Fund your study
Media Design School offers a range of scholarships to prospective students who display the potential for academic excellence in specific areas of digital design. To apply, simply complete the scholarship application form for your chosen scholarship.
Click on the scholarships below to see whether you're eligible to apply:
Undergraduate Scholarship 2025
If you are currently a New Zealand secondary school student and you have consistently achieved high marks throughout your education, then you should definitely consider applying for a Media Design School Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Media Design School’s Academic Excellence Scholarships gives students with exceptional academic potential in digital design $3000 towards one year of undergraduate degree-level tuition fees with Asia Pacific’s No.1 digital design school toward their chosen programme.
Selection Criteria
To be eligible to apply for an Academic Excellence Scholarship, you must:
- Apply for the first year of one of the following:
- Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art);
- Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming);
- Bachelor of Software Engineering (AI)
- Bachelor of Media Design (February intake only);
- Bachelor of Art and Design;
- Bachelor of Information Technology.
- Please note that one Media Design School Academic Excellence Scholarship will be awarded for each of these qualifications.
- Demonstrate the potential for academic excellence at degree-level by providing your Academic Transcript;
- If you are applying for the Bachelor of Creative Technologies, Bachelor of Media Design, or the Bachelor of Art and Design you will need to supply a portfolio demonstrating your artistic ability.
How to Apply
To be eligible for this scholarship, prospective applicants are required to complete the scholarship application form accessible via the provided link. We strongly advise applicants to include any noteworthy academic achievements in digital design or a closely related field within the application.
To apply for the Academic Excellence Scholarship (Undergraduate), please fill out THIS FORM.
Additional Information
Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents.
Scholarship recipients will be determined on the merits of the student’s portfolio and their demonstrated academic excellence.
The submissions will be judged by Media Design School’s Academic and Admissions Panel, which will consist of representatives from the degree that the student is applying for as well as members from the Admissions department. The Academic and Admissions Panel’s determination of the scholarship recipients will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Contact domestic@mediadesignschool.com and attach the following documents: academic transcript, attendance record and letter of intent.
Postgraduate Scholarships 2025
If you are a current student of Media Design School enrolled in one of our Graduate or Postgraduate programmes and you have consistently achieved high marks throughout your education, then you should definitely consider applying for a Postgraduate Media Design School Academic Excellence Scholarship.
Media Design School’s Academic Excellence (Postgraduate) Scholarships provide students with exceptional academic performance in digital design or transformation $3000 to put towards their successful year of postgraduate-level tuition fees with Asia Pacific’s No.1 digital design school.
Selection Criteria
To be eligible to apply for an Academic Excellence (Postgraduate) Scholarship, you:
- Must have already been enrolled in a Grad Cert, PGCert or PGDip and achieved academic excellence, been recognised for effective leadership skills and achieved not less than 90% attendance in the previous 12 months
How to Apply
To be eligible for this scholarship, prospective applicants are required to complete the scholarship application form accessible via the provided link. We strongly advise applicants to include any noteworthy academic achievements in digital design or a closely related field within the application.
To apply for the Academic Excellence Scholarship (Postgraduate), please fill out THIS FORM.
Additional Information
Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents.
Scholarship recipients will be determined on the merits of the student’s portfolio and their demonstrated academic excellence.
The submissions will be judged by Media Design School’s Academic and Admissions Panel, which will consist of representatives from the degree that the student is applying for as well as members from the Admissions department. The Academic and Admissions Panel’s determination of the scholarship recipients will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Contact domestic@mediadesignschool.com and attach the following documents: academic transcript, attendance record and letter of intent.
If you are an MDS alumni and have graduated from one of Media Design School’s 3-year degree programmes and consistently achieved high marks throughout your education, then you should definitely consider applying for an Alumni Scholarship.
Media Design School’s Alumni Scholarship provides MDS graduates who achieved exceptional academic performance in an MDS degree programme with 25% fees reduction towards one year of further study in an MDS Graduate Diploma (Level 7), Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters programme.
Selection Criteria
To be eligible to apply for an Alumni Scholarship, you must have:
- successfully completed an MDS degree programme
- achieved exceptional academic performance in that degree
- been recognised as having effective leadership skills
- achieved not less than 90% attendance in your degree programme
How to Apply
To be eligible for this scholarship, prospective applicants are required to complete the scholarship application form accessible via the provided link. We strongly advise applicants to include any noteworthy academic achievements in digital design or a closely related field within the application and provide evidence via a portfolio.
To apply for the Alumni Scholarship, please fill out THIS FORM.
