| Ranking | School | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nanyang Polytechnic | Ang Mo Kio |
For this ranking we only consider professional training programs, that is, non-degree programs such as certificate, diploma, and similar programs that are not formal 4-year bachelor's degrees. For an explanation of our ranking criteria, click here.
The School of Design & Media (SDM) at Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) has an Animation, Games & Visual Effects (VFX) program that takes just three years to complete. Leading to a diploma, the program allows students to gain real-word work experience at studios in Singapore, Hong Kong, Finland, China, Sweden, and France through the NYP Internship Program (ITP).
Since 1998, the NYP ITP has been placing students at major studios such as Blizzard Entertainment, Pixar Animation, Disney, Lucasfilm, Ubisoft, Blizzard Entertainment, and Weta Digital. NYP internships are mandatory and last 24 weeks.
The Animation, Games & Visual Effects program at NYP allows students to specialize in Animation, Games or Visual Effects. Animation students will take Character Animation; Look Development; Rigging; Digital Sculpting, and Virtual Production. Games students will take Immersive Media technology; Level Design; Business for Digital Media Industry; Principles of Game Design; and Project Management. Visual Effects student will complete Dynamic Simulations; VFX Cinematography; Virtual Production; Procedural Effects; and Film Production.
Across specializations, students will take a number of common courses. All Animation, Games & VFX courses are taught in state-of-the-art facilities and classrooms by industry professionals who have worked with Lucasfilm, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), The Walt Disney Company, and Ubisoft. Examples of common courses include 2D Animation; 3D Animation; Storyboard and Animatics; 3D Workflow; Visual Development; Storytelling Through Media; 2D and 3D Asset Cration; Digital Painting; User-Centered Studio Practice; Cinematic Production; Real-Time Engine; and Pre-Visualization Production.
Animation, Games & VFX students can develop skills in other areas through elective courses such as Creative Producing; Sequential Art; Game Story Creation; Mixed Reality Experience Design; Cinematography for Visual Effects; Business for Digital Media Industry; Audio Creation; and Digital Photography. Students may also earn industry certifications through NYP partners such as Epic Games.
In addition to completing several projects throughout the program, NYP Animation, Games & VFX students will complete a final project that will be the centerpiece for their professional portfolios.
Graduates of the Animation, Games & Visual Effects program at Nanyang Polytechnic are prepared to pursue a graduate degree or a position at a major studio. Program alumni have been accepted at Nanyang Technological University, Academy of Art University (USA), DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore, and National University of Singapore, among others.
Program alumni have also gone on to become 2D/3D Character Animators, VFX Artists, Storyboard Artists, Production Designers, Art Directors, Illustrators, Visual Development Artists, Animation Producers, Creative Directors, Character Designers, and 3D Modelers at places such as Sony Pictures Imageworks, Netflix Animation, Method Studios, AMC Studio, DNEG, CraveFX, and Polygon Pictures.
Established in 1992, Nanyang Polytechnic serves more than 15,000 students enrolled in 37 full-time diploma programs across seven schools. Students at Nanyang also have access to a full suite of Continuing Education and Training (CET) options. Many CET programs are housed in the school’s Asian Culinary Institute; Singapore Institute of Retail Studies; and the National Centre of Excellence for Workplace Learning. Nanyang Polytechnic operates according to the policies set forth by the Ministry of Education (MOE) of Singapore.
