Our Scholarships

If you’re a New Zealand secondary school student with a strong track record of high achievement, you could be eligible for our Undergraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship.

This scholarship awards $3,000 towards one year of undergraduate tuition fees for students with outstanding academic potential in digital design.

Eligibility & Selection

You’re eligible to apply if you:

• Are a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Are applying for the first year of one of the following:
  • Bachelor of Art and Design
  • Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art)
  • Bachelor of Information Technology
  • Bachelor of Media Design
  • Bachelor of Software Engineering (AI)
  • Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming)
    
    (One MDS Academic Excellence Scholarship will be awarded for each of these qualifications.)

You’ll need to demonstrate academic excellence by providing your academic transcript.

If applying for the Bachelor of Creative Technologies, Bachelor of Media Design, or the Bachelor of Art and Design, you must also supply a portfolio showing your artistic ability.

If you’re a current MDS student enrolled in a Graduate or Postgraduate programme and have a strong track record of high achievement, you could be eligible for our Postgraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship.

This scholarship awards $3,000 towards one year of postgraduate tuition fees for students with exceptional academic performance in digital design.

Eligibility & Selection

You’re eligible to apply if you:

• Are a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Have been enrolled in a GradCert, PGCert, or PGDip at MDS in the last 12 months.
• Have achieved academic excellence and been recognised for effective leadership skills.

If you’re an MDS graduate from a 3-year degree programme with a strong track record of high achievement, you could be eligible for our Alumni Scholarship.

This scholarship provides a 25% reduction in tuition fees for one year of further study in an MDS Graduate Diploma (Level 7), Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, or Masters programme.

Eligibility & Selection

You’re eligible to apply if you:

• Are a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Have successfully completed an MDS 3-year degree programme.
• Achieved exceptional academic performance in that degree.
• Have been recognised for effective leadership skills.

If you’re an MDS graduate from a 3-year degree programme with a strong track record of high achievement, you could be eligible for our Alumni Scholarship - International.

This scholarship provides a 25% reduction in tuition fees for one year of further study in an MDS Graduate Diploma (Level 7), Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, or Masters programme.

Eligibility & Selection

You’re eligible to apply if you:

• Are an International student.
• Have successfully completed an MDS 3-year degree programme.
• Achieved exceptional academic performance in that degree.
• Have been recognised for effective leadership skills.

In memory of the late Matthew Hogarth, this scholarship covers one year of tuition fees for an MDS Games student each year and includes an industry mentorship.

Matthew was a Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art) student who, despite battling cancer, showed courage, commitment, and passion for creating games. This scholarship honours his impact and supports students who push boundaries.

Eligibility & Selection

You’re eligible to apply if you:

• Are currently enrolled in an MDS Games programme and are eligible to progress into Year 2 or Year 3.
• Have not previously received an MDS scholarship.
• Demonstrate core MDS values: courage, commitment, and passion to push the boundaries.

How recipients are selected

1. Student Admin collates completed questionnaire responses and supporting evidence (grades, attendance, portfolio) and submits them to faculty.
2. Gaming faculty select three finalists for consideration.
3. Final candidates are presented to the Programme Director and Associate Dean for final selection.
4. The successful candidate is informed in writing prior to classes commencing.

As Unity’s exclusive Training and Certification Partner in New Zealand, MDS offers $3,000 towards first-year tuition to one aspiring Game Development student.

Eligibility & Selection

You’re eligible to apply if you:

• Are a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident.
• Are applying for the first year of one of the following:
  • Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art)
  • Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming)
• Demonstrate the potential for academic excellence by providing your academic transcript.
• If applying for the Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art), supply a portfolio demonstrating your artistic ability.