The Public Education Foundation’s Australia for UNHCR Beddie Scholarship at AFTRS is for individuals with a refugee background who intend to study film or television studies at a tertiary level in 2026. This scholarship is for study at the prestigious Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Scholarship applicants who have not applied for the AFTRS Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course by Wednesday, 8 October 2025 may not be considered for this scholarship
This scholarship has been established to encourage greater understanding across the Australian community of the refugee experience. It is intended to assist the scholarship holder develop their talents and gain a qualification as a storyteller in film, television, online media or creative industry. This scholarship is valued at over $80,000.
The scholarship is to cover educational expenses such as:
- Full tuition for the Bachelor of Arts program (3 years full-time) at the AFTRS ($52,128*)
- Some living expenses such as transport, technology costs and equipment ($10,000 pa)
- Vocational pathways and internship opportunity at Australia for UNHCR
If a student leaves AFTRS before completion of the course, the scholarship will lapse. Any unspent monies at the end of the scholarship period must be refunded to the Public Education Foundation scholarship fund. Before applying for this scholarship, please ensure that you read the Scholarship Terms and Conditions available on our website.
Basic Eligibility
- Refugee
- Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Year 12 student or older
- Demonstrated interest in film, television and/or creative writing
- Willingness to engage in Australia for UNHCR, AFTRS and Public Education Foundation events
- Commitment to report on progress during course and after graduation
Selection Criteria
To be considered for this scholarship the applicant should demonstrate the following criteria:
- A personal statement
- Tell us about yourself and what this scholarship would mean to you. What are the cultural perspectives that distinguish your goals and career aspirations as a storyteller, and how might your ongoing creative practice contribute to positive change within the wider refugee community
- Experiencing personal or socioeconomic disadvantage
- A commitment to a career in the creative industries
- Creative thinking in the form of storytelling
- An ability to produce and communicate thoughts and feelings within a piece of creative work.
- A willingness to give voice to the refugee experience and how it impacts their perspective as a storyteller. This does not mean you have to create content exclusively related to the refugee experience
Selection Process (including Student Interview)
There is a two-phase selection process for the scholarship. In the first phase, a selection panel will review all scholarship applications and assess them against the selection criteria. The selection panel will include representatives of the Public Education Foundation, Australia for UNHCR and AFTRS. After considering all applications, the selection panel will recommend a shortlist of applicants for the second phase of the selection process. The selection panel will consider the applicant’s creative excellence through the course application creative tasks submitted to AFTRS.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome via email. If successful, where applicable, the scholarship recipient’s school principal or equivalent will also receive notification directly.
Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production
This course is designed for students with a passion for storytelling and an aspiration to have a career in the screen industry. AFTRS is eager to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds who are imaginative, collaborative and keen to develop their voices as Australian storytellers.
For more information: https://www.aftrs.edu.au/award-course/bachelor-of-arts-screen-production/
Scholarship applicants who have not applied for the AFTRS Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course by 28 October 2025 may not be considered for this scholarship.
Application Form and Attachments
All applications for the Australia for UNHCR Beddie Scholarship at AFTRS must be submitted via the Foundation’s online portal. You will need to sign up for a PEF-Apply account to access the form.
Prior to starting your application, you should compile the following information ready to submit:
- Applicant details including:
- full name
- gender
- date of birth
- phone number
- address
- email (please ensure you nominate an email account you regularly access)
- Residence status (copy of residency Visa or Citizenship certificate is a requirement)
- Number of years in formal education before coming to Australia
- Parent/guardian details where applicable or if applicant is under 18 years old.
- School details, (if the applicant is in year 12 or equivalent at the time of application):
- name of school or educational institution
- address
- principal name
- Basic information about you and your family:
- who is the primary caregiver at home
- highest education qualification of your immediate family
- non-English-speaking Background
- country of origin of your parents and yourself
- which languages you speak and are spoken at home
- whether you have a diagnosed disability or learning difficulty
- whether you have been in out-of-home care
- socio-economic background
- how you found out about the scholarship
- A copy of all pages of your most recent academic record
- A personal reference from someone who knows you. It could be a teacher, coach, family friend or an employer. (PDF or Word format, maximum 400 words)
Important Links
Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production – Course page
2026 Application Guidance Notes
Submitting your application
Once you have finalised your application and all elements are complete (including references and supporting statements as required) you can submit it for review. Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on Tuesday, 28 October 2025.
For Further Information
Call the Public Education Foundation on 02 7814 2806 or email us at
scholarships@publiceducationfoundation.org.au.
We also encourage you to visit our website to learn more about PEF and the work that we do: publiceducationfoundation.org.au.
* Course tuition fee
Australia for UNHCR Beddie Scholarship at AFTRS
The Public Education Foundation’s Australia for UNHCR Beddie Scholarship at AFTRS is for individuals with a refugee background who intend to study film or television studies at a tertiary level in 2026. This scholarship is for study at the prestigious Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS). Scholarship applicants who have not applied for the AFTRS Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course by Wednesday, 8 October 2025 may not be considered for this scholarship
This scholarship has been established to encourage greater understanding across the Australian community of the refugee experience. It is intended to assist the scholarship holder develop their talents and gain a qualification as a storyteller in film, television, online media or creative industry. This scholarship is valued at over $80,000.
The scholarship is to cover educational expenses such as:
- Full tuition for the Bachelor of Arts program (3 years full-time) at the AFTRS ($52,128*)
- Some living expenses such as transport, technology costs and equipment ($10,000 pa)
- Vocational pathways and internship opportunity at Australia for UNHCR
If a student leaves AFTRS before completion of the course, the scholarship will lapse. Any unspent monies at the end of the scholarship period must be refunded to the Public Education Foundation scholarship fund. Before applying for this scholarship, please ensure that you read the Scholarship Terms and Conditions available on our website.
Basic Eligibility
- Refugee
- Australian citizen or permanent resident
- Year 12 student or older
- Demonstrated interest in film, television and/or creative writing
- Willingness to engage in Australia for UNHCR, AFTRS and Public Education Foundation events
- Commitment to report on progress during course and after graduation
Selection Criteria
To be considered for this scholarship the applicant should demonstrate the following criteria:
- A personal statement
- Tell us about yourself and what this scholarship would mean to you. What are the cultural perspectives that distinguish your goals and career aspirations as a storyteller, and how might your ongoing creative practice contribute to positive change within the wider refugee community
- Experiencing personal or socioeconomic disadvantage
- A commitment to a career in the creative industries
- Creative thinking in the form of storytelling
- An ability to produce and communicate thoughts and feelings within a piece of creative work.
- A willingness to give voice to the refugee experience and how it impacts their perspective as a storyteller. This does not mean you have to create content exclusively related to the refugee experience
Selection Process (including Student Interview)
There is a two-phase selection process for the scholarship. In the first phase, a selection panel will review all scholarship applications and assess them against the selection criteria. The selection panel will include representatives of the Public Education Foundation, Australia for UNHCR and AFTRS. After considering all applications, the selection panel will recommend a shortlist of applicants for the second phase of the selection process. The selection panel will consider the applicant’s creative excellence through the course application creative tasks submitted to AFTRS.
Applicants will be notified of the outcome via email. If successful, where applicable, the scholarship recipient’s school principal or equivalent will also receive notification directly.
Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production
This course is designed for students with a passion for storytelling and an aspiration to have a career in the screen industry. AFTRS is eager to work with people from a diverse range of backgrounds who are imaginative, collaborative and keen to develop their voices as Australian storytellers.
For more information: https://www.aftrs.edu.au/award-course/bachelor-of-arts-screen-production/
Scholarship applicants who have not applied for the AFTRS Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production course by 28 October 2025 may not be considered for this scholarship.
Application Form and Attachments
All applications for the Australia for UNHCR Beddie Scholarship at AFTRS must be submitted via the Foundation’s online portal. You will need to sign up for a PEF-Apply account to access the form.
Prior to starting your application, you should compile the following information ready to submit:
- Applicant details including:
- full name
- gender
- date of birth
- phone number
- address
- email (please ensure you nominate an email account you regularly access)
- Residence status (copy of residency Visa or Citizenship certificate is a requirement)
- Number of years in formal education before coming to Australia
- Parent/guardian details where applicable or if applicant is under 18 years old.
- School details, (if the applicant is in year 12 or equivalent at the time of application):
- name of school or educational institution
- address
- principal name
- Basic information about you and your family:
- who is the primary caregiver at home
- highest education qualification of your immediate family
- non-English-speaking Background
- country of origin of your parents and yourself
- which languages you speak and are spoken at home
- whether you have a diagnosed disability or learning difficulty
- whether you have been in out-of-home care
- socio-economic background
- how you found out about the scholarship
- A copy of all pages of your most recent academic record
- A personal reference from someone who knows you. It could be a teacher, coach, family friend or an employer. (PDF or Word format, maximum 400 words)
Important Links
Bachelor of Arts Screen: Production – Course page
2026 Application Guidance Notes
Submitting your application
Once you have finalised your application and all elements are complete (including references and supporting statements as required) you can submit it for review. Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm on Tuesday, 28 October 2025.
For Further Information
Call the Public Education Foundation on 02 7814 2806 or email us at
scholarships@publiceducationfoundation.org.au.
We also encourage you to visit our website to learn more about PEF and the work that we do: publiceducationfoundation.org.au.
* Course tuition fee