VFS Scholarships, Mentorships and Work Experience Opportunities for Women in Game Design have been Relaunched

Historically a male-dominated industry despite 44% of gamers being women, game developers recognize the need for change. Equity for women in the gaming workspace should be a priority and the best way to achieve this is by supporting more women to secure careers in the game industry. Therefore, Vancouver Film School has partnered with The Coalition, Blackbird Interactive, East Side Games, Timbre Games, Relic Entertainment and A Thinking Ape to create a scholarship fund of over $150,000 exclusively for women and non-binary persons looking to enter the game industry.

Scholarships, mentorships and job opportunities will be offered for the Game Design program start dates from May 2023 until January 2024.

About VFS Game Design

VFS’s 12-month Game Design program focuses on three core specializations: Coding, Game Art, and Level Design. Students tackle individual and team-based projects involving collaboration with other VFS programs including 3D Animation, Programming, Sound Design, Writing, and VR/AR. Recognized as a Leading Game Design School in North America by Princeton Review Journal, the program is continually updated to remain in lockstep with the industry.

In 2022, VFS alumni were credited on the best-selling video games worldwide, including Elden Ring, FIFA 23, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, in a global industry worth $184 billion in 2022 and estimated to reach more than US$211 billion by 2025.

VFS Laurels

Scholarship Details:

All mentorship and work opportunities are for applicants 17 years or older who are legally entitled to work in Canada.
Application deadline: Approximately one month prior to each Game Design program start date.
Eligible program start dates: May 1, August 28, October 23, 2023 and January 2, 2024.
All selected winners will be required to pay an application fee to enroll at VFS.

When the application portal is open for your submission, based on the studio you select, the "APPLY NOW" button will take you to a page with the full application process explained to you, along with the submission form.

The following outlines each scholarship, mentorship, and employment offer, as applicable to each studio, and the designated Game Design program start date:

East Side Games

Beginning as an indie game studio in 2011, East Side Games is a game developer, publisher, and technology provider. They've delivered many memorable mobile games like RuPaul's Drag Race Superstar, Trailer Park Boys: Greasy Money, and Archer: Danger Phone.

East Side Games and VFS will contribute one (1) full-tuition scholarship for the Game Design program starting May 1, 2023. In addition, East Side Games will offer mentorship and a 6-month paid internship post-graduation to the one full-tuition scholarship winner.

Program Start Date: May 1, 2023

Applications Open: March 8, 2023

Applications Close: April 5, 2023

Winner Announced: April 21, 2023

Apply Now

The Coalition

The Coalition is a growing team of talented, creative, fun-loving professionals, united in their passion for Gears of War. As a Microsoft first-party studio, they focus on pushing the limits of interactive entertainment and taking Gears to new heights.

The Coalition and VFS will contribute one (1) full-tuition scholarship for the Game Design program starting May 1, 2023. In addition, The Coalition will offer mentorship and a 6-month paid internship post-graduation to the one full-tuition scholarship winner.

Program Start Date: May 1, 2023

Applications Open: March 8, 2023

Applications Close: April 5, 2023

Winner Announced: April 21, 2023

Apply Now

Timbre Games

Timbre Games is a newly founded game studio that focuses on creating new experiences with new voices. They value diversity in the workplace and 67% of their team are women. They are currently working on some undisclosed AAA projects.

Timbre Games will offer mentorship and a 6-month paid internship post-graduation to the applicant selected.

Program Start Date: August 28, 2023

Applications Open: June 28, 2023

Applications Close: August 2, 2023

Winner Announced: August 17, 2023

Stay tuned! The application portal will open June 28.

Blackbird Interactive

Blackbird Interactive is an independent game development studio located in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Founded in 2010, Blackbird is dedicated to creating uncompromising immersive games with a strong narrative and distinct art style. Blackbird Interactive is best known for its 2016 release Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak™, it's 2020 early access release Hardspace: Shipbreaker, and will release Homeworld 3 and Minecraft Legends in 2023.

Blackbird Interactive and VFS will contribute one (1) full-tuition scholarship for the Game Design program starting October 23, 2023. In addition, Blackbird Interactive will offer mentorship and a 6-month paid internship post-graduation to the one full-tuition scholarship winner.

Program Start Date: October 23, 2023

Applications Open: August 23, 2023

Applications Close: September 27, 2023

Winner Announced: October 13, 2023

Stay tuned! The application portal will open August 23.

A Thinking Ape

A Thinking Ape was founded in California in 2008 as a chat platform. The studio relocated to Vancouver in 2010 when it shifted into mobile free-to-play game development. They've developed mobile games such as Witch Arcana - Magic School, Single City, Party in My Dorm, Casino X, Kingdoms at War, and Kingdom of Heckfire.

A Thinking Ape and VFS will contribute one (1) full-tuition scholarship for the Game Design program starting January 2, 2024. In addition, A Thinking Ape will offer mentorship and a 6-month paid internship post-graduation to the one full-tuition scholarship winner.

Program Start Date: January 2, 2024

Applications Open: November 2, 2023

Applications Close: November 29, 2023

Winner Announced: December 15, 2023

Stay tuned! The application portal will open November 2.

Relic Entertainment

Founded in 1997, Relic seeks to balance the priorities of people and products while creating the best entertainment software available. They've recently released Age of Empires IV and Company of Heroes 3.

Relic Entertainment and VFS will contribute one (1) full-tuition scholarship for the Game Design program starting January 2, 2024. In addition, Relic Entertainment will offer mentorship to the one full-tuition scholarship winner.