NIDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we learn and tell stories, the Bidjigal, Gadigal, Dharawal and Dharug peoples, and we pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present.

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Scholarships

Scholarships at NIDA

NIDA offers a range of scholarships to support students to attend NIDA, helping to cover student living expenses.

NIDA is committed to building a diverse community of students and strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and people with a disability.

Government financial support is also available to some NIDA students. Information about this can be found on the Services Australia website, including information about the relocation scholarship.

Scholarship applications for 2025 intake will open in June 2024.

If you have any questions about NIDA's scholarships, please email scholarships@nida.edu.au

Most scholarships are available to students who can demonstrate financial need. There are some scholarships available specifically for students from rural or remote areas, female-identifying students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people who are Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD).

Scholarships are available for domestic applicants (those who are citizens or permanent residents of Australia, a citizen of New Zealand or the holder of an Australian humanitarian visa).

Some scholarships are awarded prior to arrival at NIDA and will support students in their first year, or in some cases – through their whole NIDA journey.

We also offer some scholarships to our first, second and third year students, and these are offered at the beginning of each academic year. Scholarships are paid to students on a fortnightly basis during the academic term.

Scholarships for Current Students

Eligible students entering their first, second or third year in a full-time Higher Education course (Bachelor or Master of Fine Arts degrees) are able to apply for a scholarship at the beginning of the academic year.

To apply for a scholarship please complete the following online form by 11pm on Monday, February 12th 2024.

You are also required to send to this email address (scholarships@nida.edu.au) the documentation below:

  • a personal statement, explaining the difference this scholarship would make to your studies at NIDA in 2024. This statement should clearly articulate your financial hardship and should be a signed PDF. You may also speak to one or more of the following eligibility criteria in a singular statement (LGBTQI+/ nonbinary/ gender diverse identification, physical/ sensory/ learning impairments/ mental health/ intellectual disability, First Nations, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, People of Colour, geographical disadvantage/ regional/ rural/ remote up-bringing).
  • bank statements (from the last two months).
  • proof of Commonwealth Government Allowances or Centrelink means-tested income support payment (if any).

You may also add to your email response any other piece of information that you believe would benefit your scholarship candidacy.

Scholarships for 2025 intake

To apply for scholarships at NIDA, you need to first submit your course application form(s) to study with us. Once they are completed, you can also submit your scholarship application form. There is one form, which is used for all scholarships.

After your audition or interview, if you are offered a place at NIDA, we will then assess your scholarship application and be in touch.

You will need to submit documentation to support your application and may need to attend an interview.

If awarded a scholarship, you will receive payments on a fortnightly basis during the academic term. Additionally, some NIDA students may be eligible for government financial support. Information about this can be found on the Services Australia website, including information about their relocation scholarship.

Scholarships applications for 2025 intake will open in June 2024.

If you have any questions or require further information about scholarships at NIDA, please feel free to reach out to us via email at scholarships@nida.edu.au

2024 Scholarships

Name of scholarship
Student criteriaTotal Scholarship Amount awarded across degree
The Balnaves Foundation First Nations ScholarshipFirst Nations student experiencing financial need. $90,000 paid over three years ($30,000 per year)
 This scholarship includes:
*mentoring with a First Nations Arts Industry mentor for each scholarship recipient
*additional travel home if required
*funding for an arranged On Country experience for each scholarship recipient one time during their study
*a Paid Internship for each of the scholarship recipients at the successful conclusion of their study.
$90,000.00
The Prime Video Scholarships x 2

These scholarships are intended to assist women and non-binary MFA (Dramatic Writing) or MFA (Directing) applicants with intersectional backgrounds, including but not limited to gender identity, cultural identity, people with a disability, or people within the LGBTQIA+ community.

