VFX ARTIST for Games and Film

An industry-related education

Visual Magic – VFX Artist for Games and Film is a state-of-the-art polytechnic higher vocational training education* that provides excellence in digital visual special effects (VFX). This role is in high demand by the industry and our management team therefore includes representatives from, among others, Important Looking Pirates, Edisen and Goodbye Kansas, who control the content of the training. 

During 2.5 years, of which half a year is an internship, you will learn the absolute latest in Virtual Production, Motion Capture, spatial computing/XR and Real-time graphics. 

You will master the most common software (Houdini, Maya, Blender, Nuke, Z-brush, Motion Builder, Marvelous Designer, etc.) and you will have access to your own powerful desktop computer throughout the course of your studies. We actively collaborate with industry companies throughout the course, so that you as a student can learn by participating in real projects.

The campus is just a short walk from the city centre. Skellefteå as a city is characterised by a strong game & film culture and here are the majority of companies and training courses in the area. In other words, finding like-minded people is not a problem. Thanks to this, in project form you will get to collaborate with related professional roles such as producers, animators, filmmakers etc.) to gain a deeper understanding of workflows around VFX.

Special effects are used more and more outside the classic industries such as games and film – for example in advertising and architecture. This training may focus on the former, but you are the one who sets the limits of what you will work with as a VFX artist. What do you dream of creating?

*with the possibility to, via extra courses and crediting of professional experience, also take a Bachelor of Arts and Culture degree in collaboration with Novia University (Novia University of Applied Science) – or a Bachelor degree in collaboration with Luleå technical university.

VFX composition

What kind of VFX artist do you want to become?

During the first year, you get a broader knowledge base with, among other things, introductory courses in both 3D visualisation and digital compositing. Before the second year, you choose a specialisation and then get a series of more specialised courses. Both have a strong focus on new technology (Virtual Production, Motion Capture and Real-time graphics via Unreal Engine)

  • 3D Visualisation – for those who want to create in 3D.
  • Digital Compositing – for those who want to combine 3D with filmed material.

You will also gain knowledge about photo & film making (incl. lighting, composition, camera technology and visual storytelling). You will learn to understand organic and mechanical movement patterns, character design and how VFX can be used to enhance a story.

Some quick facts:

  • Education
    • The education is 2.5 years (500 YH credits) and takes place on Campus Skellefteå (no option for distance learning).
    • 6 months internship (learning on the job) at a special effects company.

     

    Cost/tuition fee

    • The education is free of charge for those with Nordic citizenship.
    • For students from other countries the fee is €25.000 in total, paid in five instalments, quarterly in advance. We do not have any scholarships at the moment.

     

    Student funding/loans

     

    Admission

    • Admission takes place via a work test – NOT by us reviewing your old grades.
    • The selection is made anonymously = everyone is assessed on the same premises.

     

    Teaching

    • All lectures are held in English.

    By our teachers and lecturers from the industry.

     

    Housing

VFX production - mocap kick
VFX composition

Application Process: VFX Artist for Games & Film

Talent and potential!

We want to give everyone the opportunity to apply and therefore choose not to use grades in our application process. We also process all applications anonymously to ensure that age, gender, ethnic origin, etc. does not affect the selection. 

What is assessed instead are knowledge and skills – in combination with your motivation and your desire to attend this training. We look at the whole picture, that is, if you are good at drawing/painting by hand, it compensates for a lack of experience in 3D programs – and vice versa.

To give you the best possible conditions to get your dream job after graduation, the training will be quite hard and demanding, expect to put in at least 40 hours a week. However, committed teachers and fellow students will support and help you along the way. We do this together!

 

IMPORTANT DATES (2024)

The information below applies to admission in 2024 (dates may, however, be slightly adjusted).

  • February 01 – Application* for 2024 opens (be sure to register ASAP).
    Nordic students: https://apply.yh-antagning.se/to/skelleftea/ht2024/8
    International students: (stay tuned, info will be up soon)
  • June 06 – Application* for 2024 closes.
  • June 16 – Last day for submission of grades and work tests/submission tasks (completion open only for those who already applied).
  • June 20 – Admission notice and possibility to book an apartment.
  • August 19 – Introduction week.
  • August 26 – Start of education.

*Your application must be supplemented with final grades from upper secondary school (gymnasieskola) which are uploaded on the web. If you haven’t received your final grade yet, you can send it in later (no later than June 20), via the application page.

NOTE: If you lack a complete upper secondary school certificate (Swedish ”gymnasieexamen” – or similar), there is instead an opportunity to be assessed according to something called “reell kompetens” (a validation of your present knowledge and experience). If so, please contact us on the matter.

