To inspire creativity and innovation, we want to work with students from diverse backgrounds. To achieve this, we offer a range of scholarships that recognise excellence and assist with the costs associated with higher education. Education is a worthwhile investment in your future, and there are a variety of options to help you reach your study goal.
A variety of financial support options, which you may be able to access include AFTRS Scholarships, AFTRS Special Finance Assistance and Government support: FEE-HELP, Youth Allowance, Austudy and Abstudy.
Questions? Contact AFTRS Student Centre on 1300 223 877 or studentinfo@aftrs.edu.au.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Alumni and Industry Scholarship
Course: Master of Arts Screen
AFTRS is committed to ensuring that its world leading education is available to all Australians. We’ve found that the main obstacle to taking up study is the financial burden of tuition, relocation expenses and Sydney’s ever-rising cost of living.
AFTRS has established the Alumni and Industry Fund to expand and enrich the School’s student community.
Funds raised will contribute to the inaugural Alumni and Industry Scholarship in 2024. The scholarship will be awarded to support and develop the career of a gifted storyteller, with a particular focus on under- represented groups in the Australian screen industries. The scholarship recognises creative excellence and the capacity, skills, knowledge, connections and potential that under-represented individuals can bring to telling stories at AFTRS and beyond.
The $25,000 scholarship will support an outstanding Master of Arts Screen student who can benefit from assistance to study.
Refer to the Scholarship Guidelines for more information.
ARN Radio and Podcasting Scholarship
Course: Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
Made available by the Australian Radio Network (ARN), the ARN Radio and Podcasting Scholarship will be awarded to support and develop the career of an individual from a culturally and / or linguistically diverse and / or under-represented group in the Australian radio and podcast industries.
One $15,000 scholarship will be offered, along with a paid one day per week internship and 12 month employment contract with an ARN station and / or podcasting division, to a Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting full time or part time student after consideration by the selection committee. This scholarship will be awarded based on creative excellence.
Scholarship applications are separate from course applications. You will need to submit applications for both.
Refer to the scholarship guidelines for more information.
CRA Regional Radio Scholarship
Course: Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
The CRA Regional Radio Scholarship provides $10,000 to enable a student to study the AFTRS Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting. The scholarship is intended to support students who reside in regional Australia and are passionate about working for a radio station where they live, by providing a contribution to living expenses and study costs.
The CRA Regional Radio Scholarship includes a 4-week industry internship. One scholarship will be offered in 2024 to a Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting full-time or part-time student after consideration by the selection committee.
Refer to the Scholarship Guidelines for more information.
Craft Excellence Scholarship
Course: Master of Arts Screen
The AFTRS Craft Excellence Scholarship is intended to support a student who can demonstrate excellence in an identified craft area in the Master of Arts Screen. In 2024, AFTRS is focusing on supporting female-identifying applicants from the craft disciplines of cinematography, sound, editing and documentary. This is part of AFTRS’ ongoing commitment to ensure AFTRS graduates reflect all Australian society. Inclusivity is embedded across all the School’s activities, with a focus on supporting the best talent, from all backgrounds, into careers in the industry.
The scholarship covers the full first-year fee tuition (valued at $26,016). It offers a 50% tuition fee reduction for the minimum standard full-time duration of the Masters of Arts Screen degree.
Scholarship applications are separate from course applications. You will need to submit applications for both.
Refer to the scholarship guidelines for more information.
EQUITY SCHOLARSHIPS
Courses: Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, Master of Arts Screen, Master of Arts Screen: Business Full-Time and Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting: Full-Time, Graduate Diploma in Visual Effects
AFTRS Equity Scholarships are awarded twice a year to assist financially disadvantaged students with the costs associated with higher education.
AFTRS Equity Scholarship funds are provided by The Kenneth Myer Fellowship Trust and the AFTRS Executive Hardship Fund.
The scholarships are intended to support people from low socio-economic backgrounds or who are otherwise underrepresented in higher education to study at AFTRS.
Scholarship applications are separate from course applications. You will need to submit applications for both.
Refer to the scholarship guidelines for more information.
FIRST NATIONS SCHOLARSHIPS
Courses: Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, Master of Arts Screen, Master of Arts Screen: Business or Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting, Graduate Diploma in Visual Effects
AFTRS First Nations Scholarships are awarded based on creative excellence or equity. The scholarships are intended to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with the costs associated with higher education at AFTRS.
AFTRS’ fund for the scholarships is managed through the First Nations and Outreach team and overseen by the CEO. AFTRS may give support for a range of purposes associated with a course. For example, AFTRS may contribute towards relocation costs, study resources and other costs, at AFTRS’ discretion. The amount of support may vary depending on the course and a student’s individual circumstances.
Scholarship applications are separate from course applications. You will need to submit applications for both.
Refer to the scholarship guidelines for more information.
Glenn Daniel Smooth FM Scholarship
Course: Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
The Glenn Daniel Smooth FM Scholarship is in honour of the renowned radio journalist and podcast professional Glenn Daniel. Glenn Daniel was an admired member of the Australian Radio and Podcast industry. This scholarship will be awarded each year to help develop Australian radio, news and journalist talent, with a focus on supporting the next generation of storytellers. The scholarship is intended to support students by providing contribution to a living allowance or towards relocation costs, study resources and other costs.
One annual scholarship of $10,000 will be offered in 2024 to a Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting student. Full-time and part-time students are eligible to apply.
Scholarship applications are separate from course applications. You will need to submit applications for both.
Refer to the scholarship guidelines for more information.
Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation Scholarship
Course: Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
The Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation Scholarship is in honour of Glenn Wheatley. A trailblazer in the music industry, his 40-year-long career has had an enormous impact on the Australian music and radio landscape.
The AFTRS/Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation Scholarship for the Graduate Diploma in Radio & Podcasting is awarded to support and develop the career of the recipient, providing one student with a maximum $10,000 scholarship and a week-long work placement at Sunshine Coast broadcasters MixFM and SeaFM including airfares and accommodation.
Refer to the scholarship guidelines for more information.
ONBASS GIANT STEPS SCHOLARSHIP
Course: Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production
The Onbass Giant Steps Scholarship has been established by Gentle Giant Media Group and the Onbass Fund for students who show creative excellence and who also require financial assistance to study at AFTRS. The scholarship is valued at $22,500 for each recipient (paid in instalments of $7,500 each year for three years) and will be awarded to a student commencing the Bachelor of Arts: Screen Production.
Scholarship applications are separate from course applications. You will need to submit applications for both.
Refer to the scholarship guidelines for more information.
Pariya Taherzadeh Radio & Podcasting Scholarship
Course: Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
Made available by AFTRS alum Pariya Taherzadeh, this scholarship will be awarded to support and develop the career of an outstanding Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting student, selected on the basis of creative excellence from eligible students experiencing hardship.
A $20,000 scholarship for one student, or two $10,000 scholarships for two students will be offered, along with an optional unpaid internship at talent@pariya throughout the study year.
AFTRS encourages and welcomes applicants with backgrounds including but not limited to refugee status, culturally and linguistically diverse, gender identity, disability and socio-economic status.
Scholarship applications are separate from course applications. You will need to submit applications for both.
Refer to the scholarship guidelines for more information.
Women in Cinematography Scholarship sponsored by Sony
Course: Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production (Year 3)
This scholarship is for women and gender-diverse students in Year 3 of the Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production to nominate as cinematographers in an assessable role for POC and Graduation Production, having completed the Cinematography elective. To qualify, students must be successfully enrolled in the Year 3 Cinematography elective in 2024. The scholarship will be awarded based on creative excellence.
Scholarship applications are separate from course applications. You will need to submit applications for both.
Refer to the scholarship guidelines for more information.
APPLYING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
HOW TO APPLY
To apply, you will need to complete the online scholarship application form and provide any documentation requested by the closing date.
After submitting your award course application, you will be taken to your home page in the AFTRS application portal, where you will be presented with a list of scholarships available for your chosen course. You will need to complete the application form from there.
Ensure you meet and address all the criteria in your application. It is important that you answer all questions and provide any requested supporting documentation.
Scholarship applications are separate from course applications. You will need to submit a course applications before you can apply for a scholarship.
You can apply for multiple scholarships, as long as you meet the scholarship’s eligibility criteria.
ELIGIBILITY BY PROGRAM
Scholarships available for each course are –
Master of Arts Screen
- Alumni and Industry Scholarship
- Craft Excellence Scholarship
- Equity Scholarships
- First Nations Scholarships
Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
- Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation Scholarship
- Pariya Taherzadeh Radio & Podcasting Scholarship
- Glenn Daniel Smooth FM Scholarship
- CRA Regional Radio Scholarship
- Equity Scholarships (full-time only)
- First Nations Scholarships
- ARN Radio and Podcasting Scholarship
Master of Arts Screen: Business
- First Nations Scholarships
- Equity Scholarships (full-time only)
Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production
- Equity Scholarships
- First Nations Scholarships
- Onbass Giant Steps Scholarship
- Women in Cinematography Scholarship sponsored by Sony
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
| When do scholarships open/close?
Applications for 2024 scholarships are now open and will be available in your AFTRS portal after you submit your course application. Scholarship applications for each course close on the following dates: Master of Arts Screen – Tuesday 7 November 2023 We recommend you don’t wait until the last minute or try and rush through an application. Give yourself plenty of time to search for scholarships you may be eligible for and plan ahead to allow enough time to prepare your application and supporting documentation. |
| Which scholarships am I eligible for?
Some scholarships are based on certain criteria such as cultural background, your chosen course of study, disability, financial situation or where you live. The eligibility requirements are outlined in the guidelines for each scholarship. Read the eligibility criteria carefully to make sure you are suitable to apply for the scholarship. If you are unsure, you can discuss this with the Student Centre. |
| Are New Zealand citizens eligible to apply for scholarships?
Yes. New Zealand citizens are eligible to apply for all AFTRS scholarships so long as they meet all other eligibility requirements. |
| How do I apply for a scholarship?
Complete the online scholarship application form and provide any documentation requested by the closing date. Ensure you meet and address all the criteria in your application. It is important that you answer all questions and provide any requested supporting documentation. |
| How many scholarships can I apply for?
We encourage you to apply for multiple scholarships, provided you meet the Scholarship(s) eligibility criteria. |
| How much is a scholarship worth?
The value of each scholarship can be found in the scholarship guidelines. |
| Can scholarships be deferred?
Recipients cannot defer the commencement of a scholarship. If you are deferring your course, you would need to re-apply for a scholarship in the following year. |
| Are there any conditions associated with scholarships?
Conditions of scholarships vary; however, they are outlined in the scholarship guidelines and any additional conditions will be clearly outlined in the email sent to successful applicants. |
| How/When will I find out the outcome of my scholarship application?
You will be notified by email within six weeks of applications closing. |
| Can I get feedback on my scholarship application?
Due to the large volume of scholarship applications, we cannot provide individual feedback to applicants regarding their scholarship application. AFTRS’ decision is final and correspondence about decisions will not be entered into. |
| Can I re-apply for future scholarships?
If you are unsuccessful for 2024, you may re-apply for scholarships in the future. You would then need to meet all scholarship eligibility criteria at that time. A new scholarship application, with new supporting documents, would need to be submitted. |
| Is there another round of scholarships later in the year?
Most scholarships are awarded annually. However, there is a second round of applications for the following scholarships:
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| How do I demonstrate financial need?
Some ways of demonstrating financial need include:
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| How do I demonstrate proof of residency in an interstate and/or regional or remote area?
You may choose to submit a driver’s licence, utility or phone bill, bank statement, insurance policy or proof of enrolment at a secondary school. The document/s you provide must show your full First and Surname and residential address. |
| Are AFTRS students eligible for any external scholarships?
AFTRS students are often eligible to apply for scholarships offered by external organisations. |
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Special financial assistance
AFTRS provides limited financial assistance for students experiencing severe or sudden financial hardship that may affect their ability to take up the offer of a place in a course of study or continue in a course of study.
