3D Modeling Program
DIPLOMA | BACHELOR OF ANIMATION & VFX
Master the tools and techniques to pursue a career as a 3D modeler
CG Spectrum student work
Accredited degree in 3D modeling with training from industry pros
Learn industry quality asset creation, including characters, environments and props for film, TV, virtual production, and video games. Master specialized software, including Maya, ZBrush, and Substance Painter, and delve deep into production pipelines and creative workflows, building industry-relevant skills to prepare you for a successful career in 3D modeling.
Why study 3D modeling with us:
- Gain the creative, technical, interpersonal, and conceptual skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the industry
- Study with more flexibility (100% online)
- Create industry-level work that recruiters will notice
- Graduate in less time than a typical degree - 2 years instead of 3
- Join a global community of 4000+ students, grads, and industry artists
Master Your Skills. Master Your Future.
Our mission is to ensure graduates are the best trained and best prepared for a successful career in their chosen field.
Everything You Need To Know
Our film and game degrees and diplomas seamlessly blend academic excellence with practical industry methodologies to help students pave a steadfast pathway to a successful creative career.
Bachelor's Degree (AQF 7)
Bachelor - 6 trimesters
Diploma - 6 months
Bachelor - 2 years
Part-time study available
Custom video lectures
Personalised mentor feedback
Bachelor - $49, 992 USD
Payment options available
January 2025
May 2025
September 2025
Develop industry foundations with our 6 month Diploma, or continue into the full Bachelor's Degree to build more comprehensive skills.
Trimester 01
- 3D Modeling Fundamentals
- Film and Games Principles, Concepts and Innovations: Learning from History
- Industry Overview: Pipeline and Production Processes
Trimester 02
- Character and Environment Modeling
- Art and Design Concepts and Principles
- Communicate! Mode, Purpose and Context
Diploma Exit Point
Students can choose to exit the bachelor's degree after trimester 02 with a diploma or continue their studies through to trimester 06 and earn their bachelor's degree.
Trimester 03
- Creature and Hard Surface Modeling
- Concepts and Principles of Story and Visual Narrative
- Identifying and Solving Problems
Trimester 04
- Advanced Character Modeling
- Concepts and Principles of Lighting and Cinematography
- Managing Projects and Creative Assets
Trimester 05
- Advanced Environment Modeling and Layout
- Leading with Integrity
- Establishing and Sustaining Your Business
Trimester 06
- 3D Modeling Capstone Portfolio
- Stepping Into Industry: Becoming a Proactive Practitioner
- Marketing Yourself and Your Work
Bachelor Degree Point
Download the Course Guide
Your creative journey begins here! Download our comprehensive course guide and discover the exciting educational opportunities that await you.The 3D Modeling Major focuses on teaching students how to create high-quality 3D assets for film, games, and virtual production. The program covers essential skills in areas like digital sculpting, environment and character modeling, and texturing. Students gain proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Maya, ZBrush, Houdini, and Substance Painter.
Key learning outcomes include:
- Asset Creation: Building environments, characters, and props for games and films.
- Sculpting & Texturing: Developing detailed textures and materials to enhance realism.
- Production Pipelines: Understanding how assets move through stages from concept to final output.
- Specialization: Focusing on niche areas like hard-surface modeling, organic forms, or procedural modeling using Houdini.
- Portfolio Development: Creating a professional portfolio with feedback from industry mentors, including guidance on demo reels.
The program also includes career preparation through mentorship, networking opportunities, and job readiness workshops.
Bachelor Degree Tuition
Avg. Cost per Trimester
$8,332 USD
Duration
6 Trimesters Full-time (2 Year Fast Track or Part-time Options Available)
Total Program Cost
Diploma Tuition
Avg. Cost per Trimester
$8,332 USD
Duration
2 Trimesters Full-time (Part-time Options Available)
Total Program Cost
Don't Put Your Future On Hold
With FEE-HELP and CG Spectrum’s expert training, you can develop the skills and connections you need to thrive in the competitive film and game industries.Learn Directly From Film & Game Mentors
Ehsan Ebrahimzadeh
Ehsan has worked as an environment artist for video games since 2009 and is currently a Senior Environment Artist at Arkane Studios, working on Redfall.
Known for Redfall
Pierre Debras
Known for Arcane
Fiona Wong
Fiona is a Lead Environment Artist at Framestore in Canada, working in feature films and TV with over 7 years of experience in the industry and most recently, on Thor: Love and Thunder.
Known for Thor: Love and Thunder
Bryan Bentley
Bryan's award winning experience includes lead positions at ILM and Rhythm & Hues working films like The Golden Compass, Rango, Pacific Rim, and Transformers 2 and 3.
Known for Pacific Rim
Anna Beganskaya
Since 2015, Anna has worked as a 3D character artist at Riot Games, Sirship Syndicate, and Blizzard, on titles including League of Legends (merch), Darksiders Genesis, Heroes of the Storm, and Ruined ...
Known for Heroes of the Storm
Shaun Stephenson
Shaun’s 20+ year 3D career includes roles as a lead artist, technical artist, 3D modeler, and environment artist. He’s worked at EA, ILM, Lucasfilm, Ubisoft, 2K, and Digital Domain. He also has ...