VFX production - mocap kick

THE SELECTION PROCESS

The selection takes place in two stages:

Step 1: Eligibility

  • Applicants must submit their diploma/final grade from high school/upper secondary school (Swedish gymnasie or equivalent).
    NOTE: For those who do not have a complete upper secondary school certificate, there is instead a chance to be assessed according to real competence.
  • If the above grade does not include ”English 6” (alt. if that grade is failed), it is required that the ability to understand English is shown through a written justification in English on the topic: “why you want to attend the education”, max. 1 piece of A4, attached to the application or emailed separately.

Step 2: Admission assignments

We want to give everyone the opportunity to apply and have therefore chosen not to base our admission on grades. We also make sure to process all applications anonymously to ensure that age, gender, ethnicity, etc. will not affect the selection. What is assessed is knowledge and skills – in combination with your commitment to attend this education. We try to look at the whole picture, that is, if you are good at drawing/painting by hand, it can compensate for the lack of experience in 3D programs – and vice versa.

Thus, everyone who applies for the education needs to send in assignments that show practical skills. This year there are three assignments worth up to 40 points each, for a maximum total of 120 points. Instructions for these are listed below, click on the plus signs…).

  • Assignment 1. A hand-drawn pencil drawing, see specification below.
  • Assignment 2. A colourful illustration or animated sequence created with a computer, see specification below.
  • Assignment 3. Sample of previous work, see specification below.

Note: The application pressure is high (in previous years there were way over 100 applicants) so the assignments are very important. Make sure to send in all three – and follow the instructions (including naming conventions) to the letter.

Admission assignments 2024

Listed below are the 2024 admission assignments that will be judged completely anonymously by a group of professional experts. The work samples must be submitted no later than June 16 – but preferably significantly earlier so that we have time to react if something is wrong (corrupt files or similar).
Good luck!

Technique: Hand-drawn drawing – including initial concept / sketch, use pencils. Format: A4, scanned or photographed.
Assessment basis: Creativity and drawing knowledge as well as a sense of form and / or anatomy as well as visual narration.

You are expected to show the process in steps, either by providing the initial sketch or by taking pictures while you draw – i.e. you need to show how you worked to get the final picture.
Please note: Several images should be combined into a single picture (only one assignment 1 is to be sent in). Name the file with your name and which assignment it is (e.g. ”roy_batty_1B.jpg”).

Select one of the following tasks:

  • Alternative 1A: “Wizard sampling potent brew”. Motive: A magician sipping on potions (or similar).
  • Alternative 1B: “Self portrait – skating”. Motive: A self-portrait where you do a trick on a skateboard.

Submit the work sample in good time before the deadline (June 16) – so we have time to react if the file has become corrupt or has other problems.

If the file is larger than 10 MB, we recommend that you use a web service that can send large files, for example
https://sprend.com/ or https://www.transfernow.net/

Send your assignment to magnus@visualmagic.se
Use email subject: ”VFX24 ASSIGNMENT ”, the number of the assignment (1A or 1B) and your name.

Technique: An image or movie clip with strong colours that you have created/modified with a computer, drawing tablet or similar. You do not have to do everything from scratch but can use assets and other materials. No requirement for specific software. 

Format: An image of max. 50 Mb or a movie clip of max. 60 seconds (max. 1 GB). The image/clip needs to show some sort of breakdown (showing how you created your work).

Basis of assessment: Your sense of form and colour, your creativity and how you can handle selected software.

Multiple images or movie clips (including breakdowns) must still be merged into a single file (only one assignment 2 is to be submitted).
Name the file with your name and which assignment it is (e.g. ”dorothy_gale_2A.mov”).

Select one of the following tasks:

  • Alternative 2A: ”Misplaced monster trying to blend in”. Motive: A colourful depiction of a monster doing its best (?) to fit in with the environment.
  • Alternative 2B: ”Visual Magic”. Motive: Someone who uses magic to create something really colourful.

Submit the work sample in good time before the deadline (June 16) – so we have time to react if the file has become corrupt or has other problems.
If the file is larger than 10 MB, we recommend that you use a web service that can send large files, for example
https://sprend.com/ or https://www.transfernow.net/

Send your assignment to magnus@visualmagic.se
Use email subject: ”VFX24 ASSIGNMENT ”, the number of the assignment (2A or 2B) and your name.

Here you submit something you have done before (or especially for this application). 

Motive: Optional but preferably linked to/relevant for the education in some way. 

Format: An image (can be a collage with several motifs), max 50 Mb in size or a film clip no more than 2 minutes long and max 500 Mb. Only one work sample 3 file should be submitted (but it can be a picture collage or a show reel). 

Assessment basis: How your submitted work shows skills that can be further developed in our education, i.e. your potential. 

Name the file with your name and which assignment it is (e.g. ”kuro_hebi_3.xxx”).

NOTE: You must send in an actual file. Just providing a link to a portfolio/showreel or similar is NOT valid, as we must be able to download/store the assignment in order to assess it anonymously.

ATTENTION! Your ability to follow the instructions above (including naming files correctly, staying within file size limits, etc.) will also be assessed – so double check before submitting!

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at: magnus@visualmagic.se or 076-7613116

Good luck!