Frequently Asked Questions

CG Spectrum has a unique system of teaching which allows you to excel by providing:

• Direct access to industry mentors who have worked on major films and games
• Industry-focused career training and support
• Access to career services (career planning sessions, CV/portfolio reviews, job application help, interview preparation), even after graduation
• Private 1-on-1 or small group classes (max. 4 students in industry-cert courses and max. 15 students in the degrees and diplomas)
• Mentorship and live weekly calls with top film and game experts
• Classes that are 100% online (study from anywhere!)
• Recorded video critiques of your mentor working within your file

Beyond this, CG Spectrum is a community! When you enroll in any of our courses, you automatically become part of our supportive online hub of students, graduates, and mentors from all over the world. You'll be able to get feedback on your work, seek answers to questions whenever you're stuck, collaborate on special projects and challenges, make friends, and have the opportunity to build your professional network from day one. 

To learn more about how our industry certificate courses work, click on the "how it works" button below.

HOW IT WORKS

If you are serious about a career in film and games, invest in your future and join CG Spectrum, where you can focus your skills and hone your craft by getting the attention you deserve.

Want evidence of our students' success? Check out our community spotlight blog. 

Course fees are listed on each individual course page. Choose the course you're interested in, and just below the course overview, you will see course fees listed under the heading "Tuition." 

You can also compare course prices and explore payment options on our Tuition & Payments page.

See course prices

There are four simple steps to apply for a CG Spectrum course:

1. Request an application by filling out the form on the apply now page.

This is similar to a "request for application" to show our team you're interested in taking the next steps in your creative learning journey.

Our student admissions team will process your request within 2-3 business days and will contact you to discuss the application process and to learn more about your goals.

(Please note our office operates Monday through Friday EST, or North American hours.)

2. Complete the full application.

Once you know details like your field of study, start date, and preferred payment method, the admissions team will send you the full application form to fill out.

3. Sign contract and make payment.

Once your application is approved, we'll send you a Student Enrollment Agreement.  Please review the agreement carefully, as it outlines all of our institution's policies. 

Once you sign this contract and send us your payment (which could be in the form of a private or government loan), you will be officially enrolled as a CGS student!  

4. Start learning!

As the start date of your course gets closer, you will be invited to take a brief onboarding course in Canvas, our learning platform.  Through that course, you'll learn how to download the required software, log into Slack, and other important aspects of your program.

If you're taking an industry certificate course, you will be matched with your industry mentor and receive your weekly Q&A call time. If you are enrolled in one of our accredited courses, you will receive your trimester timetable which includes your mentors for each subject.

Ready to kick-start your career?

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CG Spectrum offers both non-accredited industry certificate courses as well as accredited degrees and diplomas. Our degrees and diplomas are accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)–Australia’s independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education.

CG Spectrum is also certified through The Rookies, and ranked as one of the Top 50 Best Creative Media & Entertainment Art Schools in the World–out of more than 500 schools. The Rookies Certified Schools are independently reviewed and assessed by invite-only, ensuring only the very best schools are accepted, and the accolade remains exclusive. The accolade identifies schools that offer the highest quality education and are best suited to prepare students for a career in the creative industries.

CG Spectrum is also an:

• Unreal Authorized Training Center
• Unreal Academic Partner
• Unreal Connector
• Toon Boom Authorized Training Center
• Houdini Certified School
• Chaos Academic Partner

• STEM.org Accredited

Additionally, CG Spectrum was ranked #2 Online Art School by The Rookies and listed in Creative Bloq’s Top 5 Best Animation Schools.

When you become a CG Spectrum student, you're joining an award-winning institution with a great reputation and courses that delivery results.

Students with Australian citizenship who meet specific eligibility criteria can access FEE-HELP, a loan program provided by the Australian Government that assists in paying for higher education tuition fees. 

FEE-HELP allows eligible students 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 visit the Tuition & Payments page on our website.

TUITION AND PAYMENTS

We do not offer scholarships upon request. However, we do offer scholarships from time to time and advertise them on our social channels and newsletter.

Please subscribe to our mailing list to get updates on future scholarship opportunities that may be available to you.

For a first-hand CG Spectrum review, the best thing to do is chat directly to a student. You can ask them about:

• Their experience at CG Spectrum
• How the courses and mentorship work
• CGS culture and community benefits
• What it's like to learn from industry mentors
• Career support services
• Events & networking opportunities

CHAT WITH A STUDENT

You can also check out CG Spectrum reviews on Trustpilot, Facebook, Google Reviews, and our testimonials page.

Generally, no.  The only discipline that requires strong drawing skills are our concept art and illustration courses.  If you are interested in enrolling in this program and you don't know how to draw or would like to refine your drawing skills, we encourage you to register for one or more of our drawing-based 2-week beginner workshops. 

