Qualifications & Scholarship Details

• Scholarship applications must be submitted on or before Thursday, January 15th, 2009.
• Only full-time university (or similar) students are eligible, and must be 18 years of age or older as of March 23, 2009.
• Applicant must be an IGDA Student Member in good standing. If you are not currently a Student Member, you must join the IGDA before applying for the scholarship. All applications will be verified.
• Past scholarship recipients are not eligible.
• Recipients will be awarded one Main Conference Pass, with access to all sessions, roundtables, and keynotes. Breakfast and lunch included.
• Students are responsible for all travel arrangements and related costs.
• Scholarship applications will be judged by a panel of professional game developers.
• Each scholarship recipient will be paired with an industry mentor.
• Scholarship recipients will participate in a local studio visit and orientation session on March 24th.
• Recipients will be announced before February 12th, 2009 (the early rate pricing deadline).

Judging Criteria

To help students hone their applications and to better understand what the judges are looking for, here's the basic criteria that judges will use to rate applicants:
1. Relevance - Will attending GDC help the student achieve his or her specific educational and/or career goals?
2. Initiative - Has the student demonstrated continued dedication to game development and effort to educate themselves?
3. Special Circumstances - Has the student overcome any unusual challenges or obstacles?
4. Communication - Are the ideas expressed in the essays communicated effectively and efficiently?
5. Tilt Factor - Overall, does it seem like this student would be fun and interesting to have around at GDC?
6. Bonus: Veteran judge Dave Weinstein has shared his personal guidance/insight for judging