$50,000.00
The Brian Walsh Memorial ScholarshipBFA Acting student in financial need$45,000.00
Tim Fairfax AC ScholarshipApplicants to BFA (Acting) for a student in financial need who is from remote or regional Australia. This scholarship totals $45,000 paid over 3 years $45,000.00
WeirAnderson Foundation ScholarshipScholarship for a female Bachelor of Fine Arts Acting student from a regional and remote area in financial need. ($45,000 over 3 years)$45,000.00
William Rubensohn Foundation Scholarship X 2Scholarship for a Bachelor of Fine Arts Acting student in financial need. While The Foundation would prefer the students to come from country NSW, this is not a requisite of the scholarship.($30,000 over 3 years)$30,000.00
The YouTube ScholarshipApplicants to BFA from a background historically underrepresented in the screen and stage industry ($43,500 paid over 3 years)$45,000.00
Ingham's First Nations Scholarship x 2MFA Directing or Writing First Nations students$30,000.00
Andrew Cameron AM & Cathy Cameron ScholarshipApplicants to MFA (Directing) or MFA (Dramatic Writing) student in financial need$30,000.00
Animal Logic Entertainment ScholarshipMFA Directing or MFA Dramatic Writing student who identifies as Indigenous or has traditionally been underrepresented in the industry$30,000.00
ARA Group Scholarship x3BFA First Nations student$10,000.00
The Helen Dumbrell ScholarshipApplicants to BFA (Acting) for a student experiencing financial need ($30,000 paid over 3 years)$27,000.00
Luminis Foundation Indigenous Fellowship for Cultural LeadershipIndigenous applicants to MFA (Cultural Leadership)  $15,000.00
Technical Direction Company ScholarshipDiploma of Live Production and Technical Services students experiencing financial need$15,000.00
David Cielak ScholarshipBFA or MFA student with financial need$10,000.00
Tim Fairfax AC Scholarship x 14BFA or MFA student with financial need from remote or regional Australia $10,000  $10,000.00
Edward Federman ScholarshipApplicants to MFA (Dramatic Writing) for a student experiencing financial need$10,000.00
Edward Federman ScholarshipApplicants to MFA (Dramatic Writing) for a female student who identifies as Indigenous or Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)$10,000.00
Finch ScholarshipMFA Directing student experiencing financial need$10,000.00
Finch ScholarshipMFA Dramatic Writing student experiencing financial need$10,000.00
LOWES Menswear ScholarshipBFA or MFA students with financial needs$10,000.00
The Serpentine Foundation ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$10,000.00
Laidlaw Foundation ScholarshipBFA or MFA students with financial need$8,000.00
Robert Morgan ScholarshipBFA or MFA students with financial need$7,500.00
Sandra and Barry Smorgon Family Foundation Scholarship BFA or MFA student with financial need$7,500.00
Shanahan Management ScholarshipBFA student experiencing financial need$6,000.00
June Penn ScholarshipOne female BFA (Acting) students with financial need$6,000.00
The Frank Thring Scholarship x 4Scholarship for a BFA or MFA for one female and one male student based on skill expertise and achievements$6,000.00
The Geoffrey Rothwell ScholarshipBFA or MFA student with financial need$6,000.00
Roy and Sandy Abrams ScholarshipBFA students experiencing financial need$5,000.00
The Bowness Family Foundation ScholarshipBFA Technical Theatre and Stage Management or Design for Performance student experiencing financial need$5,000.00
Ballard Property Group ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$5,000.00
June Baker ScholarshipBFA or MFA students with financial needs$5,000.00
Foundation Theatres Scholarship BFA Technical Theatre and Stage Management experiencing financial need$5,000.00
Mel Gibson and Village Roadshow scholarship x 2BFA students experiencing financial need$5,000.00
The Ben Gannon AO ScholarshipBFA or MFA student based on financial need for 1 year$5,000.00
JONES Theatrical Group ScholarshipBFA Technical Theatre and Stage Management experiencing financial need$5,000.00
James & Melissa Marshall ScholarshipBFA  student experiencing financial need$5,000.00
David Marshall ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$5,000.00
The Dawn O'Donnell Scholarship  x 6Supporting women students in BFA, Technical Theatre and Stage Management student demonstrating financial need or Directing students$5,000.00
Donald and Leslie Parsonage ScholarshipBFA or MFA students with financial needs$5,000.00
Richard and Barbara Refshauge ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$5,000.00
Ezekiel Solomon, AM ScholarshipBFA or MFA student with financial need$5,000.00
Geoff Richards Memorial Scholarship x 3Supporting BFA (Technical Theatre and Stage Management) students with financial need$4,000.00
The J.G. Reynolds memorial Scholarship x 5MFA and BFA students aged under 25 years old$4,000.00
Lisa Hamilton and Rob White ScholarshipBFA Technical Theatre and Stage Management student experiencing financial need$3,000
There is also a Scholarship Fund, with contributions from the following:
Chrissy Comino ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$2,500.00
Dr John Keogh and Professor Nadia Badawi ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$2,500.00
John and Renay Robinson ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$2,500.00
Kathy White ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$2,500.00
Theatre Royal Sydney ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$2,500.00
Professor Elizabeth More, AM ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$2,450.00
The Gillespie/Price ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$2,000.00
Colin Fong ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$2,000.00
Noel & Hetty Cislowski ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$1,500.00
Warwick Cooper ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$1,500.00
Sujeet Jena ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$1,250.00
Anna Samios ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$1,250.00
Kate Armati ScholarshipBFA students experiencing financial need$1,250.00
Professor Elizabeth Elliott, AM Scholarship BFA students experiencing financial need$1,250.00
Ted Blamey Scholarship BFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$1,200.00
Sam Archer ScholarshipBFA or MFA students experiencing financial need$1,000.00
Alex and Rosie LindenBFA or MFA student demonstrating financial need $1,000.00

Thank you to our supporters

NIDA scholarships and fellowships are made possible through the generosity of donors, trusts and foundations, corporate partners, and bequests through the NIDA Foundation Trust.

We are grateful for their support of scholarships and funding towards NIDA’s education and training.

If you would like to support our students by contributing to our Scholarship Fund, learn more here. Alternatively, donate directly here.