All other courses do not require strong drawing skills, but it is always encouraged to work on your fine art skills as it strengthens your creative foundation and improves your eye for detail.

As part of an entry requirement for this course, we require you to submit at least three pieces of artwork that demonstrate character/creature creations, prop, or environment-type artwork.

We encourage students to avoid painting from photographs or using photo manipulation.

Students are also required to have their own digital tablets.

For more information on prerequisites and computer requirements, head to the Concept Art and Illustration Course page.

INDUSTRY CERTIFICATE COURSES (CAREER TRACK) 
You can apply for credit or advanced placement. Send your current portfolio/website link/demo reel to our admissions team. You will also have the opportunity to share a link to your portfolio throughout the application process. 

Get started on your application and submission of your work here.  The admissions team will consult with your course mentors to assess where to best place you based on your prior skills.

INTERNAL CREDIT TRANSFERS
Did you know that the subjects you complete in our industry-cert career track courses can also be used to apply for credit toward our accredited degrees and diplomas in the same discipline? 

The skills and knowledge you build in any industry-certificate course can be transferred into academic credits through our Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer process. So, if you decide to take your studies to the next level, know that your prior learning will be recognized.

ACCREDITED COURSES (DEGREES/DIPLOMAS) 
Credit/recognition of prior learning (RPL) may be granted for one or more subjects on the basis of formal, non-formal, and informal learning (see definitions just below) when demonstrable expertise derived from that learning can be documented to be equivalent to the satisfaction of the Faculty Dean/Course Director.  

In order to secure credit(s), you may need to provide:

• Academic transcripts
• Portfolio or evidence of coursework with a recency of completion
• Proof of attendance/completion of course or unit
• Letter of recommendation from your teacher/mentor
• Proof of recent relevant industry experience

We understand that everyone's learning journey is different, which is why we offer courses that cater to different budgets, schedules, and skill levels.

Courses suitable for beginners
Our essentials and foundations courses, as well as our degrees and diplomas, are suitable for beginners. They are taught from the ground up, so no experience with the required software is necessary. 

Exceptions include our concept art courses, which require drawing skills. Our two-week beginner workshops are designed to help novices learn these basic skills so they can prepare for our more intensive courses. 

More advanced courses
All of our specialization courses require a prerequisite of foundational knowledge of the software used in the course. The Foundations courses are designed to prepare students for the advanced specialization courses. 

For more information, head to our Course Comparison page.

Compare Courses

Great! Head to the application page and fill out the form. We look forward to getting you started!

APPLY NOW

We accept payment through PayPal, direct bank transfer, or Credit Card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Google Pay, and Apple Pay are all accepted).

Please note that there will be a 4% surcharge for using PayPal and credit cards.

Additionally, if needed, we also offer a range of financial aid options.

Age Minimum
The general minimum age to be able to enroll in our industry certificate courses is 16. We require parent or guardian consent during the enrollment process for applicants under 18.

Students under 16 will require a further assessment before they can officially enrol. This may include an interview with a course advisor and the creation of a study plan to ensure they have considered how they will manage a college-level workload.

English Proficiency
We expect our students to have a good understanding of written and spoken English. There’s no specific ’level'; however, you must be able to understand video tutorials in English (no subtitles) and speak with your mentor in English during your live Q&A session.

Computer Literacy
To be successful in this program, you will need basic computer skills and a computer that meets the minimum specifications. Please refer to individual course pages for more details on recommended hardware.

AUSTRALIAN STUDENTS

Below are the entry requirements for Australian citizens and residents (Domestic Students) -

Applicants must satisfy one of the following requirements:

1. Completion of a Year 12 Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (for example, VCE, QCE, WACE, HSC, SACE, etc.) or equivalent; OR
2. Completion of a Certificate III level qualification (for example a TAFE Certificate), or higher, issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF); OR 
3. Completion of a Diploma-level qualification or higher,  issued under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF); OR 
4. Experience-based entry – for applicants who do not meet any of the requirements above. 

To be eligible for experienced-based entry, an individual must be able to demonstrate via cover letter and supporting documentation, together with participation in an interview where necessary, the following requirements: 

• An applicant must have completed or left high school two or more years prior to the application being submitted.
• The work and/or life experience cited in the application must be relevant to the particular course students are seeking to enter.
• These experiences may include formal, informal and non-formal learning, work experience relevant to the selected course, or other activities. 
• Given the fact that digital technologies are moving at such a rapid pace, the activities used as evidence to support experienced-based entry must have been completed within the past three years

Additional Requirements

1. To be eligible for enrolment in a CGSI accredited degree or diploma, applicants must be a minimum of 17 years of age at the time of commencing their studies. Please note however, that applicants may apply prior to turning 17.

