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Not Sure You Have Time to Study? How 10 Students Made It Work

You've got a job, bills and maybe a family. You also have a creative career you want to build. The two questions most people ask at this point are simple: do I actually have the time, and wouldn't it be quicker to teach myself?

Below, ten CG Spectrum Institute students answer both in their own words, from short courses through to bachelor degrees.

Fitting it in

Can you fit study around work and life?

Usually, yes, if you pick a course that matches the hours you actually have. Every course is online, so you study around work, family or freelancing. Non-accredited short courses start at 3 months and about 20 hours a week. CG Spectrum Institute's accredited diplomas and bachelor degrees can be studied full time or part time.

Student story

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“I work full time. I don't have any free time to attend classes in person on a campus.”

“…they help assign you the class meeting on a day / time that fits to your schedule. You can freely work on the assigned homework when you can after work. I couldn't have asked for a better scenario.”

Andrew K | 3D Visualization

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“I wasn't able to take a full time course and I needed something that was flexible.”

“They had exactly what I needed in terms of flexibility and availability. While online tutorials are great, I really valued and wanted one on one feedback.”

Manuela H | 3D Visualization

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“I switched to one-to-one mentorship, as it offered much more flexibility around my freelance work.”

“…both the school and my mentor were incredibly patient and never gave up on me.”

Constance T | Game Design

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“As a mature-aged student, I honestly didn't think I'd make it through the first week.”

“…but the resources and mentors made the transition back into studying so much easier than I ever expected.”

Nick B | 3D Animation

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“I was taking the 3D modeling course while working full time.”

“My mentor was very flexible… The course I took was very personalized like that.”

Mari O | 3D Modeling

Going it alone

Is it faster to learn on your own?

Free tutorials can be a good way to start, and plenty of people begin there. The gap most self-taught learners hit is feedback: nobody is looking at your file and telling you what to fix next. That's the value a mentor adds, and it's what these students say changed their pace.

Student story

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“Watching endless YouTube videos wasn't getting me anywhere.”

“I'd been wanting to get into concept art for a while but didn't know how to go about it… every lesson without fail had several eureka moments when my work was critiqued and painted over!”

Cain P | Concept Art

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“More than I could've ever learned in a traditional school or by myself.”

“I can honestly say that the amount I've learned in a year studying here is more than I could've ever learned in a traditional school or by myself.”

Laura L | Houdini FX

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“There was a lot I didn't know that I didn't know.”

“A lot of this was in the form of tidbits which my tutor shared with me during the review sessions which were specific to my animation.”

Joel | 3D Animation

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“It would take many years of self-led practice to learn what is taught here.”

“The amount that you learn from the tutor and the assignments is huge - it would take many years of self-led practice to learn what is taught here.”

Bradley O | Digital Painting

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“Getting access to industry mentors is huge.”

“There's a world of information out there, but nothing compared to talking to someone in the know. It was the first time I had an experienced animator open my scene file, it was what I needed to get over some technical hurdles.”

Kyle D | Animation

Your next step

How do you know if you have the time?

Before you enroll, look honestly at your week. Count the hours you can protect for practice, not just the class time, and pick a course that fits them. Browse all courses to compare lengths and formats.

If you're not sure which one that is, a Career Advisor can help you work it out.

Still working out your week?

15 minutes with a Career Advisor. Find the course that fits your week.

Trusted by major studios worldwide

About CG Spectrum Institute

CG Spectrum Institute is a TEQSA-registered Australian higher education provider (PRV12023), teaching students online in more than 100 countries.

We teach specialized games, animation and digital art, from accredited bachelors and diplomas to non-accredited focused courses and 1:1 mentorship.

Wherever you start, you make industry connections from day one and train under mentors who pull your work apart, correct it, and push until it meets a professional standard.

This is where you close the gap.

CG Spectrum

Residing at the intersection of creativity and technology, CG Spectrum is a global online training provider for the film, video game, and creative industries, delivering an industry-standard education. CG Spectrum provides online, expert-led courses and accredited degrees and diplomas in animation, VFX, game development, concept art, virtual production, and 3D visualization.