# TL;DR
- What we compared: Escape Studios London diploma vs CGMA online per-course.
- Price: Escape Studios £8,900 to £11,500. CGMA £550 to £790 per 10-week course.
- UK career target: Escape wins for Soho VFX pipeline seats. CGMA wins for games and freelance specialists.
- Time commitment: Escape = 30 weeks full-time in London. CGMA = 10 weeks part-time, remote.
- Our pick: Escape for London-based 18-30s. CGMA for career changers, remote UK learners, and post-junior specialists. See Escape Studios review and CGMA review for full breakdowns.
Depends on your profile Verified 2026-07 £550–£11,500
What it is.
Escape Studios and CGMA are the two most-searched CG schools by UK learners beyond a BA. They solve different problems: Escape is a London vocational diploma at £8,900 to £11,500 over 30 weeks. CGMA sells online 10-week mentor-led courses at £550 to £790. Same money, different shape.
Six-point rubric.
- Curriculum depth: Escape covers full pipeline (Maya, Houdini, Nuke, ZBrush, Substance). CGMA covers specialisation in one lane at a time.
- Price transparency: Both good. Escape publishes GBP; CGMA converts from USD.
- Career outcomes: Escape has the stronger Soho VFX pipeline. CGMA has stronger games alumni (Naughty Dog, Riot, Rockstar).
- Instructor bench honesty: Both high. Escape uses working Soho supervisors; CGMA uses feature and games leads.
- UK learner fit: Escape best for London-based full-timers. CGMA best for anywhere-in-UK part-timers.
- Feedback quality: Escape uses in-person cohort review. CGMA uses weekly one-to-one written critique.
Honest weaknesses.
- Escape Studios requires London relocation or a 3-hour daily commute; total cost balloons to £19,000+ with rent.
- CGMA needs pre-existing software fluency; absolute beginners burn courses paying for basics.
- Neither is student-loan eligible for standalone offerings. Escape’s MA-with-Ravensbourne route is the exception.
- Both undersell junior salary reality: £24,000 to £32,000 first year. Cost recovery is year 3–4, not year 1.
Verdict.
Escape Studios if you can relocate to London and are chasing a Soho VFX seat. CGMA if you are remote, have 3D fluency, or are chasing games or freelance.
Alternatives worth considering.
- NCCA Bournemouth BA: Student-loan eligible, 3 years, deepest UK alumni.
- CG Spectrum: £4,800+, online diploma structure between the two.
- Animation Mentor: If your target is character animation specifically.
FAQ.
Is Escape Studios or CGMA better for VFX?
Escape Studios has the deeper Soho VFX pipeline coverage and London studio partnerships. CGMA is better for a specialisation add-on once you are already in industry.
Which is cheaper for a UK learner?
CGMA in absolute terms: 3 courses total ~£2,000. Escape Studios total ~£11,500 plus London rent. Cost per employable outcome is closer than it looks.
Can I do both?
Yes, and many do. Escape Studios diploma for foundations, then 1 to 2 CGMA courses in year 2 for specialisation. See how to get into VFX for the stacked route.