2. Students applying for the Bachelor or Diploma of Digital Art will also be required to submit a portfolio of original work demonstrating skills relevant to their selected major (Concept Art or Illustration).

3. Domestic applicants from a non-English speaking background must also demonstrate English language proficiency. This may be demonstrated as follows:

• a) Applicants whose formal qualifications (secondary or post-secondary qualifications) relate to programs where English was the language of instruction and assessment automatically qualify, however, the final year of this study must have been completed no more than five (5) years immediately prior to commencement of study with CGSI.
• b) In exceptional circumstances, domestic students whose qualifications do not meet the requirements outlined in (a) above, but who have been long-term English speakers, may be exempted from the requirements outlined in c) below. However, in these cases, supporting documentation and an interview with the Executive Dean will be required.
• c) Students  from a non-English speaking background who do not meet the conditions outlined in (a) or (b)  above must  provide evidence that they meet CGSI’s IELTS (or equivalent) entry requirements (as follows): 

Applicants are required to provide documentary evidence that they have achieved the minimum requirements of an approved English Language test (as per the bullet points below) within two (2) years prior to the commencement of study. The minimum requirements for each respective test are as follows:

• IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System): Overall Band Score 6.0 with a minimum sub-score of 5.5 in writing, reading, speaking and listening.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Internet-Based Test (iBT): 75 or better overall and no score less than 17.
• PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic): Overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Below are the entry requirements for students who are not Australian citizens or residents (International students) — 

1. Successful completion of secondary school studies. These studies must be recognised by CGSI as being equivalent to the Australian Year 12 Senior Secondary Certificate of Education; OR 
2. Completion of an accredited Certificate level qualification, recognised by CGSI as equivalent to an Australian Certificate III or higher; OR 
3. Completion of a Diploma or Degree level qualification, recognised by CGSI as equivalent to an Australian Diploma or Degree; OR
4. Experience-based entry – for applicants who do not meet any of the requirements outlined above.

To be eligible for experienced-based entry, an individual must be able to demonstrate via cover letter and supporting documentation, together with participation in an interview where necessary, the following requirements: 

• An applicant must have completed or left high school two or more years prior to the application being submitted.
• The work and/or life experience cited in the application must be relevant to the particular course students are seeking to enter.
• These experiences may include formal, informal and non-formal learning, work experience relevant to the selected course, or other activities. 
• Given the fact that digital technologies are moving at such a rapid pace, the activities used as evidence to support experienced-based entry must have been completed within the past three years.

Additional Requirements

1. To be eligible for enrolment in a CGSI accredited degree or diploma, applicants must be a minimum of 17 years of age at the time of commencing their studies. Please note however, that applicants may apply prior to turning 17.
2. Students applying for the Bachelor or Diploma of Digital Art will also be required to submit a portfolio of original work demonstrating skills relevant to their selected major (Concept Art or Illustration).
3. International Applicants seeking admission to CGSI courses are also required to demonstrate and meet one of the following minimum English Language Proficiency requirements:

EITHER 

Successful completion of secondary education, or a post-secondary accredited qualification in which English was the medium of instruction and assessment, with the final year of study having been undertaken during the five (5) years immediately prior to commencement of study with CGSI; 

OR 

By demonstrating through the provision of formal documentation, that the applicant has met the minimum requirements of an approved English Language test (as per the bullet points below) within two (2) years prior to the commencement of study. The minimum requirements for each respective test are as follows:

• IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System): Overall Band Score 6.0 with a minimum sub-score of 5.5 in writing, reading, speaking and listening.
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) Internet-Based Test (iBT): 75 or better overall and no score less than 17.
• PTE Academic (Pearson Test of English Academic): Overall score of 54 with no sub-score less than 46.

For details on how these two industry-led course options differ, including curriculum, pricing, and study load, head to our Compare Courses page.

Most of the software programs required for our courses are available for free or at discounted rates for students (educational licenses).

Once you're enrolled in a course, we will guide you through the best way to access and download these industry-standard tools, ensuring you have the best start to your creative learning journey.

For more information on the specific software required for your chosen course, head to the FAQ section on that course page.

All of our classes are online. 

One of the many benefits of being an online school is that we are everywhere! Borders or geography doesn't stop us from teaching the next wave of artists. So long as you have a good internet connection and a strong desire to create, you can study with us.

Our mentors are spread across the globe, covering most time zones. Classes take place via Zoom and are recorded, so they can be replayed anytime.

There is one live Q&A session with an industry mentor each week, and we provide the day/time of that class closer to your intake start date. As we have students enrolling throughout the month, we try to cater to everyone's time zone.

We're always considerate of student locations and ensure the weekly Q&A feedback session is within an appropriate 9 am - 9 pm period. However, we are unable to accommodate every student's full-time or part-time work hours. You will have the opportunity to indicate what times work best for you during the application process. 

If your schedule is very busy and you need more flexibility, we encourage you to consider the 1-on-1 private mentorship option.

Online education is ideal for students needing more flexibility around work and family commitments or those who prefer to study from the comfort of their homes. (Read 5 more benefits of studying online.)

Yes, it is possible to work and study full-time. However, in order to balance both commitments, it’s very important to organize and dedicate your time appropriately.

Creating a study schedule or monthly planner can be a great way to balance your responsibilities and ensure you don’t fall behind.

If your schedule is particularly busy, we recommend the 1-on-1 private mentorship option, which offers the most flexibility. We also offer part-time options for our degrees and siplomas.

For the industry certificate courses, we recommend that students dedicate approximately 20-25 hours a week or 2-3 hours a day to their education in order to get the most out of it.

For the accredited courses, if you are studying full-time, you will be required to do 40 hours per week, minimum. This includes your lectures, tutorials, required reading, and assessments.

We encourage students to fully commit to their course so they can get the best experience possible and use available mentor time efficiently.

You may submit a preference if you are applying for 1-on-1 private mentorship, however, because our mentors also work in the industry (which means you'll be learning the latest techniques and workflows!), matching you with a specific mentor depends on their schedule, availability, and how many students they are already mentoring.

Remember that ALL of our mentors are seasoned industry professionals with years of experience. Whichever mentor you are matched with, you can be confident you will be working with a highly skilled and passionate industry professional.

Our mentors are also very active in our online community, so you will have opportunities to connect with many other industry experts in addition to the mentor you will be working closely with each week.

MEET YOUR MENTORS

We understand why people are hesitant to enroll in online schools. Some online schools may be disconnected from their students or leave students to discuss topics amongst themselves in a forum so that they don’t have to pay instructors to be available.

CG Spectrum is a different kind of online school. We stay connected with our students throughout each week of their course and are accessible through several channels.

As much as we encourage our students to post and critique other student’s work, we facilitate our student feedback to ensure that meaningful and helpful advice is being given to avoid students being misled or wasting valuable time. This is why we check in with our students every couple of days and are available if they need any assistance.

Our students have told us that they get much more feedback from us than they did at some of the brick-and-mortar schools they attended. Students participate in a live Q&A session with their industry mentor each week, giving them front-row seats to ask their mentor any questions they may have, listen to tips and critiques on their work, and see how a professional would handle the task at hand.

Classes are conducted through our online student portal. This is also where they can select their subjects to find each week’s content, tutorials, and submission dates. 

To gain familiarity and build their skills with industry-standard tools, we require our students to subscribe to and/or purchase all required software for our courses, as indicated in each course page's FAQ.

Discounted educational and student licensing options exist for most major software, and we will assist our students in acquiring them where applicable.

CG Spectrum provides students with the tools, resources, and direct access to world-class mentors to help them become the best trained, best connected, and best prepared for studio life.

Career services
Helping students find employment is very important to us. That's why we have a dedicated career coach who can assist with job-related matters, like CV/portfolio reviews and interview preparation. Our career development team also regularly hosts exclusive career-focused webinars, Q&As, artist interviews, and workshops for CG Spectrum students and graduates. 

Networking
The CG Spectrum community is a great resource for forging meaningful and beneficial connections with other industry folk. Through networking with graduates and mentors who are already working in the industry, you can discover film and game job opportunities and projects.

Portfolio prep
The career tracks and bachelor's degrees dedicate a full term/trimester to becoming job and industry-ready. With guidance from their industry mentor, students have time to prioritize building a standout portfolio or demo reel.

Getting out what you put in
The film and game industry is competitive, and the students who experience the greatest success are those who take responsibility for their careers, put in the hard work to get their skills up to industry standard, leverage their mentor's invaluable expertise, and take advantage of every opportunity to excel.

Job success rate
Did you know that 83% of our advanced graduates have gone on to get great jobs in the industry? Check out some of the success stories of graduates who have worked on major titles like Avengers: Endgame, Blade Runner 2049, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Call of Duty, League of Legends, and the Assassin's Creed franchise.

As a CG Spectrum student, you will be invited to join the 4000+ members of our CG Spectrum community, a lively and supportive network of peers, mentors, and graduates who work in the creative industries.

By taking advantage of this community and the many events that we sponsor and host (most of which are online and accessible to all), you have the opportunity to meet some of the most talented and influential people in the industry.

CG Spectrum graduates can be found working at film and game studios on almost every continent!

Some recent projects they've worked on include Stranger Things, the Assassin's Creed franchise, Terminator: Dark Fate, Cowboy Bebop, Spider-Man: No Way Home, and so much more.

Read some of the graduate successes here:

GRADUATE SUCCESS STORIES