Additional Information
This scholarship is available to New Zealand Citizens and Permanent Residents.
Scholarship recipients will be determined on the merits of the student’s portfolio and their demonstrated academic excellence.
The submissions will be judged by Media Design School’s Academic and Admissions Panel, which will consist of representatives from the degree that the alumni had completed, as well as members from the Admissions department. The Academic and Admissions Panel’s determination of the scholarship recipients will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Contact domestic@mediadesignschool.com and attach the following documents: portfolio, academic transcript, attendance record and letter of intent.
International Scholarships (2025)
Tuition Reduction
We are pleased to advise that from May 2025, MDS is offering a tuition fee reduction for all international students for the following programmes:
Programme | New Tuition Fee |
Bachelor of Information | NZD $22,785 |
Bachelor of Software Engineering | NZD $24,185 |
Bachelor of Software Engineering | NZD $24,185 |
30% Scholarship for all 2025 intakes
From May 2025, MDS is offering a 30% scholarship for all international students enrolling in 2025 intakes. This covers the following programmes:
Programme | New Tuition Fee |
Digital Creativity Foundation | NZD $18,550 |
Bachelor of Art & Design | NZD $24,185 Year One or First Year of Study |
Bachelor of Media Design | NZD $24,185 Year One or First Year of Study |
Bachelor of Creative Technologies | NZD $24,185 Year One or First Year of Study |
Graduate Diploma in Creative | NZD $24,185 Total duration of the programme |
Graduate Diploma in Creative | NZD $24,185 Total duration of the programme |
Postgraduate Diploma in Design | NZD $24,570 Total duration of the programme |
Master of Design | NZD $24,570 Total duration of the programme |
If you have any questions, please contact us at international@mediadesignschool.com
If you are an MDS alumni and have graduated from one of Media Design School’s 3-year degree programmes and consistently achieved high marks throughout your education, then you should definitely consider applying for the Alumni Scholarship - International.
Media Design School’s Alumni Scholarship - International provides MDS graduates who achieved exceptional academic performance in an MDS degree programme with 30% fees reduction towards one year of further study in an MDS Graduate Diploma (Level 7), Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Masters programme.
Selection Criteria
To be eligible to apply for the Alumni Scholarship - International, you must have:
- successfully completed an MDS degree programme
- achieved exceptional academic performance in that degree
- been recognised as having effective leadership skills
- achieved not less than 90% attendance in your degree programme
How to Apply
To be eligible for this scholarship, prospective applicants are required to complete the scholarship application form accessible via the provided link. We strongly advise applicants to include any noteworthy academic achievements in digital design or a closely related field within the application and provide evidence via a portfolio.
To apply for the Alumni Scholarship - International, please fill out THIS FORM.
Additional Information
This scholarship is available to International students.
Scholarship recipients will be determined on the merits of the student’s portfolio and their demonstrated academic excellence.
The submissions will be judged by Media Design School’s Academic and Admissions Panel, which will consist of representatives from the degree that the alumni had completed, as well as members from the Admissions department. The Academic and Admissions Panel’s determination of the scholarship recipients will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Contact international@mediadesignschool.com and attach the following documents: portfolio, academic transcript, attendance record and letter of intent.
Special Scholarships 2025
If you are currently a New Zealand secondary school student and you have consistently achieved high marks throughout your education, then the Māori Academic Excellence Scholarship may be right for you.
Media Design School’s Māori Academic Excellence scholarships provide Māori students with exceptional academic potential in digital design by covering 100% of year 1 tuition fees of their chosen programme of study at Asia Pacific’s No.1 digital design school.
Selection Criteria
To be eligible to apply for an Academic Excellence Scholarship, you must:
- Have finished Year 12 and be in the process of completing Year 13 at a New Zealand school OR be an existing Digital Creativity foundation programme student;
- Identify yourself as New Zealand Māori ethnicity when applying for Media Design School;
- Apply for the first year of one of the following:
- Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art);
- Bachelor of Software Engineering (Game Programming);
- Bachelor of Media Design (February intake only);
OR the Bachelor of Art and Design.
- Demonstrate the potential for academic excellence in digital design by providing your Academic Transcript;
- If you are applying for the Bachelor of Creative Technologies, Bachelor of Media Design, or the Bachelor of Art and Design you will need to supply a portfolio demonstrating your artistic ability.
How to Apply
To be eligible for this scholarship, prospective applicants are required to complete the scholarship application form accessible via the provided link. We strongly advise applicants to include any noteworthy academic achievements in digital design or a closely related field within the application.
To apply for the Tangata Whenua Achievement Scholarship, please fill out THIS FORM.
Additional Information
Applicants must be New Zealand or Australian Citizens or New Zealand Permanent Residents of Māori descent.
The submissions will be judged by Media Design School’s Academic and Admissions Panel, which will consist of representatives from the programme that the student is applying for as well as members from the Admissions department.
When considering your application, the Academic and Admissions Board may ask you to provide evidence of your whakapapa (such as the names of your parents, grandparents and in some instances great grandparents) as well as information relating to your iwi, hāpū and marae.
The Academic and Admissions Panel’s determination of the scholarship recipients will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
If you are currently a New Zealand secondary school student and you have consistently achieved high marks throughout your education, then you should definitely consider applying for a Pacific Ako Acheivement Scholarship.
Media Design School’s Pacific Ako Acheivement Scholarship provide Pasifika students with exceptional academic potential in digital design 100% cover on the tuition fees of their chosen programme of study at Asia Pacific’s No.1 digital design school.
Selection Criteria
To be eligible to apply for an Academic Excellence Scholarship, you must:
- Have finished Year 12 and be in the process of completing Year 13 at a New Zealand school OR be an existing Media Design School Digital Creativity foundation programme student;
- Identify yourself as being of Pacific Island descent on your official application when applying for Media Design School;
- Apply for one of the following:
- Demonstrate the potential for academic excellence in digital design by providing your Academic Transcript;
- If you are applying for the Bachelor of Creative Technologies, Bachelor of Media Design, or the Bachelor of Art and Design you will need to supply a portfolio demonstrating your artistic ability.
How to Apply
To be eligible for this scholarship, prospective applicants are required to complete the scholarship application form accessible via the provided link. We strongly advise applicants to include any noteworthy academic achievements in digital design or a closely related field within the application.
To apply for the Pacific Ako Acheivement Scholarship, please fill out THIS FORM.
Additional Information
Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents who are of Pasifika (Pacific Island) descent.
Scholarship Recipients will be determined on the merits of the student’s portfolio and academic transcripts as well as their community involvement and demonstrated leadership skills.
The submissions will be judged by Media Design School’s Academic and Admissions Panel, which will consist of representatives from the programme that the student is applying for as well as members from the Admissions department.
When considering your application, the Academic and Admissions Board may ask you to provide evidence of Pasifika descent.
The Academic and Admissions Panel’s determination of the scholarship recipients will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
In memory of the late Matthew Hogarth, we are offering a scholarship for one year’s fees to a Gaming student each year. Additionally, an industry mentorship will be arranged to support the student.
Matthew Hogarth was a Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art) student who battled with cancer throughout the duration of his studies. In face of adversity, Matthew was passionate, motivated and talented, dedicating himself to his art and the pursuit of creating his own games. His kind nature, sense of humour and resilience had a tremendous impact on his peers, faculty and the wider community. This scholarship seeks to empower students striving for success while celebrating a person whose attitude and drive inspired those around them.
Eligibility Criteria
Open to applicants currently enrolled in a Games programme, eligible to progress into year two or three of their studies at Media Design School, whom have not received an MDS scholarship before. The successful candidate will demonstrate core Be Good values of Torrens Global Education and Media Design School, including courage, commitment & passion to push the boundaries.
How to Apply
To be eligible for this scholarship, prospective applicants are required to complete the scholarship application form accessible via the provided link. We strongly advise applicants to include any noteworthy academic achievements in digital design or a closely related field within the application.
To apply for the Matthew Hogarth Memorial Scholarship, please fill out THIS FORM.
Selection Process
- Completed questionnaire responses will be collated by Student Admin along with any supporting evidence (Grades, attendance, portfolio) and submitted to faculty for review.
- Gaming faculty select three students as finalist for consideration.
- Final candidates presented to both Programme Director and Associate Dean for final selection.
- Successful candidate informed in writing prior to class commencing.
Selection Criteria
Portfolio, grades, completed questionnaire.
Terms and Conditions
- If you are already receiving other financial support towards your fees or if you have already received a scholarship from Media Design School in the past, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship
- By accepting the scholarship, you are agreeing to participate in all classes for the programme you have enrolled in. Failure to do so may affect your ongoing eligibility for the scholarship
- All scholarship applications will be reviewed and awarded at the discretion of the MDS Scholarship Panel
- Scholarships are awarded upon the successful applicant’s offer of place and acceptance
- Scholarships cannot be held over if an eligible candidate decides to postpone their study to a later intake. Candidates who postpone their study will need to re-apply for the scholarship without guaranteed of success
- There is no refund available to candidates who decide to withdraw from their programme for whatever reason
- Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents
Media Design School was the first school in New Zealand to provide specialised gaming degrees for aspirational game developers. Since then, we’ve been committed to supporting emerging female game developers showcase their talents, both in New Zealand and internationally. If you’re interested in studying Game Art or Game Programming, then this scholarship may be the right one for you.
The Girls in Games scholarship will give one women Game Artist and one women Game Programmer $3,000 to put towards their first year of undergraduate tuition fees at Media Design School.
Selection Criteria
To be eligible for the Girls in Games scholarship you must:
- Identify as a woman;
- Apply for the first year of either the:
- Demonstrate the potential for academic excellence in games by providing your Academic Transcript;
- If you are applying for the Bachelor of Creative Technologies (Game Art) scholarship, you will need to supply a portfolio demonstrating your artistic ability.
How to Apply
To be eligible for this scholarship, prospective applicants are required to complete the scholarship application form accessible via the provided link. We strongly advise applicants to include any noteworthy academic achievements in digital design or a closely related field within the application.
To apply for the Girls in Games scholarship, please fill out THIS FORM.
Additional Information
- Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents.
- The Game Art scholarship is also open to existing Media Design School students undertaking the Digital Creativity foundation programme.
- The submissions will be judged by Media Design School’s Academic and Admissions Panel, which will consist of representatives from the Game Development degrees as well as members from the Admissions department. The Academic and Admissions Panel’s determination of the scholarship recipients will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
Unity is the leading game and experience creation platform in the world, with over 5.5 million registered developers. At the moment, 31% of the top 1000 grossing mobile games are made with Unity.
Media Design School is currently Unity's exclusive Training and Certification Partner in New Zealand and is working to ensure that all their students graduate as Unity Certified Developers to help them get one step closer to successful careers in Game Development.
Thanks to Unity Technologies, Media Design School will offer one aspiring developer the opportunity to study game development with the number one ranked 3D animation, visual effects and game school in the Asia Pacific region by contributing $3000 towards their first year of tuition.
Selection Criteria
To be eligible for the Unity® Games Scholarship you must:
- Apply for the first year of either the:
- Demonstrate the potential for academic excellence in games by providing your Academic Transcript;
- If you are applying for the Bachelor of Creative Technologies, you will need to supply a portfolio demonstrating your artistic ability.
How to Apply
To be eligible for this scholarship, prospective applicants are required to complete the scholarship application form accessible via the provided link. We strongly advise applicants to include any noteworthy academic achievements in digital design or a closely related field within the application.
To apply for the Unity® Games Scholarship, please fill out THIS FORM.
Additional Information
Applicants must be New Zealand Citizens or Permanent Residents.
The submissions will be judged by Media Design School’s Academic and Admissions Panel, which will consist of representatives from the Game Development degrees as well as members from the Admissions department. The Academic and Admissions Panel’s determination of the scholarship recipients will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
If you’re a descendent of Ngāti Whātua with an outstanding portfolio of creative work, and your financial circumstances present a barrier to undertaking undergraduate study, then you may be eligible to apply for our Ngāti Whātua Scholarship.
This scholarship gives students who are descendants of Ngāti Whātua with potential in digital media and design the equivalent of 100% off one year of undergraduate degree-level tuition fees toward your chosen programme.
