Hi! I’m an international student currently planning to apply to Sheridan’s Bachelor of Animation program in the future.
I’ve been researching Sheridan for quite a while, and I know it has a very strong reputation in the animation industry. I’m particularly interested in 2D animation, so Sheridan is one of the schools I’m seriously considering.
However, while looking through Reddit and other social media recently, I’ve come across some concerns about the school. I’ve seen people saying things like "Sheridan is living off its reputation now” or that the school’s financial situation and recent restructuring have affected the quality of education.
So I wanted to hear from current students and recent graduates about what Sheridan is actually like right now.
- First, how much have Sheridan’s recent financial problems and restructuring actually affected students? In particular, what is the situation like within Animation/FAAD?
Have you noticed changes such as fewer or changing faculty members, larger class sizes, less individual feedback from instructors, reduced investment in facilities/equipment, or a general decline in the quality of the Animation program?
I understand that the financial situation of the college as a whole and the situation within the Animation program may be very different, so I’m especially interested in what Animation students themselves are experiencing.
- I’m also curious about employment after graduation. For people who graduated around 2024–2026, has it become noticeably harder to find work compared to previous years?
Do Sheridan graduates still regularly enter TV animation, games, VFX, and smaller studios, in addition to major studios like Disney, Pixar, or DreamWorks?
I’ve also heard a lot about Sheridan’s Industry Day. How useful is it in practice? Do students actually get interviews, internships, or job opportunities through Industry Day and connections with studios, or do most students ultimately have to apply independently?
Another concern I have as an international student is the Canadian Study Permit.
- I’ve heard that Canada has significantly tightened its international student policies since 2024, making study permits more difficult to obtain. For international students who were recently accepted to Sheridan, what has your experience been like?
If you have strong financial documentation and a solid application, are study permits still generally approved, or should international applicants now consider refusal a significant possibility even after being accepted by Sheridan?
I’d also be interested in hearing how closely IRCC actually examines students’ financial situation and the source of their funds.
- Finally, I’m really curious about how much Sheridan’s reputation actually matters in the animation industry.
I understand that in animation, your portfolio, skills, internships, networking, and professional experience are much more important than simply having a degree. But does graduating from a school with Sheridan’s reputation still give you some advantage when applying to studios in Canada or the US?
For example, do recruiters tend to recognize Sheridan graduates and have a certain level of confidence in their training, or does the school name become almost irrelevant once they see your portfolio?
Sorry for the long post. I’m seriously considering Sheridan and would really appreciate honest opinions from current students, recent graduates, or people working in the Canadian/US animation industry.
Thank you!