Known for Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Dylan Ekren
Known for Ralph Breaks the Internet
Tamer Eldib
Working across film, TV, and games, Tamer has held multiple roles as a modeler and generalist. Currently working as a CG Supervisor, recent projects include Marvel's What If…? and The Expanse.
Known for The Mandalorian
Nick Barone
Known for World of Tanks
Matteo Sala
Matteo is a Senior Character and Creature Modeler at Framestore, London. With a background in traditional sculpture and creature design, he can bring a character from the concept stage to a final, ...
Known for The Batman
Get The Education Your Deserve
"Having a mentor definitely helped! It was awesome to have someone I could reach out to when I was stuck.
Getting the weekly feedback also helped in terms of what to improve and what to focus on next. In Term 3, we learned Unreal Engine; I implemented the knowledge I gained in that course to my Advanced 3D Modeling Course to create some additional renders that demonstrated my understanding of using and integrating game-ready assets into an actual game engine.
Benjamin O | 3D Modeling
"CG Spectrum seemed too good to be true. Looking back, it was the best decision.
Every mentor and staff member has been so hands-on and directly involved in my learning. Co-Directors of top box office movies and supervisors of major Netflix TV shows are giving me feedback on my projects. Students also have access to a strong community, and an awesome career class to prepare you for your dream job."
Stephanie S | 3D Modeling
"I got a job offer at a major feature film studio before even graduating!
Studying at CG Spectrum gave me the opportunity to network with industry artists while I was learning, and coupled with the amazing course, I was able to secure a position in the industry. Now I'm working on amazing projects in my dream job!"
Andi E | 3D Modeling
"Having unlimited access to industry experts offers a treasure trove of learning opportunities for aspiring artists.
Learning new or different software is not the hard part. What matters is making the most of whatever tools you know in the most effective manner. That is how my education helped me in my career, delivering results in the smartest way possible with whatever options available."
Danish A | 3D Modeling
"I highly recommend signing up with CG Spectrum!
I was looking for a final push to bump my skills and finally start applying for jobs as an artist. Shortly after finishing my Advanced 3D Modeling Course I landed my first job as Junior Environment Artist, which was my dream!"
Kasia P | 3D Modeling
Join Our Alumni at World Class Studios
Our mission is to train highly skilled graduates ensuring they are prepared for a successful career. Take the first step towards joining our alumni at world-class studios creating work that inspires.
Questions? We Have Answers
Details for both domestic and international applicants can be found on our Entry Requirements page.
CG Spectrum Institute is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).
All CGSI degrees and diplomas are accredited, providing students with credible and recognized qualifications.
About TEQSA:
TEQSA stands for the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. It is an independent regulatory body in Australia responsible for assuring the quality and standards of higher education institutions.
TEQSA-accredited qualifications are widely recognized, allowing students to pursue further studies or employment opportunities around the world.
Your studies will require you to download and get acquainted with a variety of software, including:
Core Subjects:
3D Modeling Major:
- Autodesk Maya - one-year educational license (renewable)
- Adobe Substance Painter - one-year educational license (renewable)
- Zbrush by Maxon
- Houdini Apprentice - education license
- Unreal Engine - free license
We recommend a minimum of 32GB RAM. See below for more info on hardware specifications.
General:
3D Modelling Major:
- Autodesk Maya
- Adobe Substance Painter
- Zbrush by Maxon
- Houdini Apprentice
- Unreal Engine
Please note: As the software we use is regularly updated, please check the specs against the latest available version at the time of enrollment.
CG Spectrum Institute ensures that individuals can access high-quality education and professional development without significant financial barriers, empowering them to achieve their goals and excel in their chosen fields.
Australian Students:
All higher education AQF Award Courses offered at CGSI are supported by the Australian Government’s FEE-HELP program.
Domestic students who meet specific eligibility criteria can access FEE-HELP, which allows them to borrow money for all or part of their tuition fees and repay the loan through the tax system once their income reaches a certain threshold.
For more information, please head to the Financial Aid on our website.
International students:
There is a range of financing options suited to your situation and country. Please contact our friendly admissions team for more information on how we can support your learning journey.
On completion of the Bachelor of Animation & VFX, you will have greater confidence in your abilities and a portfolio to show employers.
You will also have personalized career services with our Career Development Manager which can help when applying for junior 3D modeling jobs such as:
Discover more about these 3D modeling jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:
While our past students have a high job success rate, we cannot offer guaranteed employment as the film and game industry is competitive, and there is no way of knowing what the market will demand.
The students who experience the greatest success are those who take responsibility for their career, put in the hard work to get their skills and portfolio up to industry standard, leverage their mentor's invaluable expertise and the networking opportunities provided through the CG Spectrum community, and take advantage of every opportunity to excel.
To help students find employment, we have a range of career services and a dedicated Career Development Manager who regularly hosts exclusive career-focused webinars, Q&As, artist interviews, and workshops for students and alumns and is available to answer career-related questions.
Degree students receive additional 1-on-1 career support, CV/portfolio reviews, and help with application/interview preparation. And their final trimester is dedicated to getting them job-ready.
If you have any questions about our career services as they relate to your personal career goals, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Ready to take the next step toward your future? Head to our application page to get started. Whether you're looking to learn something new, build on your existing skillset, or nurture your creative side, begin your application today to start your creative journey with us!
Looking For Something Else?
Check out our full range of courses with study options for all skill levels, from short introductory courses, specialized industry tracks and accredited degrees and diplomas