Escape Studios students, how is it?

Hi I’m looking to apply for Escapes Art of Visual Effects course for September 2026. I’ve heard amazing things through family and family friends who work in industry particularly my mum who worked for ILM, DNEG and Framestore. How are the courses? My alternative choices I’ve looked at so far are Bournemouth’s Computer Animation and VFX course and Hertfordshires VFX course.

Hello
These are some excellent picks for VFX Probably the three I would've highlighted! I think any of these courses would set you up really well, so you're already very much on the right pathway. All three of these see great graduate outcomes.
(Obligatory "I did not go to or teach at any of these Universities", I am just a volunteer and this is my subject niche! )
Escape has been doing really well lately, I think they're doing some great things in the industry space. Some great connections, course content that is reviewed by people in industry and the quality of their facilities is clearly high. I know a lot of their graduates have gone to ILM. Also has the benefit of being well-located for lots of the main VFX hirers and industry events etc. The main thing is that you might have quite a different university experience to your peers at a smaller university/smaller campus with less societies and events etc, smaller student community. I'd say that doesn't necessary have to be a bad thing - some people enjoy a closer-knit environment. Worth keeping in mind if that is something important to you.
Bournemouth recently cut a lot of courses due to severe staff cuts, including some of their digital courses i.e. Games Programming. Which sucks, because I think they're a great university and I meet people all the time in the games industry who studied at Bournemouth (on VFX, game design, etc). So they certainly also have good graduate outcomes, but possibly right now is not the best time to start there - although as far as i'm aware, the VFX course was unaffected.
Herts is extremely well recognised for animation, have some brilliant facilities and would no-doubt set you up really well, as well as maybe offering a more typical university experience - also very near London (20 mins ish on the train).
I think particularly if you have some idea of how you might want to specialise in the future, Escape with their super specialised modules and course areas could have some edge - but it's a little riskier (being a new university) and might mean you have quite a different university experience - it's a trade off. I think Herts is probably the "safer" pick and they are very evenly matched in terms of course quality. But I also think some risk is definitely worth it sometimes - really depends what sort of person you are!
Have you been to open days at all 3? What got you excited about each course?

Hi, thanks so much for the reply, I’ve been to Bournemouth and Escape but I missed Herts open day so I’m going to try and see it at there next open day. Realistically I may go into 2d vfx (compositing). I know Herts is a great place to study currently too. May be worth going for another look towards the end of the year to see it through a fresh pair of eyes.

Hi I’m looking to apply for Escapes Art of Visual Effects course for September 2026. I’ve heard amazing things through family and family friends who work in industry particularly my mum who worked for ILM, DNEG and Framestore. How are the courses? My alternative choices I’ve looked at so far are Bournemouth’s Computer Animation and VFX course and Hertfordshires VFX course.