"The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it"
UPDATES ON STUDY PERMIT APPLICATIONS
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has released significant updates regarding the Study Permit Application process. As this policy announcement has just been made public and will undergo further clarification in the coming weeks, we advise regularly checking IRCC’s page for the latest updates. As of the time of this publication, the updates include:
• An increase in the minimum financial requirement for study permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2024.
• A new requirement for study permit applications to include an attestation letter from the province or territory where students intend to study. For Lost Boys students, this would typically be the province of British Columbia. Applications submitted on or after January 22, 2024, without an attestation letter will be returned.
• Eligibility for a spousal open work permit while pursuing studies is limited to spouses of students enrolled in master’s and PhD programs, rendering Lost Boys programs ineligible.
Please note that the situation may undergo further clarification in the coming weeks. For the most recent updates, refer to IRCC’s official page.
HOW TO APPLY
At Lost Boys, we want to provide the best way for our prospective students to complete a strong application form. To do that, we have assembled exemplary Admissions Advisors that will be your guide in the application process.
Our goal is to create a smooth application process that leaves you confident about your application in joining Lost Boys. We want to be part of your journey, and to do that, we need to get to know you.
The Process
Step 1: Choose Your Program
After you have committed to joining Lost Boys, it is important for you to choose the right program. Go through each of our program section to see what suits you best and what you would like to expand your knowledge on. In addition, come to a decision on the career path you would like to take whether it is becoming a Compositor, an FX TD, or a Lighting Artist.
Step 2: Prepare Your Portfolio & Personal Letter
Once you have chosen your program, it’s time to prepare your application to attend Lost Boys. Contact our Admissions Advisors by filling out the Contact Form to help you through this process as it may feel a bit overwhelming. Carefully review the program requirements and all the required application criteria that you need to meet. Our advisors will ensure that this will be a smooth process for you!
Step 3: Submit Your Application
Now that you have everything ready to go, it’s time to submit your application to us for review. You may find yourself worried about your submission and feel nervous about our response. Don’t worry! Our advisors will help you each and every part of this process while also giving you consistent feedback on how your application is doing by email.
Step 4: Student Interview
If your application meets the requirement for Lost Boys, we will contact you for a brief interview to get to know you. We ultimately want a passionate individual that is driven to be successful. However, the most important part of this interview is to get to know your personality and how you will fit into our school. In addition, some preliminary skill tests may be applied depending on your skill-set or familiarity with the program you have chosen.
Step 5: Acceptance Letter
You did it! You will receive a letter of acceptance through your email inviting you to join us here at Lost Boys. We can’t wait to be part of your VFX journey and be there every step of the way to support you in this process.
WHAT YOU NEED
General Requirements
To be accepted into Lost Boys, you will need to meet the general requirements in attending our institution. Each program may have additional special requirements that you can find in the program section of the website. We highly recommend that you contact our advisors so that they can guide you through the application process and ensure you meet the requirements necessary to attend our school.
Vancouver
Scan, photocopy, or snapshot of high school transcript or proof of age over 19 years such as birth certificate, passport, driver’s license or college transcript.
You will need to submit a financial plan to ensure you have arranged sufficient tuition and living costs for the duration of your studies. If you need assistance on this, please contact our advisors and they will guide you through this process.
Your portfolio should be a demo reel showcasing your skills in the specific program you are looking to apply in.
To do this, you must include 8 – 10 pieces of your best work this includes basic compositing and any other medium, and
can include photography, drawing, comic or graphic design, painting, sculpture, website design, and/or digital imagery. For specific detail about what each program is looking for in your portfolio, please click the program title below OR visit the program site using the menu bar above.
Advanced VFX Compositing Program
Students interested in the Advanced Compositing program should have some photo or video editing experience or have basic understanding of compositing software such as After Effects or Nuke. Students that have no previous Nuke experience can always check out some training videos at the Online VFX Learning Portal so they can feel better prepared.
