FAQs

Yes, makeup FX and prosthetic skills are highly transferable, and many people use them to get jobs in other fields. In entertainment there are avenues such as wax works and live performance; haunts and theme parks for example, and there’s the medical simulation field building realistic training devices and doing moulage for casualty training. There’s a whole industry of technicians creating realistic cosmetic silicone devices such as prosthetic hands and feet for amputees, and now the world of robotics is utilising artists to make hyper-real skins for robots.

A subscription that gives you access to both the online courses and the Prosthetics Magazine digital library in one package.

Yes, there are discounts for groups of 10+ users for online courses and the Prosthetics Magazine digital library, and further savings if you combine the two subscriptions.

On the product page (Online Courses Gift Subscription, Prosthetics Magazine Digital Library Gift Subscription, or Combined Gift Subscription), use the form to choose the duration and start date of your gift subscription, supply the recipient’s details, and a custom message if desired. The gift subscription is paid for via the checkout with a single payment.

There is relevant content for all skill levels: newcomer, intermediate, and advanced.

Yes, there are discounts for groups of 10+ users for online courses and the Prosthetics Magazine digital library, and further savings if you combine the two subscriptions.

Neill has loads of advice for beginners covering everything from techniques to practice at home and which school exam subjects to choose, to whether YouTube tutorials are a reliable learning resource, and how to gain valuable experience.

Joe Nazzaro. Joe is an entertainment journalist who has been covering film and television makeup for nearly four decades. In addition to a 20-year stint on Makeup Artist, he also helped launch Prosthetics Magazine in 2015! He’s written countless magazine articles on the subject, as well as several makeup-related books, including Star Trek and Farscape. Learn more about Joe here.

Yes!

Yes!

When you purchase an online subscription, you will need to create an account by providing some basic information about yourself such as your name and address.

Any future purchases you make will be bought through this account.

A hybrid skillset refers to practical techniques such as sculpture and mould making combined with digital processes like 3D modelling and 3D printing. Using traditional techniques in combination with new technology in a prosthetics effects workflow, as many professional workshops now do, can optimise efficiency and creative output.

Yes, his sons David and Douglas provided a great deal of information and many photos for it, including a lot of family pictures of their childhood.

No, you can use any of the content as you wish, at any time.

No, gift subscriptions are for the timeframe of your choice and are paid for with a single payment.

The MA is taught in three study blocks and the written work is spread out across those blocks as follows:

• Study block one: reflective journal of 200 – 300 words per week for 10 weeks, making for an average total submission of around 2,500 words
• Study block two: industrial context presentation that includes a supporting research journal comprising 200 – 300 words per week, plus a project portfolio with an accompanying journal in the same format. Both are created over 10 weeks, and also average 2,500 words each in total
• Study block three: production module that requires a 2,000-word critical essay on your practical project, as well as 2,000 words of portfolio support work

Across the whole 12-months of the course, all the above written assignments amount to a total of around 11,000 – 12,000 words, and this written work accounts for 15% of your marks for the entire MA.

1. Unlimited access to all the online courses along with any new lesson videos added while you’re subscribed, plus two PDF downloads to accompany each individual lesson: the voiceover in writing, for future reference and translating into other languages, and a materials list with alternative products suggested for international customers where possible
2. Unlimited access to the Prosthetics Magazine digital library containing the complete collection of 23 issues published between 2014 and 2022

View sample PDFs

Yes, professional workshops and studios are always looking for people with a range of skills, of which sculpture is just one. They also need mould makers, silicone technicians, animatronics technicians, hair punchers, costume and fabrication technicians, 3D print and modelling technicians, to name only a few.

The only possibility is if some of our original stockists still have a few copies, so you could try contacting them, but it’s unlikely.

Yes, these subscriptions are for groups of 10+ users.

Click LOGIN/REGISTER in the top right of the website, then click FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD? and follow the prompts.

If you have a budget to work to, Neill will tailor this process to suit your budget, if you don’t have one, the cost is handled as follows:

Online-only consultations: You pay for an initial 8 hours of work during which Neill has a comprehensive online discussion with you to gather as much information as possible and do any necessary reading along with his own research if required. He then uses the remainder of the 8 hours for further work if needed – online discussions with other relevant staff at your institution for example – or to begin writing your consultation report.

Sometimes it’s possible to complete the report within the 8 hours, but if time beyond that is required, we will inform you at this stage how much extra time is needed. This time is always kept to a minimum and is paid for by the hour.

Alternatively, the cost of the 8 hours can be treated as a fixed price and Neill will provide what’s possible within that time.

Consultations that include a site visit: This starts with the site visit, which we work with you to arrange at a time when all the relevant staff at your institution are available, so Neill can cover as much as possible while he’s there. This is followed by the standard 8 hours of follow-up work and research as necessary, and report writing. Often 8 hours is sufficient for this after a site visit, but if extra time is required, we will notify you at this stage and additional hours are paid for hourly.

Alternatively, the cost of the 8 follow-up hours after the site visit can be treated as a fixed price and Neill will provide what’s possible within that time.

• Contextual Studies: extending your theoretical knowledge of key contextual concepts
• Building Blocks: your grounding in the fundamental skills and processes in prosthetics effects production
• Industrial Context: developing your professional portfolio and gaining exposure to real life working studios
• Breaking the Mould: experiment with your design and fabrication techniques to test the limits of prosthetic effects
• PFX Production: focus your studies on the production and creation of an industry-quality body of work

These modules are current or proposed new ones. Course structures and modules can change as part of curriculum enhancement and review. If a certain module is important to you, please discuss it with the course leader. For more module information, course aims, and assessment criteria, discover the full course details.

Yes! At £21.14 per month, you’ll save £2.35 per month off the price of buying subscriptions to the online courses and Prosthetics Magazine digital library individually.

Yes! The email to your giftee announcing the gift and supplying the account and user information will go to them immediately after your purchase.

No, they are for online viewing only.

Yes, if you have an active subscription, you can continue to access all the lessons on the site as many times as you like.

Each one is different and therefore needs an individual quote. The variables are the scope of the consultation brief, the location and length of a site visit, how much follow-up work and research are necessary, and how involved the report-writing is.

Our payment platform is Stripe, which accepts most payment cards.

No, but having a qualification proves that you’ve studied properly, preferably under experienced, knowledgeable teachers. This means you’re more likely to understand the industry, and graduating from a reputable course can give you credibility with potential employers.

The front cover is by Paul Garner, © Paul Garner Monster Art, and the back cover illustration is by Douglas Smith, © Douglas Smith.

Yes, the minimum length is one month.

Each lesson comes with two PDF downloads:

1. A written transcript of the voiceover for future reference and translating into other languages
2. A list of the materials used in that lesson with alternative product names were possible

View sample PDFs

We recommend age 12 and over.

No, as the magazine is no longer being published, print subscriptions are not available. Subscriptions to the complete digital library of all 23 issues that were published are still available, however.

This depends on how many users you have and how long you would like the subscription to run for. Prices are calculated per-person, per-month, the larger the group, the lower the cost.

Yes! Neill does all consultations for education providers.

No, you can order at any time, even on Christmas Day!

There are no set rates and many variables that affect artists’ pay. Rates vary widely according to skills, experience, and level of responsibility, as well as the size of the production and which country it’s in. There also tend to be different rates for workshop and on-set work.

100% of your assessment will be coursework. The assessment methods are:

• Portfolios of practical work
• Presentations
• Verbal reports
• Major practice project

Yes, our checkout accepts international currencies.

Yes, all the available issues are on sale at Neill’s Materials, and some of our other original stockists still have back issues in their shops around the world.

For orders of 10+ magazines, please contact us and we will give you a wholesale quote and organise the dispatch for you.

As a long-term industry employer, Neill offers this careers advice.

Yes, there is plenty of content for beginners. To find it, go to the BROWSE ALL COURSES page, set the SKILL LEVEL filter on the left to NEWCOMER, and the results will display all the courses designed for beginners.

The biggest savings are made with a combined subscription: online courses + Prosthetics Magazine digital library, paid for in a single, up-front payment.

We will email the recipient on the morning their subscription starts, to inform them of their gift, give them their account details, and supply them with user instructions. Your custom message will be included in this email if you chose to add one during the purchase process, and we will use your name as it appears in your billing information.

If you require help with arranging your teaching space or reviewing your facilities a site visit may well be needed, otherwise consultations can be done over Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Yes, you can only buy it on Amazon.

We welcome applications from those with relevant equivalent Level 6 qualifications. Our typical applicants hold an undergraduate degree of 2:2 or above, or comparable experience and a demonstrable interest in the subject. We’ll also welcome your application if you have formal or ‘certified’ learning (such as training courses not run by universities or colleges) and learning from work experience or self-study. This is called Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) and should have been gained within the last five years, with the same level of learning outcomes as our minimum entry qualifications.

APL applicants using experience to apply should note there is a £200 application fee for entry with advanced standing or with exemption from specific modules or credit.

No. There is no commitment, you can cancel your subscription at any time. When you cancel, your access to the content will remain available until the date your next payment is due, at which point it will cease, and that payment won’t be taken.

As long as you want them to. The online courses, magazine library, and combined subscriptions are rolling monthly products that you can cancel at any time, and gift subscriptions are for the duration of your choice, paid for with a single, up-front payment.

If English isn’t your first language, you’ll need to demonstrate English language skills that are sufficiently developed for successful completion of your studies. We accept a range of recognised English language qualifications that are equivalent to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) academic minimum score of 6.5 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. International applicants who require a student visa to study in the UK must take a recognised language test that is approved and vouched for by the university.

Our Applicant Services Team can help with any questions you have about study visas or suitable language tests.

This guidance on buying basic materials will provide you with enough to do several small projects. If you need specific advice about materials, the knowledgeable staff at Neill’s Materials can help.

The Covid-19 pandemic caused paper, printing and shipping costs to increase dramatically. We found ways to continue printing for as long as we could, but eventually it became financially unviable for us, sadly.

No, the magazine is no longer being published, so print subscriptions are not available.

Yes, for Neill’s time, and his travel and accommodation, which also needs to be booked by the client.

Yes, seamless access for users from authorised IP addresses is available, and is compatible with solutions such as EZproxy and Shibboleth.

Yes, it’s on sale in all Amazon marketplaces worldwide.

The industry isn’t specific to London, but the number of opportunities is greater where the most productions are taking place, so living out in the regions will be limiting when you’re starting out. Productions shoot all over the place, however, so once you’ve established yourself, you can live where you like and travel to the work.

Neill aims to provide the report as quickly as possible, usually within two weeks, but his time is subject to non-negotiable, last-minute changes in film and TV production schedules, so sometimes it can take a little longer.

Yes, if there are sufficient funds in your account, and you haven’t cancelled the subscription.

Please try these solutions:

1. Check you are logged in to your account and have an active digital magazine library subscription
2. Magazines may take a couple of minutes to load due to the size of the files so please allow time for the issue you’re viewing to fully load before continuing with the next step
3. Check you have good Internet connection and speed: the pages are large and will take longer or potentially fail to load if your connection is weak or the speed is very slow
4. Refresh the page which may help the display to adjust to your browser, here’s how:

• On a PC: hold down the Shift key and left-click the Reload or Refresh button (circular arrow) or press Ctrl + F5. If you’re using Windows Linux, press Ctrl + Shift + R
• On a Mac: press Command + Shift + R

5. Clear your browser’s cache/history. The method is different for different browsers; the steps to follow are easy to find by searching online
6. Check you’re using the most up-to-date browser version. Depending on which browser you have, you can usually find this under the About or Settings section in your browser’s dropdown menu

If you’re still experiencing problems viewing the online magazine, please contact us for technical support, stating which device, browser, and browser version you’re using, and provide as much detail as possible about what the issue is.

We will provide your group members with individual accounts on our website through which to access the content.

Not yet, but it potentially could be in the future.

If you wish to practice the techniques shown rather than just watching them, you will need some materials. The courses are designed to offer something for everyone’s budget. The lessons aimed at beginners only use clay, latex, and plaster for example, which are the cheapest materials available. The lessons covering more advanced techniques tend to require more expensive materials.

Subscribers have access to a materials list for every individual lesson on the site.

If you’re getting something from it and not losing money then yes. A student film where nobody on the crew is getting paid for example is ok, but if others are being paid when you’re not, that’s exploitation. As a minimum, all out of pocket expense such as materials and travel should be covered.

Dr Anna Misiak, Course Leader. Former Fulbright Scholar at the University of Southern California, Anna holds a PhD from the Polish Academy of Sciences. She is a senior lecturer in film and course coordinator for MA Film & TV as well as leading the MA Prosthetic Effects course. Anna’s authorial and research achievements are many; her research has always explored the interdependence between film and society, and she is currently working on her book on Polish documentary. Outside academia, she has translated several feature films and TV series (including Green Wing) for Polish television channels and worked as a book reviewer for literary magazines. Read more about Dr Anna Misiak

Bradley Greenwood, Lecturer. Brad has contributed to many film and TV projects as a designer, makeup effects artist, concept artist, and art director including Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy (for WETA workshop), George Miller’s Happy Feet, Zack Snyder’s Legend of the Guardians and DC’s Aquaman (for Fractured FX). He was a lead prosthetic makeup artist on Kong: Skull Island (for Bill Corso and Jason Baird) and assembled the 35 strong Vietnamese makeup and hair team. Brad is a published author of speculative fiction, has had work featured in sci-fi anthology ‘Fusion’, horror anthology ‘666’ for fantastic books publishing and contributed to Prosthetics Magazine. Read more about Bradley Greenwood

Neill Gorton, Industry Partner and Lecturer. Neill is founder and co-director of Millennium FX, one of Europe’s largest and most prolific prosthetics and creature FX companies, and Gorton Studio. In a career spanning 37 years he has won 13 industry accolades including several BAFTA and Royal Television Society awards and has been a jury member for both. Neill’s hundreds of credits start with iconic films like Saving Private Ryan and Gladiator, and on TV he’s probably best known for his work on the revival of Doctor Who. In academia, he is a visiting professor and holds an honorary doctorate at the University of Bolton and is an honorary fellow of the Arts University Bournemouth. Read more about Neill Gorton

Yes, you’re welcome to a 7-day free trial for tutors to review the content, please contact us to arrange this.

The multi-million-pound, industry-standard School of Film & Television offers professional facilities including:

• Life drawing studio
• Motion capture/immersive studio
• Workshops with rapid prototyping, 3D printing, casting, milling, welding and other fabrication facilities
• Twenty-seat computer suite with key software including Z-Brush, Maya, Adobe CC, and Substance Painter, amongst others
• Access to Millennium FX’s Southwest workshop
• Cinema with Christie M-Series HD projection and 7.2 surround sound

It’s extremely difficult to make the logistics of such courses work with Neill’s industry commitments, so technically the answer is no. Please feel free to contact us to see if we can fit something in for you however, but in the knowledge that availability is always very restricted, so regrettably it often isn’t possible.

We don’t, because there are so many, and our learners are based all over the world. Our own long-term supplier is Neill’s Materials, who recommend for their knowledge, customer service, and huge range of products, but there are a multitude of other suppliers out there.

No. Instagram is adequate to show your work, but set up a dedicated account, so it’s not mixed with personal pics. Use your own name (with FX after it if you like) rather than inventing a name which can be counterproductive if potential employers can’t find you.

Please log in to your account via the icon in the top right of the website which takes you to your account. In the left-hand menu click VIEW COURSES or VIEW MAGAZINES.

Potentially, but there are no plans for one at the moment.

No, the magazine is no longer published so print subscriptions are not available.

Tuition fees 2026-27

£11,950 per year – full-time UK (£250 acceptance fee payable. This is deducted from tuition fees)

£21,950 per year – full-time EU/international (£500-£2,500 acceptance fee payable depending upon your status. This is deducted from tuition fees)

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The university may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible. Study visits are included in your fees, but these figures do not include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees for September 2027 will be confirmed in summer 2026.

Yes, you can view the courses and digital magazines on phones, mobile devices, and computers. The magazine reader has full-screen viewer mode, pinch-screen zoom functionality and page-swiping for smaller, handheld screens.

Yes, on-set application is a job, but it’s a limiting career choice. The design and manufacture of prosthetics is the most time-heavy part of the process, so if you don’t have the workshop skills to be part of that, you’re limiting your employability; you’re more likely to be hired if you can do both aspects of the job. If your ambition is to make prosthetic application a career, however, adding straight makeup and hair to your skill set will increase the time you’re able to spend on jobs.

Because it’s not possible to calculate accurate quantities without knowing the exact dimensions you’re working to. The size of your projects will be different to those created by Neill in the lessons; everyone’s sculptures and moulds – even of the same subject – are different, and you may have chosen to create a completely different character altogether. So, we could only state exact measurements for the work Neill’s doing, and those amounts would not be correct for anyone else.

We do give techniques for estimating how much of any material you will need for your own projects, however.

The Facebook group Neill Gorton’s Makeup FX 911 is an accessible and reliable place to ask for technical advice. Many professional prosthetics artists, including Neill, share their knowledge and experience here. Please be sure you follow the posting rules.

Subscriptions can be cancelled up to 24 hours before the next payment is due and no further payments will be taken. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the next payment is due, that payment will be taken and the cancellation will occur automatically at the end of the following month.

Please follow these steps to cancel your subscription:

1. Log in to your account
2. Click MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS in the left-hand menu
3. In the list of subscriptions, click the red CANCEL button next to the subscription you wish to cancel

Once you have cancelled your subscription, the status will show as ‘pending cancellation’ until the date your next payment is due, when it will change to ‘cancelled’, and that payment won’t be taken. This is so you have access to the content for the whole month you’ve paid for in advance, rather than your access stopping on the day you cancel the subscription.

Yes, typical course costs include:

• A laptop along with a reliable broadband connection
• Materials you would like to use for your first two projects over and above those provided by the university (up to £150 for study block 1 and up to £250 for study block 2)
• Materials for your final project. In previous years, typical materials costs have been up to £500
• £300 – £500 for an optional study trip

If you need to bring equipment or materials with you, these will be outlined in your welcome letter.

Yes, we offer education providers excellent wholesale prices for orders of 10+ copies. Please contact us for more information.

The Facebook group Neill Gorton’s Makeup FX 911 is an accessible and reliable place to ask for technical advice. Many professional prosthetics artists, including Neill, share their knowledge and experience here. Please be sure to follow the posting rules.

The fundamentals of animatronics are engineering skills and mechanical knowhow: levers, gears, pulleys, etc. These basic engineering principles are the same wherever they’re applied and are the foundations on which animatronics skills are built. Learning animatronics isn’t straightforward, however. Find ways to approach it here.

There are loans, awards, graduate discounts, and alternative funding sources for postgraduate studies. Find out what postgraduate funding is available to you on the university’s postgraduate funding page.

Once you have cancelled your subscription, the status will show as ‘pending cancellation’ until the date your next payment is due, when it will change to ‘cancelled’ and that payment won’t be taken. This is so you have access to the content for the whole month you’ve paid for in advance, rather than your access stopping on the day you cancel the subscription.

No, for the purpose of keeping the courses affordable. There is a wealth of content on offer at a very reasonable price, and adding tutor access to this would make them a very different product that would be financially prohibitive for many. The courses are designed for self-directed learning, meaning they’re comprehensive and easy to follow.

If you have specific technical questions about your work, the Facebook group Neill Gorton’s Makeup FX 911 is an accessible and reliable place to ask for advice. Many professional prosthetics artists, including Neill, share their knowledge and experience here. Please be sure to follow the posting rules.

Like CGI before it, AI is no doubt going to be an important part of filmmaking in the future, but there’s no sign yet of it replacing prosthetics and makeup FX. When CGI and digital FX started becoming common in filmmaking, many people were concerned that they would impact our work, but 25 years later there’s more practical prosthetics and creature FX being done than ever before.

This is because actors and directors still like to work with practical elements; actors like to actually look different rather than just pretend to look different, and they like to have physical props and creatures to act against, rather than performing alongside a ball on a string on a green screen stage. It is also widely recognised that the look of prosthetics on-screen is preferred by many viewers, and the psychology of how practical effects contribute more to the suspension of disbelief than digital ones is well understood, meaning there is likely to always be a demand for them.

So rather than be concerned about these technologies, we are instead using them and incorporating them into our work. In prosthetics and creature FX we are already using AI to help with our design process, and we use digital techniques such as 3D modelling and printing to help us construct our practical creations.

Applications are handled by the university. If you’re ready to apply you can do so online here, or if you need further information before applying, you can request it here.

A subscription includes access to a PDF download of the transcript of every lesson, which is the entire voiceover in writing. These voiceover transcripts are ideal for translating into any language using online translation tools; Google translate is free to use for example.

The university’s creative community is spread across two campuses in neighbouring towns: Falmouth and Penryn. Both are vibrant hubs with an amazing cultural and social scene. From independent shopping to gourmet restaurants, quirky pubs to buzzing cocktail bars, and of course the stunning beaches that are one of Falmouth’s most famous trademarks, there’s something for everyone.

Falmouth’s postgraduate community is welcoming and innovative, with access to support services, SU events and societies. You’ll experience exciting challenges and fresh perspectives, as you forge your career in the creative industries. Discover more about student life

No, as these courses are designed for self-directed learning and we don’t assess your work, we don’t issue certificates.

The university will help with any questions you have about anything from applications to open days, accommodation, funding and more. Please refer to their extensive list of contacts here or use FalBot, the chat bot in the bottom right corner of the website that looks like this:

1. Check you are logged in to your account; you won’t be able to view the videos if you’re logged out
2. Check your subscription is still active by visiting the MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS page in your account
3. Ensure your Internet connection or Wi-Fi signal is adequate for streaming
4. If the videos seem to continually buffer, try reducing the video quality using the settings icon on the right of the menu at the bottom of the video display screen
5. Try refreshing your browser
6. Clear your browser’s cache or history (this may require you to log back into your account afterwards)

If none of these actions work, please email us, letting us know which device and browser you’re using so we can help.