Vancouver Film School - VFS

• Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Age of the pupils: from 18 years old
• Educational programs: short-term one-year Diploma courses
• Language of instruction: English.

Canada's largest school of professional excellence and spectacular arts - Vancouver Film School - VFS - was founded in 1987. Today students from more than 50 countries of the world study here: theoretical and practical studying is harmoniously combined in any of the educational courses, which helps graduates to quickly and successfully find a job.

Teaching staff deserves attention - these are the practices with a great work experience, true professionals who know the trends of modern art and at the same time the history of profile specialties, offering students the most relevant, useful and practical knowledge. Among them there are winners of the most prestigious world awards: Oscar and Emmy, Golden Globes, Independent Spirit Awards, they work in the most famous companies of the planet:

• Paramount
• Nokia Games
• Brightlight Studious
• Electronic Arts.

Among the latest works are "Smallville", "Over the Hedge," Star Trek: Enterprise, Spiderman 2.

In total, VFS offers 14 major programs in the field of entertainment arts:

• Computer and game design;
• Acting skills;
• Scenario-based art;
• Make-up;
• Make-up for movies and TV, etc.

The educational programs are annual, therefore very intensive: in most cases, applicants are required to confirm already sufficient experience of education, experience and provide a portfolio.

In the school special coordinators of the Accommodation Department work to help each student to find the right accommodation option for the duration of their studies. Accommodation with animals is usually allowed, but for them an additional fee is taken. The partner organization Bell Accommodation Services is also with students of Film School: here you can choose the option of both short-term and long stay.

Usually students together rent an apartment (by room),  or guest house, townhouse: there is a whole section on the school's website where people can leave an application and find a roommate. If you find yourself a neighbour, the contribution to the Accommodation Department is not paid. In the applications the target ("I am looking for a neighbour" or "I am looking for a place of residence"), the address, the gender of the future neighbour, the cost per month, as well as the requirements for smoking and keeping pets, a little information about yourself is indicated. 

In addition, you can leave an application for the search for a host family: many students prefer to live in the homes of local residents when studying abroad. Vancouver Homestay International has been working with Vancouver Film School for many years: you will only be offered with reliable, law-abiding Canadians who provide students with comfortable and safe conditions.

Furnishing is already included in the price (the price may vary depending on the location and quality of the equipment). Additionally, utilities (electricity, cable TV and internet, telephone) are paid.

Subject list: Acting skills, animation, Art, computer techologies, design, English and Creative Writing, Filmmaking, history of cinema, illustration, letter, Stage skills, staging, TV, video editing

• Prestigious and famous educational institution
• Quality Educational Programs
• Special preparatory programs are available (language and subject)
• Highly qualified specialists and teachers
• Unique program with comparison to other universities in Vancouver
• Various studying options with the subsequent transfer to the undergraduate university partners
• The possibility of accelerated bachelor's degree (1 + 2-2.5 years)
• The direction of "Animation" for several years recognized as the best in the world.
• The rest of the directions are regularly included in the top 5 best programs.
• Included Mentorship Program in the areas of design and animation, students work on the final project under the guidance of experts from leading world studios, which allows them to prove themselves before graduation;
• Included career preparation (Career Prep Course) teaches students to be professionals in their field, to properly present themselves and their talent, to have an interview;
• Invited experts regularly conduct classes and master classes.
• Student work gets "on the table" the best studios in North America
• Vancouver is the third largest film production center in North America (after Los Angeles and New York)
• Over 45,000 jobs in film, television
• The annual contribution to the Canadian economy is about 12.5 billion dollars.

Vancouver, one of the largest and most developed cities in Canada, is located on the Pacific coast in the southwest of Canada. Vancouver has three times ranked first in the ranking of the best cities in the world: the reason for the superbly developed infrastructure, warm, comfortable climate of temperate latitudes, developed economy and opportunities for tourism, accommodation and business. The city is surrounded by picturesque parks, gardens, manicured suburbs, and in the immediate vicinity (in transport accessibility) there are beautiful ski resorts.

The dates of the beginning of the courses depend on the chosen program - for convenience, all courses are divided into blocks:

• Block A (3D animation and visual effects, acting skills, actors for film and television, film production, visual art and design, sound design): January 2 , February 26, April 30, June 25, August 27, October 22
• Block B (classical animation, digital design, game design, make-up and make-up for film and television, screenwriting for film and television): January 2, April 30, August 27
• The block C (oncept art, programming and the game industry (Web & amp; Mobile): February 26, June 25, October 22.

Note the weekends and holidays in which the school is closed:

• 1-2 January (New Year)
• February 13
• 14-17, April 24-28
• May 22
• 1, 3 July
• 9, 21-25 August
• September 4
• October 9
• 11, 13 November
• 18-31 December (Christmas holidays).

The following components are paid additionally:

• Registration fee and consideration of documents
• Accommodation and meals
• Tutorials, books, and materials
• Examination boards
• Additional leisure activities and excursion (optional)
• Roundtrip air tickets
• Transfer in both directions
• Mandatory medical insurance
• Personal pocket expenses
• Visa fees and services, translation and certification of documents
• Consular fee (payable at the Embassy).

Extras:

• Registration fee (for a programme/course) 100 CAD
• Registration fee (for accommodation) 400 CAD

• High enough level of English: TOEFL iBT from 68-80 ("paper variant" - from 520-550), IELTS from 6.0-6.5 and above or equivalent
• Availability of school certificate (full secondary education) or diploma of higher education
• A specific requirement is established for each specialty (portfolio, motivation letter, monologue record, script synopsis, etc.).

Each entrant goes through a personal interview. If the student does not have a high level of language knowledge, he may be offered an intensive ESL course (English as a second language).

Any active, successful and persistent student can receive a scholarship from the VFS Next Level Scholarships school: its size ranges from 1000 $ CAD to 10,000 $ CAD. Please note that scholarships are allocated very quickly - the faster you apply and the documents are collected, the higher your chances of getting a substantial discount on education.

Students also have the opportunity to get the VFS-Rookies Scholarship (usually given to students in the direction of 3D Animation + Visual Effects program) - it can cover a full one-year course. Five scholarships are awarded jointly by the VFS and the Vancouver Economic Commission (VEC): two for the Programming course and three for the new students of the 3D Animation + VFX direction.

Scholarships for students of acting and drama - for example, Sears Drama Festival Scholarships - can cover $ 3000 CAD-8000 $ CAD depending on the chosen program. Together with the Vancouver School Board (VSB), a scholarship for students of annual degree programs is calculated individually.

In cooperation with Graphic Designers of Canada (GDC) and the memory of Mary Kennedy, an outstanding graphic designer and educator, are awarded an educational grant of $ 5,000 CAD to new students of Digital Design. Scholarships from the Brandon Flock Scholarship Foundation are also awarded: the lump-sum payment is $ 5,000 CAD-$ 10,000 CAD, but is awarded mainly to Canadian, non-foreign students.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision