The Higher Education Review

With flicks like the 50 Shades of Grey, Deadpool, Twilight and many more, Vancouver, a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada, has become the third largest centre for the film industry in North America, earning it the nickname "Hollywood North."Today, the movie industry pumps $2 billion a year into Vancouver, which is also home to numerous animation and visual effects studios, design firms, media and games companies and a thriving business community. Located in the heart of this beautiful city, Vancouver Institute of Media Arts, popularly known as VanArts, is one of the world’s most highly respected post-secondary schools for visual, media and performing arts.Founded in 1995, VanArts offers one-year diploma programs and degree pathways for Character Animation, Game Art & Design, Visual Effects, Photography, Web Development, Broadcasting and Acting.VanArts is committed in keeping a strong connection with India by continuing to offer a dedicated India Admissions Advisor, as well as free study permit review services for their accepted applications from India.

GautamModkar, Regional Admissions Manager of VanArts who offers exclusive one-on-one support to each application from India says, “We are very proud of the number of successful graduates who have come from India over the years. Currently, our student body from India is the second largest after domestic, representing 30 percent of our International students and 17 percent of our total student body.” At VanArts, Indian and International students benefit from a diverse, multicultural student body and small class sizes.

“The class sizes are kept deliberately small (24 students or less), so students have more opportunities for one-on- one, personalized instruction from their teachers who are industry-experienced professionals,” adds Modkar.

With a faculty and advisory board that draws directly from the relevant industries, VanArts provides its students with the foundation and mentorship necessary to launch a successful career. Many VanArts graduates are now successful, creative professionals with credits on major feature films, directorial positions and successful freelance careers around the world. “All of our Department Heads and instructors are top industry professionals with decades of experience. They are here because of their passion for teaching and desire to help students to become a creative professional they can proudly work alongside,” says Modkar. VanArts consults annually with industry professionals within their program advisory committees to make sure the curriculum are highly relevant, and keeping up with the trends and technology practices within these industries.VanArts has articulation agreements in place with several well-established universities/colleges in Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Hence, in addition to highly specialized diploma programs within the media arts fields, VanArts offers unique pathways with their local university partners where the student can complete a second diploma or degree credential with one or two years of additional study. One example is with British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), where VanArts graduates can complete a 2-year Business Management Advanced Diploma with only one year of additional study after completing their professional diploma from VanArts.

After completing the 1+1 pathway, the graduate is eligible toapply for a post-graduate work permit, which may lead to permanent residency and/or Canadian citizenship.At VanArts, the goal and responsibility of every student is to finish the program with a professional demo reel and industry contacts.

“We have real connections to several local studios and often bring in guest speakers to inform students about job opportunities at the studios. Several students have landed freelance jobs and full-time positions through referrals by their instructors or classmates. This is what industry-experienced staff can provide and students who take advantage of the resources we offer and work hard often succeed in finding a job in anywhere from a few days to a few months after graduating,” explains Modkar.

The institute’s high placement rate shows that their persistent students are succeeding. Indeed, Vancouver itself is one of the hottest cities for animation, gaming and film production, employing several thousand. Several VanArts graduates have found work locally and most of them end up working on projects for feature films, TV series, commercials, web cartoons and video games. Others become independent and work on their own projects.

“Vancouver is growing in the area of Visual Effects and more and more studios are moving to Vancouver and choosing to hire our graduates. We have a great industry reputation and assist students in placement into the industry,” claims Modkar. Undoubtedly, studying at VanArtsis a life-changing experience for students and it will open to a world of new mentorships, friendships and opportunities. “From your daily experiences in the classroom, to school events and fun activities in the city of Vancouver, the year you spend with us is one of both serious work and play as a creative person. Though you come here to focus in your particular area of study, you have many opportunities to collaborate and learn from students & professionals in other departments and disciplines, making your experience unique, diverse and well-rounded,” concludes Modkar.