Scholarships

Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs

AIE has scholarships for eligible learners in AIE's Diploma and Advanced Diploma programs. Please note that scholarships help reduce the total tuition fees but do not cover the full tuition fee. Bursaries assist students to pay for out-of-pocket expenses but may not cover all out-of-pocket expenses.

AIE offers the following three categories of scholarships and bursaries:

Merit-based scholarships
Financial needs-based scholarships and bursaries
Equity-based scholarships

Prospective learners can:

Apply for one scholarship (and bursary if applicable) from each category
Apply for a scholarship prior to being accepted into the program. To be eligible to receive a scholarship, applicants will need to meet the entry requirements, apply and be successfully enrolled into the course they intend to study

Learners receiving scholarships are required to meet satisfactory attendance and satisfactory academic progress to maintain eligibility. AIE does not offer advice regarding taxation or Centrelink implications of any scholarships received by learners.

Merit-Based Scholarship

Merit-based scholarships are designed to recognise and support individuals who have demonstrated excellence and a strong aptitude for game design, game art, game programming, 3D animation or filmmaking. This scholarship has a value of up to $5,000 over the two year career course / Diploma and Advanced Diploma study pathway. Applicants are required to study in a full-time mode.

Applicants need to provide the following information as part of their application:

A. Evidence of Creative Endeavour

Provide a minimum of four (4) pieces of work that demonstrate exemplary personal creative works/projects, related to the enrolled program.
Provide evidence of independent, extracurricular works which show initiative and are relevant to the enrolled program.

B. Evidence of Personal Achievement and Community Spirit

Provide evidence of a high personal achievement such as: Certificate of Merit, Principal Award, School Office Bearer, Duke of Edinburgh Award, or other awards related to the enrolled program.
Provide supporting statements and letters of recommendation from unrelated parties.
Provide evidence of community and social engagement such as volunteering or engagement with community groups related to the enrolled program.

People with Disability Scholarship | AIE

Financial Needs-Based Scholarship

Financial needs-based scholarships are designed to increase access to education for learners with extenuating circumstances who would otherwise not be able to afford AIE’s courses. To be eligible to receive a financial needs-based scholarship, applicants must be ineligible in full or in-part for VET Student Loans (VSL) and demonstrate financial need.

Applicants need to demonstrate financial need resulting from, but not limited to, any of the following criteria:

Have carer and/or sole parent responsibilities
Living with a long-term medical condition or disability
Living with ongoing effects of abuse
Living in regional or remote areas
Other extenuating circumstances where they are unable to afford AIE’s courses.

Applicants are required to provide relevant supporting documentation as follows:

Part A: Supporting Documentation (one piece of evidence required)

Centrelink documentation that shows the applicant is receiving a Centrelink means-tested income support payment. This could include holders/recipients of:
1. Health Care Card
2. Youth Allowance
3. Newstart Allowance
4. Austudy
5. Abstudy
6. Disability Support pension
7. Carer’s payment
A statement advising the applicant has applied for and is expecting to receive a Centrelink means-tested income support payment (proof must be provided when received).
An independent statement completed and signed by a responsible person who knows the applicant’s circumstances advising exceptional financial hardship beyond the applicant’s
control or choosing.
Centrelink documentation, or an independent statement, completed and signed by a responsible person who knows the applicant’s circumstances, that advises they have sole
parent or carer responsibilities.
A personal impact statement detailing the hardships, or disability, experienced by the applicant and how these have or are anticipated to impact the applicant’s studies.
A medical impact statement from a licensed medical practitioner who understands the applicant’s condition and can comment on the impact or anticipated impact of the condition
on the applicant’ studies.

Part B: Financial Documentation (one piece of evidence required)

If the applicant is not receiving a government benefit, financial documentary evidence of
financial hardship may include:
i. Salary slips (previous two months)
ii. The applicant’s most recent income tax assessment
iii. Documents that show upcoming financial responsibilities (e.g. bills, invoices, quotes) – must include applicant’s full name and address.

