VFS foundation course, Worth it?

#1

I am planning to go to VFS. I am a complete beginner and I just know the basics of Maya, Photoshop and After Effects.
I want to know if the foundation course in VFS is worth it or not. I don’t mind spending one year but I am concerned about the tuition ( 30,000$ ).

I have time to prepare and work on my skills ( drawing and computer skills ). But I want to know if i’ll miss anything else other than these.
I have a small portfolio ( I worked for only one month on this portfolio ).
Here’s the link: http://prateekr.wix.com/prateek

Let me know if anyone thinks I need to take the foundation course or if I can skip that and take the 3D Animation and VFX course directly. ( Please keep in mind that I want to be really good at my basics ).

#2

I don’t know if you had ask the staff from VFS. but you can try contacting VFS alumni using facebook, twitter, or others social media. try searching their name

try find a still active tread in CGsociety forum about the VFS, and just distrub the conversation someone from VFS will answer.

it may works.

I am not from VFS, but I like to join VFS too and still searching for info. can I join for sharing information?
I currently contacting the VFS staff

#3

I decided to go for the foundation course. I’m going to take the foundation course and then the 3D Animation and VFX course.
My foundations course starts from January 2015.

I did a lot of research on this school, asking many people. It’s a really risky investment but I’ve decided to take that risk now.

#4

Why is it risky?

#5

It’s risky because I have to pay so much for the tuition fee.
I’m an international student, so at the end, I won’t even have a work permit to work in canada unless a company sponsors me, which is really hard.
I’m still going for it as I’m very interested in this field, but if I don’t get a job then I’ll be in big trouble due to the debts

#6

Im on the same boat my friend! So are you going to take both the foundation and the VFX program?

And just to let you know, you actually get a work permit so you can work for the same amount of time you studied. You don’t really need a sponsor right after you’ve finished studying, but rather after your work permit expires. In my opinion that’s plenty of time to polish your portfolio and apply for a minor studio. Which should be enough to then further expand your work permit.

Thats probably what I’m gonna do.

#7

I asked the VFS advisor about that many times. She said I’ll not be eligible for the Post Graduate Work Permit Program ( PGWPP ) because VFS is a private institute. That work permit is applicable only for govt. institutes or the private institutes following govt. institute guidelines and rules.

Just check again. I may be wrong.
But VFS advisor told me this, so I think this is correct information.

And yeah, I’m going to take both the foundations and 3D Animation and VFX courses starting from January 2015. What about you?

#8

Shit. Really man? I thought with the new canadian rules regarding that matter all school were eligible for the work permit, as long as they were accredited. I didn’t know it had to be related to government. I’ll have to double check that for sure. If that’s really the case, I agree, pretty damn risky.

I’m not sure why would any employer go to the trouble of dealing with visa stuff unless the portfolio is outstanding. Though I’m also not sure it is that hard for them to work your papers out.

I was thinking about doing the foundation + 3d animation.

#9

Yeah, think about it again. Visa rules keep changing for canada, but we can’t rely on our luck.
Right now, I’ll be focusing on learning as much as I can and I’m mentally prepared to work very hard. I want to have a great Demo Reel at the end. Then I’ll think about a job.

But you’r right. Don’t think any employer will go through the trouble to sponsor someone, unless their reel is much much better than the local people. But I’m hoping to get into some company in Canada/USA through internships or any other way. If I can’t, I’ll have to come back to my country and work and keep trying.

If you want to go for a short term course ( 1 or 2 year ), you can check out Sheridan or Full sail or Los Angles film school. I’m not really sure how good they are, but you can get work permit after the course. But I liked the demo reels coming out of VFS and also their curriculum, so I decided to take the risk and join.
If you have time, there are many 4 year courses in US which are awesome. Let me know what you have decided

#10

I’ve always heard that is much much harder in the US then in Canada. They don’t have that kind of work permit. If you get the job, good, if you don’t you are out.
In Canada at least with the work permit you can work wherever you want, and the keep on living there until your reel is good enough.

