Our approach to education is based on the principles of continuous learning and professional development. That is why we have designed a diverse program, starting from the Essential Courses suitable for junior artists to Specialized Education for seniors. All our curriculums are in line with the current needs and trends of the CG industry.
The modular structure of our courses prevents students from making beginner mistakes, wasting time learning irrelevant tools, or getting insufficient knowledge. Our students gain a complete insight into the opportunities provided in the CG industry and a solid basis for further career development.
The admission to Crater Training Center is open throughout the year. Every course starts when we reach the optimal number of interested students, so we recommend that you follow our course calendar.
Our courses are available in Serbian and English and are intended for students from Serbia and abroad.
Our courses are attended live in the classroom or online. In some cases, these two methods can be combined.
Courses are held in groups of 5 to 12 participants every week, according to the agreed schedule of duration and frequency. The technical specifications are described below.
CLASSROOM SETTING
Traditional courses are delivered in person at the school premises in Belgrade, Serbia.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
None. All hardware and software provided by Crater Training Center are at the students’ disposal during class time. Students can also use the computers for practice every workday from 10 AM to 5 PM.
ONLINE COURSES
Over time, we have developed a successful methodology for online learners. Up to 5 students per group are following the classroom lecture in real-time while being able to interact with the tutor and other students simultaneously.
Note: If you cannot meet the technical requirements for installing software on your computer, you can listen to the lessons by connecting to the computer in our classroom (which requires a bullet-proof internet connection).
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
In case you are using personal computer:
• A computer that meets the minimum requirements for working in the software you want to learn (find it on the software website)
• Installed software
• Two screens recommended – the one for practical work and the other one to keep track of the lecture. You can use two monitors, laptop/tablet and desktop, or connect a TV to your computer as a second screen.
• Stable internet with a minimum speed of 10/3 mb/s
• Microphone and headphones
• Keyboard and mouse (+ pen tablet depending on the course)
In case you need remote access to the school computer:
• Two screens recommended – the one for practical work and the other one to keep track of the lecture. You can use two monitors, laptop/tablet and desktop, or connect a TV to your computer as a second screen.
• Stable internet with a minimum speed of 10/3 mb/s
• Microphone and headphones
• Keyboard and mouse (+ pen tablet depending on the course)
PRICING
Our prices are divided into two categories:
Category 1 – for students from Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia.
Category 2 – for students from any other country following a course in English.
For local students, payment is to be submitted in RSD, according to the Euro/RSD conversion rate issued by the National Bank of Serbia on the day of invoicing. For international payments, we issue invoices in EUR or USD.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Full upfront payment:
For upfront payments in full, we offer a 5% discount.
Payment in installments:
The first installment is paid when filling in the registration form according to the instructions. Other installments are paid monthly throughout the course duration.
Additional discounts:
Participants willing to attend more courses receive additional discounts:
5% on the second course (or 10% for full payment)
10% on the third and each subsequent (i.e., 15% for full payment)
Prerequisites for enrolling in our courses are:
- basic computer knowledge
- working knowledge of English
- working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop software, which you will prove by enclosing previous works or a certificate when you enroll (if you do not know this software, you can learn it from us in the Photoshop course).
To attend any of the specialized VFX and Game Art courses at Crater, it is recommended that you complete the 3D Essentials course in our center. If you consider yourself skilled enough in 3D modeling, we would ask you to enclose your portfolio when enrolling so that lecturers can assess whether you are ready to attend our specialized courses.
Certain courses require advanced knowledge and mastery of specific software, which is indicated in the menu on the right side of the course page.
If you want to apply for any of our courses, please fill in the Application of Interest.
After filling out the application, you will receive an email in which we will explain the enrollment procedure and inform you about the start dates of the course for the next group. If you have any doubts, you can schedule a consultation with our coordinators at any time before enrollment.
The admission to Crater Training Center is open throughout the year. Every course starts when we reach the optimal number of interested students, so we recommend that you follow our course calendar.
1. Do I have to pay for the whole price of the course right upon enrolling or can I pay in installments?
In order to have your spot guaranteed, it is necessary to fill out EXPRESSION OF INTEREST and make a payment – whether that would be a full payment or the first installment. (see PRICING AND PAYMENT OPTIONS for more information)
2. If I opt for paying in installments, what is the final due date for completing the payment?
The last installment has to be paid 10 days before the end of the course.
3. What is Early Bird enrollment?
You qualify for an Early Bird discount if you apply for a course 2 months upfront and pay for the course in full or the first installment. If this is your first course with us, you save 15%, and if you have already attended courses at our school, you receive a 20% discount.
4. What happens if the course gets postponed or canceled for a reason? Am I still eligible for a group discount in the next term?
Everybody who reserved their spot on the course that is postponed for justified reasons can use the money they have paid for the course in the next term for the same price. If you wish for your money to be refunded, you will have to pay the full price for the next course (some exceptions may apply depending on special offers)
5. What is the deadline for applying for Early Bird enrollment?
The deadline is 2 MONTHS before the start of the course. For example, if the course starts on October 1., the last day for applying and paying would be August 1. of that year.
6. Which courses offer the Early Bird discount?
The offer applies to the courses VFX in Houdini, Matte Painting and Environment Design, and Digital Compositing.
7. If I apply and reserve my spot on a course during the Early Bird time frame, but for some reason I am unable to join the current group, will I have to pay the full price for the next term?
In case you have to listen to the course in the next term and not with the current group that you applied for, your Early Bird application will still be valid and you will not have to pay the full price. However, considering the fact that Early Bird offer only stands for specialized courses where lecturers dedicate a large chunk of time, we cannot guarantee when exactly will the next term start.
Our school doors remain open even during the summer! We use the break from the courses to organize internship programs realized with the help of mentors coming from our respected partners from VFX and game dev.
Summer internship at Crater Training Center
Every summer, we organize an internship for our students, as a simulation of a professional studio workflow. Here you will have the opportunity to hone your artistic skills under the wing of our colleagues from Crater Studio and get acquainted with the processes and dynamics of work in the ever-expanding VFX industry.
After completing an internship at Crater, the best interns often receive their first job offer in local creative studios and agencies, or our very own Crater Studio. Click here to read what this experience looks like firsthand!
Educational programs and initiatives in cooperation with partner companies
We try to realize at least one educational initiative every year and thus support the new generation of digital artists who will succeed in enriching their projects through practical work on a multidisciplinary project.
In 2019, we successfully collaborated with the Erasmus+ programme and the Escape Studios (London) when we provided several British students with a three-month internship experience. Check out their thoughts on the whole ordeal on Crater’s YouTube channel.
In cooperation with Nordeus, in 2021, we organized the GameDev Summership, which produced two original mini-games, later exhibited at the Museum of Science and Technology in Belgrade.
In June 2022, we launched the Virtual Environments Lab, an educational program focusing on the Unreal Engine 5 workflow. All the original environments will be used in the production of the sixth CGA conference.
Taking part in the CGA conference
We are one of the organizers of CGA Belgrade, the first international computer graphics conference in the region, which brings together key players in VFX, game design, VR/AR, and digital arts. In addition to offering valuable insights, the conference is a great place to meet industry professionals, and our attendees are the first to receive an invitation to volunteer on-location.
OFFERING COURSES FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS
