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Bursary Overview
The International Access Bursary Scheme supports students from outside of Australia who are struggling with financial challenges which would otherwise prevent them from being able to commence their CGSI Diploma or Bachelor studies.
What you can study
Bursaries apply to eligible CGSI Diploma or Bachelor courses commencing with the February 2027 intake. Whether you’re interested in animation, games, visual development, or digital art, you’ll study in a specialised pathway designed to help you develop industry-relevant skills and build a professional portfolio.
Eligible courses include:
- Diploma/Bachelor of Digital Art (2D Animation)
- Diploma/Bachelor of Digital Art (Concept Art)
- Diploma/Bachelor of Digital Art (Illustration)
- Diploma/Bachelor of Animation and VFX (FX)
- Diploma/Bachelor of Animation and VFX (3D Modeling)
- Diploma/Bachelor of Animation and VFX (3D Animation)
- Diploma/Bachelor of Game Development (Game Design)
- Diploma/Bachelor of Game Development (Game Programming)
Not sure which pathway is right for you?
Our Student Advisors can help you explore your options and find the course that best aligns with your interests, strengths, and career goals.Diploma bursary valued at either AUD 4,840 or AUD 9,680
Who Can Apply
The International Access Bursary Scheme is for passionate and creative students who are interested in pursuing a Diploma or Bachelor course in the creative industries but are limited by their personal, financial and/or life circumstances.
Applicants must:
- Be an offshore, international applicant or any person not entitled to the FEE-HELP program
- Be applying for entry into an eligible CGSI Diploma or Bachelor course, either at the first trimester, or at the third trimester if you are applying for a Bachelor course and have previously completed a CGSI Diploma
- Submit a bursary application as part of a CGSI course application
- Not be receiving financial support towards tuition fees from any of the following organisations:
- Their home government
- Any other foreign government
- Any Australian government programs
- Their existing university
- Any international organisations such as the World Bank
- Be willing to provide documentation to support an application which evidences hardship such as:
- Low household income
- Employment status
- Dependants
- Living situation
- In receipt of government financial support
- Currently experiencing exceptional hardship
How to Apply
To apply for an International Access Bursary, you will need to discuss your current circumstances with a CGSI course advisor, who will advise you of your potential eligibility.
If it is determined that you meet the conditions to be considered eligible to apply for an Access Bursary, you will be asked to provide documentary evidence relevant to at least 3 of the 5 areas stated below:
- Income Assessment (based on regional median income)
- Housing Costs as a percentage of income
- Dependants
- Government Support
- Exceptional Circumstances (e.g. family breakdown, domestic violence, serious illness, recent redundancy, death of main earner in family etc.)
This evidence could include:
- Government income-support statement
- Tax assessment
- Recent payslips
- Employer income confirmation
- Business financial statements (self-employed)
- Tenancy agreement
- Mortgage statement
- Utility bills
- Childcare invoices
- Medical expenses
- Medical certificate
- Redundancy letter
- Domestic violence support documentation
- Natural disaster impacts
- Death certificate of supporting family member
Your application will then be assessed based on a scoring matrix, and the outcome communicated to you via email.
If successful, in order to continue receiving bursary support after initial enrolment, you must maintain a minimum GPA of 5.0 on a 7.0 point scale measured at key junctures of your study. Monitoring of academic performance will occur after every 80 credit points completed, i.e. at the end of Trimester 2 and the end of Trimester 4 for full-time Bachelor students.
Application Deadline
Bursary applications for the February 2027 intake close at 6:00pm AEST on Friday 18 December 2026.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application before the February 2027 intake commences. This includes both successful and unsuccessful applicants, so you’ll know where you stand before making your final study plans.
Apply
Talk to us about the bursary.
Applications close Friday 18 December 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, part of the bursary award requires you to maintain academic standards in order to retain your bursary for future trimesters. This means you are expected to submit all assessments, and maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 5.0 or above at each level of academic study (2 trimesters or 80 credits of study) to continue to be eligible for the bursary to be applied to the following level.
Yes, you can apply for both, however you are only able to be awarded a bursary OR a scholarship, not both.
We recommend that you apply for both at the same time. You cannot receive a bursary if you do not meet the eligibility requirements for enrolment into a course of study and, even if you are eligible to study with us, you may not be eligible to receive a bursary. The bursary review and awarding process will take place during the application and enrolment process so that you can make an informed decision about your study plans before making a financial commitment. The bursary is provided in the form of a tuition fee reduction for CGSI’s Diploma and Bachelor courses once you have met all conditions for entry into your course of study and the conditions required for awarding of the bursary.
All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application before the relevant trimester intake commences.
Successful applicants will receive a partial tuition bursary of 20% or 40% towards their eligible CGSI Diploma or Bachelor course. Bursary details and conditions will be provided to successful recipients.