The following is an overview of some of the main applications and whether there is a student version available for use on personal machines. Please note that sometimes the software publisher may remove or alter the terms, in case of conflicting information with this page then their info is authoritative. If you are looking for something not listed here, it is generally easy to find the information by searching for “<application name> student edition” or similar terms in your search engine of choice.
IMPORTANT: If you are running software at home and intending to use the same files on Escape workstations, you must ensure that you DO NOT update beyond the versions installed in the college. Like most large organisations we do not immediately install the newest versions as soon as they are available, and if you receive a prompt to do so on your personal machine you should defer it. We will not perform a rollout or install a different version “just on this one machine” in cases where a file is from a newer version.
Please be aware that the transaction is between you and the seller of the software. We cannot provide support or intervene on your behalf, beyond providing you with a signed letter stating the terms of your study. If this is required, please contact Student Services for Undergraduates or Student Experience for short courses.
Note: It is not legal to use student/graduate versions for ANY commercial or paid purposes. Pay close attention to the terms and conditions for each application.
Remote Workstation: This refers to connecting to an Escape Workstation over the VPN and using it remotely. This is the recommended way to work - when logged in to an Escape workstation, either physically onsite or using the Remote Workstation method, all applications are available (up to the seat count for each one).
VPN Licences: This refers to "borrowing" of our educational licences over the VPN to enable the application on your home machine and is permitted for students studying online-only courses. Only some applications support this.
Autodesk Maya / Mudbox
Availability: Almost all Autodesk software is available for free to students. You'll need to verify and periodically renew.
Notes/Restrictions: Must use College email address to apply for Student Account.
For Maya, a notice appears when opening/saving reminding that this is a version for learning only. Files are compatible with equivalent deployed version installed in Escape, and for submission to network rendering.
Link: https://www.autodesk.com/education/free-software/
VPN Licences: Not available for the main applications, please use Student licences
Foundry Nuke/Modo/Mari/Katana (Education Collective)
Availability: We can issue an educational home licence for students on some of our courses (including undergraduate programmes). Please contact Technical Support (NOT Student Services) to request.
Notes/Restrictions: Functionally identical to commercial/educational versions
Student: https://escapestudios.ac.uk/portal
Graduate: https://www.foundry.com/education/students
VPN Licences: These are available in some cases where it is not possible to issue a home license.
Maxon One (ZBrush, Cinema4D, Redshift)
This package includes student licences for all of the above in one package. It requires payment of a processing fee (to Maxon, not to Escape) and includes one year of access to these applications on your personal (non-Escape) computer for learning/training use.
https://support.maxon.net/hc/en-us/articles/1500006330521
A PDF guide on how to verify is linked below, if you do not have access please log in via https://escapestudios.ac.uk/portal and then try again:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ECY6MoQ6MsHHDSSSgvZVb_KrGOhvJRxJ/view
Pixologic (Maxon) ZBrush
Availability: Several choices are now available. A student license of the full Zbrush can be obtained as part of the Maxon One subscription - see separate section. Separate from this, ZBrush Core is a cheaper version with a subset of features from the full ZBrush. ZBrush Core Mini is a completely free version with most features removed but basic sculpting functionality still present. It might be possible to still purchase "perpetual" student licenses but these are likely being phased out.
Notes/Restrictions: Zbrush core feature comparison to full can be found here. ZBrush Core Mini comparison to Core can be found here.
Retailers: https://store.pixologic.com/zbrush-academic-license.html
Maxon One: https://support.maxon.net/hc/en-us/articles/1500006330521
Core: https://zbrushcore.com/index.php
Core Mini (Free): https://zbrushcore.com/mini/
VPN Licences: Floating educational licences can be "borrowed" from Escape over the VPN, however your usage may be restricted when they are needed for classes. Also the version may be older than the most recent live release.
SideFX Houdini
Availability: Anyone, even non-students, can download the “Apprentice” edition for free from SideFX.
Notes/Restrictions: When used in Apprentice mode, the software is almost completely functional with a few nodes such as Alembic export unavailable, and renders are limited in resolution and watermarked. However the non-commercial files generated from this version are intentionally compatible with the special Educational edition we run in Escape. Whilst open on a college machine, these same files are freed from those restrictions, all nodes are available and render limitations are not applied.
Link: https://www.sidefx.com/download/
Home Licences: As we are a Houdini Certified school, licences can be generated for personal machine use during term time for modules/projects that use Houdini. Please ask your tutor/studio assistant who can contact us if they are unsure of the process.
VPN Licenses: Available but not really needed any more due to to other options
Adobe Substance Suite
Availability: The Substance Suite (Painter/Designer/Sampler) is currently available as a free license for students, renewed on a yearly basis
Notes/Restrictions: As noted above, ensure the version is kept to the same as that installed in Escape
Link: https://substance3d.adobe.com/education/
VPN Licences: Not available, use offer as described above
Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Premiere, After Effects etc)
Availability: A slightly reduced price cloud subscription is available for students direct from Adobe, however you might prefer one of the non-student cheaper options if you don't need all the applications. Escape campus licences can NOT be used or shared to personal machines.
Notes/Restrictions: The eligibility is more restrictive than most other software, so check carefully if you are able to get the student rate. A letter from Student Services (UG Programmes) or Student Experience (Short course programmes) noting your method and duration of study might be needed.
Link: https://www.adobe.com/uk/creativecloud/buy/students.html
VPN Licences: Not available. Although you must log into an Adobe account to use the software on campus workstations, no applications can be assigned to that account.
Alternatives: You can access the CC Suite from Escape workstations either onsite or remotely, but for non-Escape machines Krita or GIMP could be tried as a free alternative to Photoshop, or Davinci Resolve for video (see separate section for Resolve). Another application that covers much of Photoshop's functionality is Affinity Photo which is not free, but a one-off purchase (which will be valid for commercial use) and is occasionally sold as a reduced cost.
Maxon Cinema4D
Availability: Available as part of the student Maxon One subscription (also includes Zbrush)
Notes/Restrictions: No known issues
Maxon One: https://support.maxon.net/hc/en-us/articles/1500006330521
VPN Licences: Available if on a course that uses this application
Science-D-Visions 3DEqualizer
Availability: A Personal Learning Edition is available for free download
Notes/Restrictions: Tracks cannot be exported, and files created using the PLE are NOT compatible with the version used in Escape. Use for learning purposes only.
Link: https://www.3dequalizer.com/?site=downloads
VPN Licences: Escape floating licences can be borrowed via the VPN, usage may be restricted when needed for classes
BorisFX Silhouette
Availability: A free student license is offered, submit a request on the link below to check eligibility
Notes/Restrictions: Not known
Link: https://borisfx.com/support/student-license-request/
VPN Licences: Not currently available but may be enabled at later point
Davinci Resolve
Availability: The free version of this application can do video editing, colour grading, video effects, audio editing, motion graphics and some compositing operations. It's very much worth learning.
Notes/Restrictions: The paid version comes with extra effects and some collaboration features, but the free version is very feature complete
Link: https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/
VPN Licences: Not required