between 2D and 3D VFX

There are many job roles to choose from within the visual effect industry, including 3D modelling, compositing, FX and much more. Read our Careers Guide and take a quick Careers Quiz to help you pick your path! Also take a look at our YouTube videos and infographic to get a breakdown of what each sector includes.

Are you not sure whether 2D or 3D is for you? Take a look at our Compositing and Finishing for VFX hub for more information about 2D in VFX.

Infographic explaining the difference between 2D and 3D

VFX webinars and events

Tune into our free webinars and online events to find out more about the world of VFX.

Keep an eye on our E_scape Hub for events about other disciplines, recording of past webinars and plently of other resources!

The Houdini Series

Develop your Houdini skills from a Houdini Certified School with our expert tutor, Mark Spevick. Mark will take you through proceduralism and introduce new tools that will keep you and your skillset in demand!

Windows exploding in concert hall — Procedural Modelling

Learn procedural modelling in Houdini and asset/tool building. This session will involve creating a procedural brick wall with megascan assets.

**Book now for Monday 30th January at 6pm**

A boy and robot watching a taxi falling through a portal — Environments and layout

Develop your layout skills in this session where you will set up a simple environment scene with tools in Houdini.

**Book now for Monday 6th February at 6pm**

Man running next to crashed spaceship with smoke and fire — FX: Pyro tools

Join this session to learn how to set up and render nice looking pyro (fluid simulation) in SOLARIS and KARMA XPU for Houdini.

**Book now for Monday 27th February at 6pm**

Godzilla monster in rain — Flip sop tools

Get an introduction to the new and simplified FLIP SOP tools for creating water effects (for Houdini 19.5).

**Book now for Monday 20th March at 6pm**

Undergraduate tasters

Postgraduate and short courses tasters

3D animation pink alien with 'Get a taste of animation, game art and VFX' graphic — Taster Days

Our next undergraduate taster days will take place from spring 2023.

**Find out more**

T-Rex with explosion, smoke and fire in the background from Jurassic World film — Houdini

Book here for an exclusive Houdini Webinar Series

A man surrounded by bright golden letters and signs floating in the air — 2D Compositing

TBC

Star Wars stormtroopers standing in formation with red curtain in background — 3D Visual Effects

TBC

What does visual effects at Escape Studios look like?

Get an idea of what you could create by checking out our student work.

Studying VFX at Escape Studios, you'll have access to plenty of tutorials, webinars and live events with industry professionals. Check out previous events and webinars on our YouTube channel.

What makes these VFX courses unique?

Learn industry-professional software such as Maya, Nuke, Houdini and more.
Get a true taste of life in the workplace in classrooms and lessons that mirror a standard industry VFX studio.
Benefit from industry feedback sessions with our industry partners, individual professionals working in the industry and our alumni, who have gone to work on some of the biggest projects in the world, including Star Wars, Avengers and Jurassic World Dominion.
Be taught by tutors who are experts in their field and have been hand-picked from some of the most successful studios; in their lessons they share tips and tricks that they've learned during their time in industry.
Benefit from courses developed with our industry partners, some of the biggest studios in the world - Framestore, Cinesite and Axis Studios are just a few companies that not only input into our courses, but regularly visit us and partake in events such as the annual VFX Festival.

Who will teach me?

Get taught by global expert tutors. They have worked at studios including DNEG, Walt Disney Animation, EA and Framestore and their credits include Captain America, Black Mirror and Thor: Ragnarok.

They speak at international conferences, like B’Ars (Spain) and VIEW Conference (Italy), write for an industry-recognised blog, Befores&Afters, and are authorised trainers for software like Unreal Engine, Autodesk or Houdini.

Meet your VFX tutors