Swedish School
of VFX

APPLICATION

Is there an opportunity to study abroad (in Sweden) in this field, for people aged 30-40?

• Yes, all students aged 18+ are welcome to apply.
  Also, we judge all applicants anonymously so not to discriminate on age, gender, etc.

I would like to know what the criteria are for awarding the scholarships to students?

• We mainly look at ambition level and art fundamentals with Art fundamentals being the most important one.

Is a portfolio required for admission to the program? If so, what are the criteria for selecting a portfolio?

• Yes, but mainly just because of the work samples to get in. It’s ok not to have a portfolio prior to the education.

Is this scholarship only available to students? What is the minimum age to participate?

• Minimum age is 18 years old. The scholarship is available for everyone above the age of 18.

If you already have a good knowledge of the industries related to 3D Game Artist and are very basic about VFX in games, what more can you learn to become a VFX Artist for game companies?

• Depends which areas you know prior to the education. We teach both how to use shaders and a lot in houdini that can be utilised for game production.

If you already have a good knowledge of the industries related to 3D Game Artist and are very basic about VFX in games, what more can you learn to become a VFX Artist for game companies?

• It all comes down to what you already know, but implementation is key for any VFX artist.

I would like to ask what the criteria are for awarding the scholarships to students?

• We mainly look at ambition level and art fundamentals with Art fundamentals being the most important one.
  We select scholars based on Application Form and Assignment, see https://www.visualmagic.se/apply-international-students/
  

Is a portfolio required for admission to the program? If so, what are the criteria for selecting a portfolio? Are there specific skills that should be focused on when applying for the scholarship?

• A portfolio or worksamples is required. We mainly look at ambition level and art fundamentals with Art fundamentals being the most important one.
  

More info about the application process for International Students: https://www.visualmagic.se/2024/05/08/scholarship/

MONETARY

Is there any loan policy to support students with living expenses, tuition deficits?

• Unfortunately no.

Is the cost of food, accommodation, living expenses fully at the student’s expense or is there a financial support scheme?

• It’s at the student’s expense.

What is the cost of living on average, per month?

• Rent in the on-campus housing is around 3000 swedish kronor. Swedish students spent around 10 000 per month which is plenty to live comfortably on. You can absolutely get by with less. It all comes down to your standard of living but 11k is good.
  

Swedish rules for student finances: https://www.csn.se/languages/english/the-right-to-swedish-student-finance/study-in-sweden-as-a-foreign-citizen.html

IMMIGRATION

What’s the process to apply for the scholarship + what is the immigration process?

• Apply to our education (Note: we will open up for next batch of applications during January 2026)
• Submit your application to a Swedish embassy or consulate-general in your country of residence. The application form specifies which documents to enclose. Contact the embassy or consulate-general before you submit your application.
• https://www.migrationsverket.se/English/Private-individuals/Studying-in-Sweden/Higher-education/Residence-permit-for-studies-in-higher-education.html
• You need to have the following documents before you apply. Carefully read the requirements for your application or it might get rejected outright. For a short application process, make sure you give them all the information they ask for.
  • Valid passport
  • Been admitted to fulltime studies (we will send these out 20th of June, during Swedish time)
  • Proof of paid tuition fee. You will get a document to prove this.
  • Bank statements to prove you can sustain yourself during your stay in Sweden. The requirement 2024 is 10 314 SEK (applox $1000) per month.
  • Have, or have applied for, a comprehensive health insurance policy.
  • If you intend to support yourself with bank assets, the bank statement you provide as proof of your assets must be issued no more than four months before the start of the period for which you are applying.
  • https://www.migrationsverket.se/English/Private-individuals/Studying-in-Sweden/Higher-education/Residence-permit-for-studies-in-higher-education/5-tips-to-increase-your-chance-of-a-decision-before-the-semester.html

JOBS AVAILABILITY

What are the job opportunities after graduation and after graduation can stay in Sweden to continue studying and working?

• Depends on how hard you study, but the Swedish creative industry is growing at a rapid pace. 2022 the games industry increased by another 6% employees and a revenue increase of 18%. Of all the newly hired 44% were women. Abroad Swedish companies hired around 5350 new employees which shows the need of Swedish companies for talent. 87% of the new hires got full time employment. The companies are mainly in Stockholm, but spread out across sweden in clusters of companies so stockholm isn’t the only option. One of these game clusters is near Skellefteå. Sweden has the 3rd largest number of companies nationwide in Europe, and ranked 5th in the amount of employees in the games industry. About 22% of all employees are women.

Can students get part-time jobs on Campus and if not, are there any restrictions on getting part-time jobs outside?

• If you have a study visa you are allowed to get part-time jobs. Campus itself doesn’t have part time jobs, but there are plenty of jobs available in town. Skellefteå is Sweden’s fastest growing city and there are more jobs available than there are people. During the summer there is a special foundation you can get work through, but you’d have to apply for it.

What are the skills needed to work in the game design industry?

• Art fundamentals are the main thing. Understanding how a vfx effect helps the user understand what is going on while also telling a story within the game or movie is key to becoming a successful vfx artist.

I’m most concerned about job opportunities for foreign students after graduating, as well as the work culture in Sweden in general (I seek work-life balance). What are your thoughts about this?

• Sweden (and the Nordics) generally have good work life balance. Sweden has a long history of work migration. It’s very common for a workplace to have english as it’s main language due to the amount of foreigners within the companies. This is also why we teach in English. Crunch is seen as a thing of the past, but of course depending on project and how things have went, it still happens. A rather big portion of swedish industry is from abroad (small country), so there isn’t any inherent resistance to foreign workers.

How should a game artist at the fresher level start his career upon graduation?

• As a Game artist a student should get a wide base and understand as much of everything as possible to find what field you appreciate the most. Once you have a good understanding of what everyone around you does, you will be a better artist in your own field as well. Be open to working with varied tasks. Be humble and work hard.

What are your thoughts about the Chinese VFX scene and the skills of the artists in China?

• We don’t have much insight into the Chinese VFX scene as it doesn’t affect our region of the world as much as it does the local region.

Does the school’s curriculum provide enough knowledge and skills for students to become professional VFX artists capable of working in studios both domestically and internationally?

• So far our students have both gotten work domestically with some seeking jobs abroad. One of which is running one of the largest mocap labs in canada by qualisys and another working at WETA.

Is the program structured to include thorough learning of 3D VFX, considering its significant application in the field of VFX?

• Yes, the program teaches a variety of fields. We teach everything between mocap, 3D, simulations and compositing.

DEGREE

The school’s program is a university or college program and what degree is awarded?

• The school is running on a type of school that’s unique to Sweden. Abroad it can be equal to a higher vocational polytechnic school. The degree is a diploma. We have collaborations with universities where you can study to get your bachelors degree however post-graduate with 2-3 semester extra. To get a job in Europe you don’t need a bachelor degree however. Only the portfolio matters and how well you work in a team.

Does the school have an actual Bachelor program?

• No, we have a higher vocational polytechnic diploma, but we do have collaborations with universities so with an extra year of study you could reach a Bachelor depending on what direction of Bachelor you would like to achieve. To get a job in Europe, you don’t need a Bachelor’s degree however. You just need a portfolio and formal training.