Frequently Asked Questions

"You have to be Nick Park to get in there, don't you?"
Its true that Nick Park is probably one of our most famous students, but he was self taught and applied with a film shot on an old bolex camera pointed at a blackboard upon which he drew his animation.
As with Nick Park, access to expensive equipment to make your film is not necessary because talent will always shine through.

"Do you have to have top grade qualifications?"
No formal qualifications are necessary for the course but your film and application materials must show that you are at postgraduate level.

"I've heard it's an elitist school for the rich"
Not at all. All students are assessed individually according to their relevant skills, abilities and merits and have equal access to learning experiences within the School. Our selection process allows for the widest possible range of initial applications and we are actively seeking to redress imbalances within the industry by encouraging dynamic people with appropriate talents and skills to apply, whatever their ethnic or national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religious or political beliefs.

"How can I afford to pay the fees and live?"
We don't want anyone to be put off applying to the NFTS for financial reasons. All students on the MA programme can apply for one of our annual scholarships to cover all or part of the fees. At the moment, around one-third of our students receive a scholarship and we are raising more. And, if you are a UK student, you can apply for an NFTS maintenance grant, currently worth up to £4000 a year, and awarded on the basis of need.

If you're applying from outside the UK, you may be eligible for a scholarship offered in your own country to study abroad, or for one of the scholarship schemes established by the British Government for overseas students. Details can be obtained from the British Council, Embassy or High Commission.

Fees
The course starting in January 2007 is provisionally set at the following level. Fees may change so please phone to check.
£5,000 a year (UK and EU students)
£16,000 a year (citizens of non-EU member countries)

Loans
Many NFTS students finance their studies with a Career Development Loan, or Educational Studies Loan. The Registry has information on preferential loan schemes from some major banks and some other potential sources of funding. Generally these loans are held over interest free until you start full time work.*
*(All bank loans vary and often change their terms and conditions.)

"Don't they only do 3D model films there?"
Far from it. In their first year, students experience every technique imaginable with master classes, workshops and special projects, and every year the graduation films reflect the diversity of the course that includes Traditional 2D, Computer 2D, 3D model, 3D computer, Compositing, Effects, Live Action and any combination of the above.

"I only want to learn 3D Studio Max. Otherwise I won't get a job"
The Animation Director's Course is just that. Our aim is to train people to be able to go out into the industry with the widest possible range of skills, experience and industry contacts, to enable them to walk into a company and Direct the Animation or Live action - or indeed start their own companies. To be able to achieve this in two years we have a packed curriculum of workshops, master classes, set projects AND a dissertation for the MA. So, the question you need to ask yourself is, "Do I want to be an operator or a Director?" Our ex-student's careers speak for themselves.

"It's all highly commercialised and narrative driven work but I'm an artist and I want to do experimental animation"
By its very nature the Animation Direction course prepares people for the industry and the industry has its demands. It really depends what you want to do with your art. If you can apply your ideas to a structured course there's no reason why you can't experiment within the subject matter. In fact we actively encourage people to push the boundaries of the mediums. The industry is always searching for a new look, a fresh approach or a different angle so why not meet the challenge?

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact Gillian Lacey, Jacqueline Steinmetz or John Osborne about the course and The Registry for aplications.
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