Value
100% towards fees for Year 1 studies, or Year 2 studies if student qualifies for Fees Free
Number each intake
One per semester, and dependent on the quality of the applicants
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to apply for the Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Scholarship, you must be:
- a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- a descendant of Ngāti Whātua
- able to meet the entry criteria for your chosen programme
Selection Criteria
- Outstanding portfolio ranking as assessed by the MDS Scholarship Panel
- Demonstrated potential for academic achievement at degree-level
- Demonstrated evidence of how this scholarship will make a difference in your ability to access undergraduate study
How to Apply
- Apply for your programme of choice
- Explicitly state in your Letter of Intent that you wish to apply for this scholarship and: 1) detail how this scholarship will make a difference in your ability to access undergraduate study; 2) highlight your involvement in your school or the wider Māori community with specific mention of any leadership and/or community service
- Attach a letter of support from a senior elder of Ngāti Whātua o Orākei which also confirms your whakapapa (such as the names of your parents, grandparents and in some instances great grandparents) as well as information relating to your iwi, hāpū and marae
- If you have any questions regarding your application, contact domestic@mediadesignschool.com
When we evaluate your programme application, the Recruitment Team will evaluate your eligibility to apply for this scholarship based on the eligibility and selection criteria above
Selection Process
- The MDS Scholarship Panel consists of representatives from the programme that you have applied for and may also include other relevant staff as required
- The Panel will evaluate the applications received and determine the scholarship recipients based on the merits of the student’s portfolio, programme application and supporting evidence
- The Recruitment Team will advise you in writing whether you have, or have not been successful
Terms and Conditions
- If you are already receiving other financial support towards your fees or if you have already received a scholarship from Media Design School in the past, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship
- By accepting the scholarship, you are agreeing to participate in all classes for the programme you have enrolled in. Failure to do so may affect your ongoing eligibility for the scholarship
- All scholarship applications will be reviewed and awarded at the discretion of the MDS Scholarship Panel
- Scholarships are awarded upon the successful applicant’s offer of place and acceptance
- Scholarships are subject to candidates successfully meeting programme entry criteria in addition to the eligibility and selection criteria for the scholarship
- If more applications are received than the number of scholarships available, the MDS Scholarship Panel will decide who will receive the available scholarships based on evidence of the relative strength of the candidate’s application and their Letter of Intent
- Scholarships cannot be held over if an eligible candidate decides to postpone their study to a later intake. Candidates who postpone their study will need to re-apply for the scholarship without guaranteed of success
- There is no refund available to candidates who decide to withdraw from their programme for whatever reason
- The Scholarship Panel’s determination of the scholarship recipients will be final and no correspondence will be entered into
External Scholarships
Scholarships for Māori Students
Careers NZ provides answers for many FAQs and suggestions to help you find the best way to fund your studies.
https://www.careers.govt.nz/courses/scholarships/scholarships-for-maori-learners/
Māori Education Trust provides many options for scholarships that you can apply for through the website.
https://maorieducation.org.nz/undergraduate-maori-scholarships/
Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei offers help and support for the community in a variety of fields, including education. There are scholarships that may become available throughout the year.
Scholarships for Pacific Students
Applications close 5th August!
The Toloa Tertiary Scholarship package includes tertiary tuition fees and compulsory course related fees up to $10,000, for 1 year of fulltime study for STEAM-related tertiary courses and subjects. It also includes the Toloa alumni programme – access to STEAM networks, mentors and employers.
https://www.mpp.govt.nz/funding/toloa-tertiary-scholarships/
Careers NZ provides answers for many FAQs and suggestions to help you find the best way to fund your studies.
https://www.careers.govt.nz/courses/scholarships/scholarships-for-pacific-learners/
Pacific Education Foundation offers scholarships at the beginning of the year, with scholarships for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Ministry for Pacific Peoples provides support and guidance for Pacific peoples needing assistance or to find like-minded communities.
https://www.mpp.govt.nz/funding/
Other Options
Careers NZ provides answers for many FAQs and suggestions to help you find the best way to fund your studies.
https://careers.govt.nz/courses/scholarships/where-to-find-scholarships
Applications close 12th August
To be eligible to apply for the grant, you must:
- be aged between 12 and 24
- have a meaningful connection to the Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board area
- be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- include a letter from your school principal, teacher, tutor, community leader, or employer in support of your application.
You may be eligible for up to $2000
Rainbow NZ Trust General Tertiary Scholarships
The Trust and their sponsors offer a total of 8 scholarships of $4,000 for study at any University, Polytechnic or Wānanga in New Zealand.
More information available at:
http://rainbownzcharitabletrust.org.nz/what-we-fund/#tertiary-scholarships
Manurewa Rangatahi Youth Grants - Ngā Takoha Rangatahi o Manurewa
Provides funds to help young people in Manurewa connect, thrive and achieve their aspirations.
If you are aged between 12 and 24 years old, you can apply for a grant:
- to move into further education, or trade or vocational training
- for leadership or youth development.
More information available at: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/grants-community-support-housing/grants/local-board-grants/manurewa-local-board-grants/Pages/grant-details.aspx?itemID=60
Papakura Youth Scholarship Programme - Te Hōtaka Karahipi mō ngā Rangatahi o Papakura
Aims to provide funds to help young people in Papakura connect, thrive and achieve their aspirations.
If you are aged between 12 and 24 years, you can apply for a grant:
- to move into further education, or trade or vocational training
- for leadership or youth development.
More information available at: https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/grants-community-support-housing/grants/local-board-grants/papakura-local-board-grants/Pages/grant-details.aspx?itemID=61
