DAVE School (Digital Animation and Visual Effects School)

• Age of students: from 18 years
• Location: Orlando, USA
• Founded: 2000
• Type of institution: private university
• Language of instruction: English
• Type: collaborative
• Number of students: 1000, of which 15% are foreign.

The School of Digital Animation and Visual Effects (DAVE) was founded on June 8, 2000 by two industry executives seeking to create artists with practical animation skills. They created a school that offered specialized visual effects education  with extensive practice.

Today, dave constantly produces experienced graduates who are uniquely prepared to work in the industry. DAVE alumni have worked on Oscar- and Emmy-nominated projects and/or winners, and received other prestigious awards. The school continues to grow in the tradition of its founders, following the trends and changes in the industry. This gives her the opportunity to tailor her educational programs to meet the needs of the ever-evolving areas of digital entertainment and interactive media.

The institution provides different types of programs and directions (as separate faculties).

In late 2017, DAVE introduced fully online bachelor's degree programs in animation graphics, additional bachelor's degrees in visual effects, and game production for graduate students seeking to expand their educational experience.

DAVE has partnered with Collegiate Housing Services (CHS), a national provider of student housing, to coordinate the housing needs of its students. Students have access to THE CHS on campus during normal business hours or by appointment.

Collegiate Housing Services (CHS) offers a program of cohabitation in full-size apartments, which are typically within 10 miles of campus. Rent for the apartment, furniture and basic utilities are included in a single monthly payment. All students are on individual rent that matches academic dates and a fixed price that is not affected by roommates. CHS offers both shared and separate bedrooms in two- and three-bedroom apartments.

• NUC University (NUC) is an accredited educational institution and a member of the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States (MSCHE).
• DAVE is located next to Universal Studios Florida™. The 18,000-square-foot facility includes education and interactive labs, a dedicated virtual and real-time production scene, a Vicon motion capture system, 3D printing labs, and VR/AR. Students have access to all facilities 7 days a week.

School staff teach on software from The Foundry, Autodesk, Maxon and Epic Games, which provide their products to the film and game industry, offer access to Adobe, Real Flow, PFTrack and Deadline.

DAVE has a variety of technologies available to all students. For example, render farm workstations with nearly 4.0 THz of processing power, nearly 1100 CPU cores, and 3.1 TB of RAM are offered. New technologies are constantly being added – the institution keeps pace with industry trends, which allows it to offer students access to tools that are actively used at the present time. Some of the tools available to students include:

• 5 3D printers,
• Large-scale render farm,
• Vicon motion capture system with 10 cameras,
• Motion Capture Studio,
• Students have access to the Vicon Motion Capture System (MOCAP) with 10 cameras. This is the same type of system that is used in all the big Hollywood movies with visual effects, in AAA games for Xbox, PS4 and PS5.
• 3D Printing Laboratory.

Students have access to 5 3D printers in our 3D printing lab to create projects.

A down payment of $10,000 must be made before form I-20M-N is issued.

After applying to dave, you must take an English language test with a Duolingo partner, where the minimum score is 100.

The Duolingo English Test is an online English proficiency test that can be taken online upon request in less than an hour for just $49. The test is conducted using a computer with a camera and includes a qualification assessment, a video interview and a sample letter, which are transmitted to the DAVE School. Certified results are available within 48 hours of testing.

Follow up:

• Obtain an I-20 form from a designated official

All international students who wish to study in the U.S. must have Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status. Once a student is admitted to dave school, international students will receive an I-20 form from their designated school official, or DSO. You need to sign form I-20 along with the DSO.

Form I-20 is an important document that must be kept in a safe place.

• Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee

You must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee upon receipt of the I-20 form from an authorized school employee or DSO and before entering the United States. The I-20 form has information that will help pay the fee.

What do I need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee? Your full name, date of birth and email address, country of birth and nationality, school code on Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, and SEVIS Identification Number on Form I-20.

• Get a student visa.

Graduates have many opportunities for successful employment. In the future, they become sought-after specialists:

• 3D Modeler
• Texture Artist
• Rigger
• Animator
• Technical Artist
• 3D Modeler
• Props Artist
• Animator
• Composer.

In addition to the standard requirements for incoming international students, the following is also required:

• The academic equivalent of a high school or high school diploma in the United States.
• Completed and signed student information sheet.
• A completed, signed and certified financial affidavit and/or an official certified bank statement confirming the availability of means of subsistence in the United States.
• Demonstrated English proficiency for students whose first or native language is not English.

The Finance Department helps students get the resources they need to attend dave school. Although there are currently no scholarships available, the institution's staff direct students in search of alternative resources to help them.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision