In 1987, VFS introduced the world's first true immersion film program. Today, VFS is Canada's premier entertainment-arts center and offers an immersive curriculum in film, animation, video game production, VR/AR development, interactive design, programming, art/production foundation, and other related programs. VFS is known for providing high quality education in accelerated time-frames. VFS alumni are routinely credited on the most successful products in the entertainment economies.
About
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On Campus Interview
Campus Interviews
No
Information Sessions
Not Available
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Overnight Dorm Stays
Overnight Dorm Stays
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Admissions
Overall
From The School
Over the years, VFS Advisors have helped thousands of people through the application process. Advisors encourage applicants to be well-informed about their educational options and help ensure there is a strong fit between program choice and desired career outcomes. Advisors also assist prospective students in putting together the components needed to satisfy specific program requirements (portfolios) where applicable. Once this has occurred, applicants are encouraged to apply.
Application Process & Criteria
- Students can apply to VFS anytime, from grade 11 and up; however, before attending classes, they must be either 19 or have completed grade 12.
- $75 Non-refundable Application Fee
- Photo ID copy
- 2 Reference Letters (Preferably these should be from someone who can knowledgeably comment on your passion and abilities in the area for which you are applying. Please note, family members are not eligible as references)
- Transcript from High School or University
- Online Application Form (https://vfs.edu/admissions)
- Applicants are to submit program specific portfolios where applicable.
Overview
Applicants:
Acceptance Rate:
Test Scores
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Academics
Overall
From The School
Academic Programs
Graduating students receive a Diploma
Upon completing Diploma programs, students can achieve accelerated Bachelor's Degree through pathway universities listed below:
Wilfred Laurier University
University of the Fraser Valley
BCIT
Regent's University in London
Majors and Degrees Offered
Game Design
Programming for Games
3D Animation & Visual Effects
Classical Animation
Animation Concept Art
Foundation Visual Art & Design
Digital Design
Acting Essentials
Acting for Film & Television
Writing for Film, Television & Games
Film Production
Sound Design
Makeup for Film & Television
VR/AR Design & Development
English for Creative Arts
Faculty and Class Information
Student/Faculty
:1
Total Faculty
with Terminal Degree
Most frequent lab / sub section size
2 - 9
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
Graduate in 5 years
Graduate in 6 years
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
No
Notable Faculty
Careers
Graduation Rates
Graduate in 4 years
Graduate in 5 years
Graduate in 6 years
Career Services
On-Campus Job Interviews Available
No
ROI & Outcomes
Tuition & Aid
Overview
From The School
Tuition, Room, Board and Fees
VFS is an all-inclusive tuition, all school supplies, i.e. books, equipment and incidentals are included in your tuition fees. As a Canadian school the rates listed below are in CAD dollars.
Game Design: https://vfs.edu/programs/game-design
Tuition cost of $32,750 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $49,250 CAD (international tuition)
Programming for Games: https://vfs.edu/programs/programming
Tuition cost of $32,050 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $49,050 CAD (international tuition)
3D Animation & Visual Effects: https://vfs.edu/programs/3D-animation-vfx
Tuition cost of $35,750 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $53,250 CAD (international tuition)
Classical Animation: https://vfs.edu/programs/classical-animation
Tuition cost of $25,500 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $30,500 CAD (international tuition)
Animation Concept Art: https://vfs.edu/programs/animation-concept-art
Tuition cost of $25,500 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $33,500 CAD (international tuition)
Foundation Visual Art & Design: https://vfs.edu/programs/foundation
Tuition cost of $20,500 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $30,500 CAD (international tuition)
Digital Design: https://vfs.edu/programs/digital-design
Tuition cost of $27,750 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $42,250 CAD (International tuition)
Acting Essentials: https://vfs.edu/programs/acting-essentials
Tuition cost of $7,500 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $10,500 CAD (international tuition)
Acting for Film & Television & Games: https://vfs.edu/programs/acting
Tuition cost of $20,500 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $30,500 CAD (international tuition)
Writing for Film, Television & Games: https://vfs.edu/programs/writing
Tuition cost of $20,750 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $28,250 CAD (international tuition)
Film Production: https://vfs.edu/programs/film-production
Tuition cost of $36,750 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $ 53,250 CAD (international tuition)
Sound Design for Visual Media: https://vfs.edu/programs/sound-design
Tuition cost of $28,750 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $43,250 CAD (international tuition)
Program kit cost is $0
Makeup Design for Film & Television: https://vfs.edu/programs/makeup
Tuition cost of $32,250 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $46,750 CAD (international tuition)
English for Creative Arts: https://vfs.edu/programs/english-creative-arts
Tuition cost of $6,400 CAD (domestic + international)
VR/AR Design & Development: https://vfs.edu/programs/vrar
Tuition cost of $22,000 CAD (domestic tuition)
Tuition cost of $33,000 CAD (international tuition)
Room and Board:
VFS offers a robust housing and homestay placement service. Renting in Vancouver is expensive; however, VFS aims to provide convenient accommodation that makes it easier for students to focus on their academic and personal growth.
Their Housing Coordinator has well-established connections with landlords in Vancouver and will help you find accommodation that best meets students' individual and budgetary needs. Whether you want to rent your own apartment, share with roommates or live in a Homestay, they have excellent options for students to choose from.
https://vfs.edu/accommodation
Financial Aid
Vancouver Film School's programs are recognized by all Federal and Provincial loan providers in Canada. Recently VFS offered Kevin Smith Scholarships where students could apply for a possible tuition reduction for their program. This campaign offered more than $250,000 in scholarships. All current and upcoming opportunities for the wide range of creative programs offered by VFS can be found here:
https://vfs.edu/scholarships-overview-2019
For students from outside of Canada VFS has a team that is dedicated to assisting students with payment plans and can work with a student's local loan providers to assist with tuition costs, etc.
Dates
Application Deadlines
Financial Aid Statistics
Financial aid provided to international students
No
Expenses per Academic Year
Tuition
Required Fees
Average Cost for Books and Supplies
Tuition / Fees Vary by Year of Study
No
Board for Commuters
Transportation for Commuters
Available Aid
Financial Aid Methodology
Scholarships and Grants
Need-Based
Federal Direct Student Loan Programs
Federal Family Education Loan Programs (FFEL)
Is Institutional Employment Available (other than Federal Work Study)
No
Direct Lender
No
Student Body
Student Body
Overall
From The School
The iconic Vancouver Film School backpack is a ubiquitous sign that the student body of VFS is everywhere in Vancouver. With a diverse mix of both Canadian and international students in every program, some are attending VFS as their first post-secondary stop to prepare for an immersive experience that connects them to real industry experience on their first day of class. For others, it's sometimes about changing directions and pursuing a longtime creative passion after already completing a different education somewhere else. What connects them all wherever they're from is that Vancouver is one of the most beautiful, safe and culturally rich cities to live and learn in.
VFS Students engage in a broad range of activities both inside and outside of the school. A passionate commitment to the arts means that most students are connected not only to their own projects, but to those of others as they work through intensive one-year programs together. A number of opportunities for activism, volunteerism, and other pursuits keep VFS students engaged every day.
Student Body Profile
Total Undergraduate Enrollment
Demographics
Campus Life
Campus Life
Overview
From The School
Location
At the heart of Vancouver's Gastown district Vancouver Film School is an iconic part of Western Canada's most beautiful city. Nestled in among leading global tech and media companies, their 7 unique campus buildings house over 250,000 square feet of studio and learning facilities, connecting students to industry professionals and insightful instructors, as well as state of the art equipment in well-appointed learning spaces. A rich, deep connection to arts and culture comes naturally to Vancouver, with students immersed in a world bordered by the Rocky Mountains on one side and the Georgia Strait on the other. It's no surprise that some of the world's most creative talent has come from the VFS experience over the last 30 years.
Campus Facilities & Equipment
The Vancouver Film School's commitment to cutting-edge and emerging technologies is apparent in each of their 7 well-equipped campus buildings. The facilities mirror those found in studios and production houses around the world. This ranges from the massive 180° green screen space, the LG UltraWide Monitor Academy Lab to our unique partnership with Beyond Capture. Beyond Capture has the best-in-class, 32,000 square foot, performance capture studio, used by our students across a wide range of VFS programs and by some of the most technical industry projects.
Off-Campus Opportunities
Vancouver provides the perfect blend of nature, arts and culture, and exposure to the fields that VFS alumni find so valuable. Students and grads can hit the slopes in the morning and ride the scenic seawall in the afternoon, taking in any of Vancouver's museums, theatres, and eclectic arts spaces in the evening all in a single day. The creative economy in Vancouver is booming as well, helping students and alumni connect to shoots, projects, and industry insiders in their field through a wide range of VFS-run and third-party events.
Campus Life
Undergrads living on campus
Help finding off-campus housing
No
First-Year Students living on campus
Campus Environment
Special Needs Admissions
College Entrance Tests Required
No
Interview Required
No
Special Need Services Offered
Student Activities
Registered Student Organizations
Number of Honor Societies
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Sports
Athletic Division
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Student Services
Campus Security Report
The Jeanne Clery Act requires colleges and universities to disclose their security policies, keep a public crime log, publish an annual crime report and provide timely warnings to students and campus employees about a crime posing an immediate or ongoing threat to students and campus employees.
Please visit The Princeton Review’s page on campus safety for additional resources: http://www.princetonreview.com/safety
The Princeton Review publishes links directly to each school's Campus Security Reports where available. Applicants can also access all school-specific campus safety information using the Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool provided by the Office of Postsecondary Education of the U.S. Department of Education: https://ope.ed.gov/campussafety/#/
