The Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) has opened applications for its 2027 scholarships, including new accommodation support for students moving to Sydney to study.
At the centre of this year’s offering are five new Relocation Scholarships, providing $36,000 ($12,000 per year for up to three years) to eligible students. The scholarships are designed to assist with the cost of accommodation, improving access to screen and audio education, with a particular focus on First Nations students and those experiencing financial disadvantage.
The initiative builds on Australian Government support to improve access to affordable, fit-for-purpose student accommodation, helping more students from across Australia enrol in full-time, on-campus study at AFTRS.
AFTRS Director of Partnerships and Development, Mathieu Ravier, said the new scholarships would make a meaningful difference to students considering a move to Sydney.
“Sydney sits at the high end of the national market, and rents have increased significantly in the past five years. These Relocation Scholarships are an important step in ensuring that talented students from across Australia can access a world-class creative education, regardless of their background or financial circumstances. By easing cost-of-living pressure, we’re helping students focus on their creative development and fully participate in campus life,” he said.
“These scholarships are just one example of how AFTRS continues to work closely with industry partners and government to remove barriers to study, ensuring that Australia’s screen and audio industries benefit from a talent pipeline which represents the breadth of lived experiences across the country.”
Current Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production student Georgia Williams, a First Nations student from Cowra, NSW, is among the students whose pathway to AFTRS has been made possible through similar scholarship support. Georgia is the recipient of the 2026 OnBass Giant Steps Scholarship, supported by Gentle Giant Media Group and the OnBass Foundation, which returns for its seventh year in 2027.
“Receiving a scholarship has made a real and immediate difference in my life,” Georgia said. “It has eased the financial pressure of relocating from rural NSW to Sydney and enabled me to begin my studies at AFTRS this year, something that would have been very difficult otherwise given the cost of rent and living expenses. With this support, I have been able to fully focus on developing my skills, collaborating with other creatives, and growing my practice as a proud Ngemba storyteller.”
These scholarships form part of AFTRS’ broader commitment to equity and inclusion, supporting greater participation from First Nations students and those from regional, remote and low socioeconomic backgrounds. They sit alongside AFTRS’ established suite of scholarships supporting students across its courses.
Together, scholarships support emerging creatives across screen and audio disciplines, helping students develop industry-ready skills and build sustainable careers.
Applications for AFTRS’ 2027 Award Courses are now open in our Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production, Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting and Master of Arts Screen: Business programs, with applicants able to check which scholarships they are eligible for, and to apply, as soon as they have submitted their course application.
The AFTRS Scholarship program, made possible through the support of the Australian Government, industry leaders and AFTRS community, includes:
Relocation Scholarship – Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production
Anita Jacoby Trailblazer Scholarship – Master of Arts Screen
ARN Radio and Podcasting Scholarship – Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
Constellation Creatives Scholarship – Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production
CRA Regional Radio Scholarship – Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
Equity Scholarship (supported by the Kenneth Myer Fellowship Trust) – across multiple courses
First Nations Scholarship (supported by the Kenneth Myer Fellowship Trust) – across multiple courses
Glenn Daniel Smooth FM Scholarship – Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
Glenn Wheatley EON Innovation Scholarship – Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
Netflix First Nations Pathways Scholarship – Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production
OnBass Giant Steps Scholarship – Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production
Pariya Taherzadeh Cultural Voices Scholarship – Graduate Diploma in Radio and Podcasting
Women in Cinematography Scholarship (sponsored by Sony) – Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production (Year 3)
AFTRS offers about 40 scholarships each year. For more information see: Scholarships and Financial Support