# UK CG training
Learn 3D, VFX, animation, and motion graphics.
Independent UK reviews of Blender, Maya, Houdini, Unreal Engine, Escape Studios, CGMA, and every serious CG course in 2026. Read before you spend a pound.
01 Independent editorial
02 UK salary + career context
03 Affiliate-disclosed on every review
04 Updated 2026
# academies / gnomon
Gnomon School review 2026.
Hollywood in-person school with a serious reputation and a serious sticker price. BFA at £28,000+ per year in tuition, plus Los Angeles rent. This review is honest about who Gnomon suits and, for most UK learners, that answer is no.
# TL;DR
- What it is: Los Angeles in-person school for VFX, games art, animation and industrial design. BFA + certificate + individual courses.
- Who it is for: Learners with US work rights, LA relocation budget and an ILM / Weta / Blizzard career target.
- Who should look elsewhere: Any UK learner without a US visa, anyone under a £60,000 total budget, anyone who wants to work in Soho VFX.
- Current price band: £28,000+ per year BFA tuition, individual online courses at £1,050 per 10-week term.
- Our alternative pick: CGMA per-course (same US mentor pool, tenth the price) or Escape Studios for London-in-person.
Not the right fit for most UK learners Verified 2026-01
Six-point rubric.
| Criterion | Score /10 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum depth | 10 | Deepest technical curriculum in the review set. Full Maya, ZBrush, Houdini, Substance, Katana coverage. |
| Price transparency | 6 | USD fees published, but visa, insurance and LA cost of living are not. |
| Career outcomes | 9 | Alumni at ILM, Weta FX, Pixar, Blizzard, Naughty Dog. Weak UK / Soho footprint. |
| Instructor bench honesty | 9 | Named working artists from the LA studio circuit. |
| UK learner fit | 3 | Requires US visa for the in-person tracks. Online courses viable but no UK cohort support. |
| Portfolio-readiness | 9 | Portfolio quality is the reason Gnomon exists. It delivers. |
Price transparency.
BFA tuition sits at £28,000+ per year (roughly $36,000 USD at 2026 exchange). Add roughly £20,000 per year in LA rent and living. Full BFA landed cost: £190,000 to £210,000 over 3 years. Online individual courses at £1,050 per 10-week term are the sensible entry point for UK learners: same instructors, no visa needed. That is the route we would recommend before any Gnomon spend.
Honest weaknesses.
- Visa. UK learners cannot enrol on the in-person BFA without an F-1, which is a separate cost, application and rejection risk.
- LA cost of living. Add roughly £20,000 per year on top of tuition.
- Soho VFX studios (Framestore, DNEG, Cinesite) do not preferentially recruit Gnomon alumni over UK-based candidates. A Bournemouth NCCA BA gets you the same interviews for a quarter of the cost.
- USD-to-GBP swings can add 10 to 15 per cent overnight. The fee is not fixed in your currency.
Alternatives to consider.
- CGMA per course: Same US mentor pool, £550 to £790 per 10-week course. No visa, no relocation.
- Escape Studios: London-in-person, £8,900 to £11,500, directly connected to Soho studios.
- Bournemouth NCCA: UK BA, student-loan eligible, £9,250/yr, strong UK VFX pipeline.