How the RTS bursary supports my creative journey at Escape Studios

Hiya! My name is Jesse and I’m currently studying The Art of Visual Effects, but after finding a brighter passion for Technical Art, I’m planning to restart my degree to study Technical Art for Games and VFX at Escape Studios next year. I have always had a strong interest in all things film and television, especially the technical aspects of it. I am also a Royal Television Society (RTS) Scholar, under their Digital Innovation scheme.  

In college, I studied a triple BTEC in Film and Television Production. When it came to applying for higher education, I knew I wanted to do something in the VFX field as that was the unit I enjoyed most during my course - but what was also important to me was that I continued to get practical, hands-on experience, rather than constant lectures and note-taking. That’s where Escape came in. I simply Googled “Best VFX courses in the UK,” and Escape Studios came up first. 

When I clicked onto the Escape website and saw their studio-based learning, it really appealed to me, and I just knew that this was where I wanted to go. Escape Studios really surprised me in comparison to other higher education providers with how industry-focused it really is - the opportunities that you are given access to here are really valuable, which is why it was so important to me to end up here. 

However, I am from a small town in the North West, one of the most deprived towns in England. Moving to London felt impossible financially. My college tutor introduced me to the Royal Television Society, which is the UK’s leading forum for the discussion, analysis, and celebration of the TV industry. I applied for their Digital Innovation scheme, and was selected as one of 10 students in the UK to be an RTS Scholar. This was huge!  

The RTS has supported me financially, greatly easing the pressure and making my whole move possible, which has also been a great boost for my confidence. With their help, I was also able to build a custom-made PC, which is able to run all the industry-standard programs covered at Escape Studios, further supporting my studies. Being both an RTS Scholar and a student on such an industry-focused course - I couldn’t ask for a better start in the industry. 

I’m most excited to continue my studies at Escape to further expand my industry knowledge and skillset. Compared to before, I feel much more excited about the future. The confidence the RTS and Escape Studios have given me has been life changing. My background feels less like a pity, and more of a blessing - and I’m really excited to see what the rest of the future holds! 

Applications for the RTS Bursary Scheme are now open and will close on Wednesday 29th July. At Escape Studios, we offer a range of undergraduate scholarships and bursaries subject to eligibility - Jesse also receives The Escape Bursary in support of her studies.