Refer to the application for Financial Assistance Form.
Government support
For detailed information on the following allowances see the Centrelink website.
Austudy, Abstudy and Youth Allowance
Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production and other full-time students enrolled at AFTRS may be eligible for government income support including Austudy, Abstudy or Youth Allowance.
Youth Allowance and Austudy
If you are aged between 16-to-24 you may be eligible for support through Youth Allowance. If you are aged 25 and over, you may be eligible for support through Austudy. To be eligible for Youth Allowance or Austudy you must be:
- An Australian resident, and
- Enrolled in a full-time award course, and
- Enrolled in an undergraduate or appropriate postgraduate course (up to Graduate Diploma level).
Abstudy
If you are an Indigenous student and aged over 14 you may be eligible for Abstudy if you are:
- An Australian citizen, and
- Enrolled in a part-time or full-time award course, and
- Enrolled in an undergraduate or postgraduate course (up to Doctorate level).
Your eligibility will also depend on your and/or your partner’s or parents’ income and assets.
Please note: The Master of Arts Screen course is not an approved course for students to receive Austudy, Youth Allowance (student) and Pensioner Education Supplement through Centrelink.
FEE-HELP
All AFTRS award courses are FEE-HELP approved.
AFTRS is an approved Higher Education Provider and is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
ELIGIBILITY
This means eligible AFTRS students can apply for the Australian Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme to help pay your course fees if you meet the citizenship and residency requirements as follows:
- You are an Australian citizen
- You are a holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa
- You are enrolled in an eligible unit of study by the census date
- You meet the tax file number requirements
- You will undertake at least one unit of study whilst residing in Australia
To meet the tax file number requirements:
- You must give AFTRS your valid Tax File Number (TFN) OR
- If you do not have a TFN you can give AFTRS a Certificate of Application for a TFN. This certificate is available from the Australian Tax Office (ATO) when you apply for a TFN.
You are NOT eligible for the FEE-HELP loan scheme if you are:
- A New Zealand citizen (other than a Special Category Visa holder).
- An Australian permanent resident (other than the holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa).
NEW ZEALAND CITIZENS WHO ARE SPECIAL CATEGORY VISA HOLDERS
- The Australian Government has passed legislation to provide Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans to New Zealand citizens who are Special Category Visa (SCV) holders and meet the requisite criteria.
- Note: just being a New Zealand citizen, or holding a Special Category Visa, won’t automatically entitle you to HELP loans – you must meet all of the required eligibility criteria under this category.
If you hold a New Zealand SCV, you will be able to access HELP loans, providing you meet ALL the long-term residency requirements:
- First began residing in Australia at least 10 years ago and at that time you were a child under the age of 18 with no spouse or de facto partner; and
- You have been in Australia for at least:
- a total of eight out of the past 10 years; and
- a total of 18 months out of the last two years.
If you do not meet all of the above criteria you are not eligible for HELP loans.
HOW FEE-HELP WORKS
FEE-HELP means you can study without having to pay upfront fees.
You can also pay your fees with a combination of an upfront payment and FEE-HELP.
If you obtain a FEE-HELP loan from the Australian Government to pay for your studies, a FEE-HELP debt is recorded for you with the ATO. You repay the government through the taxation system once your income reaches a set threshold.
Repayment of FEE-HELP debt is calculated by the Australian Tax Office and the amount will be included in your income tax notice of assessment.
The Student Centre will contact all eligible students prior to the commencement of their course with instructions on how to apply for a FEE-HELP loan.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information about FEE-HELP, refer to the following Australian government resources:
Disclaimer: AFTRS has made every attempt to ensure the information on this page is as accurate as possible as of 1 July 2021. However, to the extent permitted by law, AFTRS gives no guarantee and accepts no responsibility for the information’s accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness. Individuals are responsible for evaluating the information provided for their own purposes, and for confirming the currency of the FEE-HELP information on this page by referring to the Australian Government’s Study Assist website.