I’ve checked Sheridan already but they approach is not really what I want. I’m leaning towards VanArts.

Have you checked their program? It’s pretty much like VFS, but they have partnered with a local university, so you can take the VanArts 1 year diploma and then extend that to a dregree at that university for only 1-2 years more. From what I got is the best of both worlds, private school education + public school for visa and work permit issues (and of course you will still learn stuff there at the UN).

#11

I am also thinking to join VFS after 2 years and i am also not from canada. So , right now i am just learning MAYA from Digital tutors so i can make my demo reel in this 2 years and then i can join VFS. Let me know what you guys do and how is VFS and if you can work while studying or not. Any advice for this 2 years for me ? I am very much interested in CGI.

#12

I think VISA process is similar for both the countries and equally difficult to get it if we don’t have work permit.

I did check out VanArts. It’s a really good institute, but I preferred VFS because of their curriculum. I wanted to spend some more time on foundations than what vanarts was offering. Also, I didn’t really want go through the process of transferring credits to other college and get degree because I heard I might waste some time in between and also, I didn’t really like the courses in those colleges. I considered the college in canada and one more college in California, but didn’t really like them.
Also, if you are considering spending 3 years for this degree, why don’t you join some college with Bachelors in Animation and spend 4 years? You can spend one semester doing internship in some company.
Think about it and let me know what you have decided.

#13

2 years is a lot of time. I think you should ask for advice from people who are experienced in this field. There are many in this forum.
My advice, work on your traditional art skills first. Then learn software’s like MAYA from digital tutors and Gnomon workshop. These tutorials are really good. Some people actually say that it’s better to learn from these than to attend college like VFS.
If you are satisfied with whatever you have learnt, then you may not even have to join VFS after 2 years. Else you can join some institute at that time. Lot’s of things might change in 2 years, so you may have other institutes as options as well.

If you want to know about my experience in VFS after 2 years, you can contact me.
My email id : prateek204@gmail.com

#14

Ok thanks . We’ll be in touch. And what are the requirements for international students ? Do we have to give any exams (IELTS or GRE ) for admission in VFS or other schools? And what are the fees for 3D animation and VFX course ? right now i am in B.tech computer science 2nd year in india.

#15

Just go to www.vfs.edu and check for all the details

#16

Thanks again. Still cant find about IELTS or GRE examination. Do we have to give IELTS / GRE exams?

#17

Go to admissions > international and under the application requirements tab, you can see the English Language Requirements for each program.

I think minimum score required for IELTS is 6.5 ( not sure ).
I wrote TOEFL. Minimum required for 3D animation course is 80 (IBT).
You don’t have to write GRE.

And if you want to enroll in the 3D Animation and VFX course directly, then you need to have a portfolio. Go through the website for all the details.

#18

Thanks a lot… :thumbsup: Looks like I have to start creating good portfolio.(in 2 years)

#19

I would suggest that perhaps the foundation is for those who do not know any CG or those who are not sure what they want to focus on.

It sounds as though you already have basic knowledge and therefore I would suggest doing some research to find out what area you would like to focus on instead of paying that amount to help you decide.

The industry has changed over the years and has become more pipeline, requiring specific skill sets. The days of the generalist who was expected to know everything are disappearing.

It is best to do some homework and find out what you really want to do. Check out the job market and ask recruiters as well. Decide if your interest is in Modelling, Animation, FX, Compositing, Lighting etc… If you do this ahead of time and find a program that is focussed, your success rate will be much greater. I would also suggest you speak to alumni and see what their experience has been like.

If your interest is in Compositing or FX then I would check out Lost Boys Studios - School of Visual Effects. We also teach you basic modelling, animation, lighting etc… but only in a way that is focussed for either FX or Compositing.

If your interest is in Modelling or Animation then there are many other schools offering those skills in Vancouver, including some smaller more focused ones.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to pursue.

Feel free to ask me any questions ria@lostboys-studios.com