Effects Technical Director (FXTD) Program
It is recommended that all applicants interested in this program should have a basic operational understanding of at least one 3D software package. (Houdini, Maya, Max, Cinema 4D, or Blender, etc.)
It is recommended that all applicants interested in this program should have a basic operational understanding of at least one 3D software package. (Houdini, Maya, Max, Cinema 4D, or Blender, etc.) Also, it is also recommended but not necessary that students who are accepted into the lighting program own a DSLR Camera to bring to class.
A personal statement describes your interests, influences, and career goals. This is where you would help us learn who you are and what we should know about you as a person. Furthermore, a letter of recommendation that can be from an employer, teacher, or instructor.
Please contact our advisors for assistance in this section.
All students will be required to have medical insurance for the duration of their studies with us at Lost Boys.
Canadian Students: please check with your home province for coverage in British Columbia.
International Students: you will need to purchase health insurance until you are covered under the Medical Services Plan. Please contact our advisor to understand how to apply for Medical Insurance.
NOTE: By the law of British Columbia, all students are eligible for Medical Services Plan after living in British Columbia for three months.
For International Students (Non-Canadian Residents)
All Lost Boys’ programs require international students to obtain a study permit. Please refer to the Canadian Immigration website before applying to find out the requirements necessary. We highly recommend all International students to contact us through our Contact Form so that we can guide you through the application process.
Students from outside of Canada wishing to attend Lost Boys School of VFX will require a Student Visa issued by Canada Immigration.
There is a nominal fee of $150.00 CAD for the Student Authorization/Visa which is paid to Citizen and Immigration Canada. When you apply for your visa, you will likely require the following for submission:
- A letter of acceptance for your program of study.
- Evidence of financial support during your study period, i.e., a notarized letter or affidavit from your bank or parents, or student loan documents.
- Evidence of intentions to return to your country of origin after your studies are complete.
- Evidence of prepaid tuition fees, your tuition receipt or a certified cheque or bank draft payable to the school. Proof of citizenship, i.e., passport or birth certificate.
- Proof of citizenship, i.e., passport or birth certificate.
- Include the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) Number on your study permit application.
- Vancouver DLI: O19274961822
All our programs are taught in English. If you feel that you meet the speaking and listening requirements but have not updated your testing, you can request a telephone or virtual evaluation with the administration staff. It is in your best interest to ensure you understand what is being explained and get the most out of the program.
The following information is to give a general idea of what we are looking for in terms of English proficiency. For students whose first language is not English, below are the minimum scores required from any one of the following tests. We may also require a telephone or in-person interview.
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-G 2014): Test taken before or after April 2014: Level 6 www.celpip.ca is a Canadian English language test for immigration to Canada, Canadian citizenship, and for admission to Canadian universities and colleges.
- Equivalent Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) score of 6
- Canadian Academic English Language assessment (CAEL): overall score of 60
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 75 internet-based (iBT), 210 computer-based (CBT), or 520 paper-based (PBT)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (academic) :overall band score of 6, with a minimum of 5.5 in each section
- PTE Academic: minimum overall score of 55 , and a minimum of 50 in speaking and listening
- Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC):700
If you are not confident in your English skills there are many ESL schools in Vancouver and Montreal. You could spend a month prior to your studies brushing up your English skills and enjoying the city.
These are just a few of the schools available:
FINANCES
Any questions about tuition, payments, and financial aid, please contact us and we will be happy to assist you.
Tuition Payment Schedule Breakdown
We understand that choosing a high level education career pathway is a big decision. More importantly, committing to investing money into your education can potentially be a costly venture. Please visit our Experience page for a breakdown of the value of being a Lost Boy and what is included in the tuition package. Furthermore, Lost Boys Advisors continue to offer different ways in structuring your payments while also guiding you through potential options for financial assistance.
There is a non-refundable $100.00 CAD fee that can be paid by cheque, Visa, Mastercard or PayPal. Application Fee payments will be paid in full when submitting your application. An advisor will assist you during the application process if you have any questions.
