# 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
# software / after-effects
Best After Effects courses in 2026: UK learner’s guide.
After Effects is Adobe’s motion-graphics compositor: 2D animation, kinetic type, VFX compositing, UI animation. It is the near-universal timeline tool in UK ad agencies (Nexus, ManvsMachine, Blink Ink) and every broadcast graphics team. Priced at £25.28/mo single-app or £56.98/mo full Creative Cloud. Learning curve is gentle, ceiling is deceptively high.
Skill level: beginner to advanced £25.28/mo single-app, £56.98/mo Creative Cloud
Typical career use.
After Effects is the daily driver for motion designers at Nexus Studios, Passion Pictures, ManvsMachine, Blink Ink, Buck London and every broadcast graphics house (Sky, BBC, ITV). It is also the compositor of choice for indie VFX, YouTube content and social-first video. If your target career is UK motion design or broadcast, After Effects is not optional.
Junior motion designer salary in London runs £26,000 to £34,000. Mid-level (3 to 5 yrs) sits at £38,000 to £52,000. Senior and freelance day rates climb quickly once you can ship agency-standard reels: £350 to £550/day is common at 5 years in.
After Effects is weaker for feature VFX (Soho uses Nuke) and 3D character animation (Maya, Blender). For Framestore, DNEG or MPC pipeline seats, learn Nuke instead. For Nexus, ManvsMachine or a freelance motion career, After Effects first.
Related courses worth your time.
- School of Motion Animation Bootcamp: 12 weeks, £1,320. The canonical UK-recognised motion-design foundation.
- Domestika After Effects bundle: Self-paced, £14 to £99/course. Best for testing motion design.
- Skillshare motion library: £119/yr, mixed quality but strong plugin-specific content.
- Udemy plugin courses: £15 to £150 for specific expression / plugin depth.