Bank statements are not required and will not be accepted as documentary evidence of financial hardship.

Financial Needs-Based Bursary

Financial needs-based bursaries are designed to assist covering the cost of essential living and study expenses excluding tuition fees. Please note these bursaries are not intended to be used for equipment or software that are provided for students on campus.

To be eligible to receive a financial needs-based bursary applicants must have the means to pay all outstanding tuition fees, including through a financial needs-based scholarship, and still demonstrate financial need resulting from, but not limited to, any of the following criteria:

Have carer and/or sole parent responsibilities.
Living with a long-term medical condition or disability.
Living with ongoing effects of abuse.
Living in regional or remote areas.

Applicants are required to provide relevant supporting documentation as follows:

Part A: Supporting Documentation (one piece of evidence required)

Centrelink documentation that shows the applicant is receiving a Centrelink means-tested
income support payment. This could include holders/recipients of:
1. Health Care Card
2. Youth Allowance
3. Newstart Allowance
4. Austudy
5. Abstudy
6. Disability Support pension
7. Carer’s payment
A statement advising the applicant has applied for and is expecting to receive a Centrelink means-tested income support payment (proof must be provided when received).
An independent statement completed and signed by a responsible person who knows the applicant’s circumstances advising exceptional financial hardship beyond the applicant’s
control or choosing.
Centrelink documentation, or an independent statement, completed and signed by a responsible person who knows the applicant’s circumstances, that advises they have sole parent or carer responsibilities.
A personal impact statement detailing the hardships, or disability, experienced by the applicant and how these have or are anticipated to impact the applicant’s studies.
A medical impact statement from a licensed medical practitioner who understands the applicant’s condition and can comment on the impact or anticipated impact of the condition on the applicant’ studies.

Part B: Financial Documentation (one piece of evidence required)

If the applicant is not receiving a government benefit, financial documentary evidence of financial hardship may include:
i. Salary slips (previous two months)
ii. The applicant’s most recent income tax assessment
iii. Documents that show upcoming financial responsibilities (e.g. bills, invoices, quotes) – must include applicant’s full name and address.

Bank statements are not required and will not be accepted as documentary evidence of financial hardship.

Women in the Game Programming Scholarship | AIE

Women in Programming Scholarship

This scholarship is provided to support women studying the Game Programming study pathway and pursuing a career within this specific area of specialisation. This scholarship has a value of up to $5,000 over the two year career course / Diploma and Advanced Diploma study pathway.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Scholarship | AIE

Indigenous Scholarship

This scholarship is provided to support students with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage and has a value of up to $5,000 over the two year career course / Diploma and Advanced Diploma study pathway.

Rural or Isolated Areas Scholarship | AIE

Regional, Rural and Remote Scholarship

This scholarship is provided for people who, within the two years immediately prior to the start of their study, lived in a regional or remote area of Australia. This scholarship has a value of up to $5,000 over the two year career course / Diploma and Advanced Diploma study pathway. Applicants need to be enrolled in a face-to-face program.

To be eligible to receive a regional, rural and remote scholarship, applicants need to:

Provide evidence that for the 24-months preceding their commencement to the enrolled program they lived in an inner regional, outer regional or remote area (as determined by the Student Regional Area Search used by Services Australia). The evidence must show the applicants name and address and may include:
- Bank statements.
- A letter of attendance from a school showing home address and time of attendance.
- Centrelink documents.
- Electoral commission enrolment form.
- Bills.
- Vehicle registration.
- Learner permit.
Moved for the purpose of studying at AIE from an inner regional, outer regional or remote area (as determined by the Student Regional Area Search used by Services Australia) that was more than 90 minutes away from the enrolled AIE campus by public transport.
Have applied to receive a Tertiary Access Payment from Services Australia.

International Student Scholarships

AIE offers merit-based scholarships and financial needs-based scholarships for international students.

The eligibility, application and evidence requirements for merit and financial needs scholarships are the same as listed above.

Please note that International students cannot be awarded a financial needs bursary.

Application Form