Upon acceptance to Lost Boys, a seat deposit is due 30 days after your acceptance email is received and your enrollment contract has been signed. 50% of the tuition is due a minimum of 60 days prior to the start of the program. If you require any clarification, please contact us.
All remaining balance of the tuition is due at the halfway point of the program. However, students always have the option to pay the tuition in full at any point throughout the duration of the program OR make payments as per your agreed upon financial plan.
For tuition payments, we accept cheques, money orders, bank drafts and wire transfers. In the case of a Student Loan, payments will be accepted directly from the Lender.
Financial Aid for Canadians
As we are an Accredited Institution, Canadian students may be eligible for Financial Assistance from the provincial or federal government student loans program. More information can be found at the Student Aid BC Website.
- Each Country and Financial Institution appears to have different rules on issuing student loans. Please check with you Country, Province/State/Districts or Regions.
- Listed by Province:
British Columbia
Alberta
Ontario
Quebec
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
New Brunswick
Newfoundland
Nunavut
Yukon
North West Territories
Canada and Provincial Student Loans are available to Canadian Citizens and Landed Immigrants/Permanent Residents who are enrolled in a full-time program. Government Student Loan funding is based on tuition fees, books, supplies, living expenses, income and available resources and reaches a maximum yearly level that varies province by province.
Applications are available by calling Canada Student Loans toll-free at 1-888-815-4514.
General information on the Canada Student Loan program is available at:
Canadian Government Website
* We do not offer any scholarships at this time.
LLP is a program that allows Canadian residents to withdraw funds from RRSPs, without penalty, to fund education. To apply, you must have a letter of acceptance to a full-time program from LOST BOYS. The LLP allows you to withdraw up to $10,000 per year (to a maximum of $20,000) for you or your spouse without the withdrawal being taxed. You have up to ten years to pay back your withdrawal.
A registered education savings plan (RESP) is a, tax-deferred, savings vehicle generally used by parents to save for their children’s post-secondary education. Contributions to an RESP for a child beneficiary may be eligible for Canada Education Savings Grant payments (CESG). Investment earnings on contributions and CESG payments can grow tax-free until they are distributed and included in the recipient’s income and taxed accordingly. In most cases, the recipient is a student whose total income results in a minimal amount of tax.
CIBC and The Royal Bank of Canada offers student lines of credit.
Useful CIBC Links:
Student Lines of Credit
Useful Royal Bank Links:
Student Banking
Student Lines of Credit
Student Banking Package
These student lines of credit often start at a minimum of $1,000.00 CAD:
TD Canada Trust
CIBC
Scotiabank
HSBC
NOTE: The financial options that have been presented have no affiliation with Lost Boys and are listed for information only. Please read carefully the full text (and the fine print) of any contract in which you engage and be sure you understand it before you sign it. Lost Boys is not responsible for terms and conditions imposed by third-party services.
Costs of Living
Students may use the following examples as a guideline to estimate their costs of living during the school year. Our table provides some average monthly expenses and is intended to help you project your cost of living in Vancouver.
When considering the cost of education it is important to consider cost of living. However, costs of living will depend on the activities in which you choose to participate. The provided information are to be taken as average cost of living and not as absolute costs you need to match.
All Costs are averaged and calculated by reputable online sources. However, it will not accurately depict the lifestyle that you may live. Thus, what you see here is a rough idea of what you may spend but not exactly! There are many economic ways of saving money that we can help find you.
Average Single Bedroom Housing Ranges From $1200.00 to $2,234.80 per month
We recommend housing with other students to lower the cost of housing down to $800-$1000 per month!
Phone = $75 per month
Transportation = $95 per month (fixed)
Groceries and household items = $317 per month
Entertainment and dining out = $270 per month
Social Events = $120 per month
Health and fitness = $79 per month
Overall: A single person monthly cost averages around $1,177.26 CAD without rent. This is a single person not a single student.
