Scholars Program

• Applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited (regional or national) institution and enrolled in a Associate’s (2-year minimum program), Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral program or have graduated after April 1, 2024, and are not currently working in the game industry.

• Students must be working towards music-related degree, or a technical degree with a significant emphasis on audio sequencing and design.

•  Applicants must get an Academic Sponsor from their institution. A short recommendation email must be sent from the Academic Sponsor’s “.edu” email address and also to verify the student’s enrollment in an eligible degree program.

• All applicants must be 18 or older on the first day of the event.

• Applicants are responsible for all travel arrangements, hotel, incidental expenses, etc.

• Selected Scholars may be required to write a short (1-2 page) post-conference report to be turned into their academic sponsor and to the Game Audio Network Guild for publication.

Who is eligible to become a Game Audio Network Guild Scholar?

          • Applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students at an accredited (regional or national) institution and enrolled in an Associate’s (2-year minimum program),  Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral program

          • Game Audio Network Guild Scholars must be 18 years old as of March 21, 2024

I’m an audio programming student.  Can I apply?

          • You may apply as an audio programmer, provided you are able to show your coursework includes significant audio study and/or demonstrate a deep interest in interactive sound through project work.  You may submit evidence of audio programming work in lieu of the music/sound design demo when applying.  if you have musical training, please mention that as part of the application.

What if I am unable to contact my Academic Sponsor before Applications Close?

          •  Please submit your application with a tentative sponsor.  If necessary, you may change your academic sponsor after you have submitted your application.

          •  Please note, however, that your application may not be considered until we have received the confirmation email from your sponsor.

What about travel, hotel, etc.?

          • The Game Audio Network Guild Scholar Program does not provide for travel, hotel, meals or other expenses.  It provides only event registration fees

What is the “Academic Sponsor?” 

          • The Academic Sponsor is the individual at your institution who will verify your status as a student or recent graduate.  Most typically it is a professor who is familiar with you and your work.  They will need to send an email to [email protected] verifying your enrollment in one of the programs listed above.

How will my application be judged?

         • Scholar applications will be judged by members that include the Game Audio Network Guild Advisory board, Board of Directors and Officers.

         • We are looking for professionalism, commitment, scholarship and service.  Please consider the application as you would any academic application.  Use formal language, proof-read and check your spelling and grammar and ensure your ideas are clearly communicated.

         • Please read and carefully follow submission instructions. Failure to accurately follow the application instructions will negatively impact your application.

What if I have other questions?

         • Please send an email to [email protected] and we will to our best to answer any questions you may have about the G.A.N.G. Scholars program

Instructions

Please prepare a well-formatted PDF file with the information below and essay question responses.  

Please set the filename to [LastName][FirstName]_ScholarsApp.pdf and send your application as an attachment to [email protected].  Specify “Game Audio Network Guild Scholars Application” as the subject line.

The application should include:

          • Full Name
          • Email contact
          • Contact Email
          • Phone
          • School
          • Degree
          • Grade Point Average (e.g 3.5/4.0) if it is used by your institution.
          • Minors (if applicable)
          • Expected Graduation Date
          •  Academic Sponsor Name, Title, Contact (usually a professor)
                    You should ask your Academic Sponsor  to send a brief letter of recommendation on your behalf to complete the application
          • Link to 2-minute music sample example, sound design sample or project
                    The link can be soundcloud, youtube, reelcrafter, etc.  Please link to only one specific demo (not to a web page with multiple samples) and limit the length to 120 seconds. 

Essay Questions: 

Please limit each essay to 250 words or less.

          1. What are your career objectives and how will attending the event help you to achieve them?

          2. Describe how you have helped, mentored or assisted in someone else’s development: Why is it important to have composers & sound designers help other composers and sound designers, even in an industry of intense competition such as game audio? 

          3. (optional) Please let us know anything else you believe we should know about you when considering your application. 

Read about previous Game Audio Network Guild Scholars

GDC 2017 Scholars

Marco Valerio Antonini at GDC 2016

GameSoundCon 2016