Girls for Gaming Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences

Description
**Objective:** The Girls for Gaming Scholarship supports and amplifies efforts to empower and educate girls and young women about the wide range of careers that make up the business side of the game industry. **Focus:** The award targets applicants pursuing non-technical roles—such as law, marketing, public relations, business management, and human resources—and seeks to normalize gender diversity across those fields. Applicants pursuing technical game-development careers should apply instead to the WomenIn scholarship. The program emphasizes measurable impact, leadership, and plans to build a career or early professional trajectory within the industry.

Key takeaways
- Designed for people advancing gender diversity in the business side of games (non-technical roles).
- Applicants must intend to pursue or be in an early-career role (first four years) in game-industry business functions.
- Technical-track applicants should use the separate WomenIn scholarship.

Eligibility
**Status & Timing:** Applicants must be full-time undergraduates or graduate students enrolled at an accredited college/university during the 2026–27 academic year, or early professionals (within their first four industry years) working in the United States. **Academic Requirements:** Any major is acceptable, but candidates must have a minimum 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must be at least 21 years old by February 1, 2027; applicants under 21 may still apply but cannot participate in D.I.C.E. Summit activities.

Key takeaways
- Full-time student for 2026–27 or early professional (≤4 years) in the U.S.
- Any major is allowed; required minimum GPA is 3.3/4.0.
- Must be 21+ by Feb 1, 2027 to participate in D.I.C.E. Summit events.

Application requirements
**Personal Statement:** Upload a maximum two-page personal statement describing your studies, how you will benefit the game industry, and addressing service, leadership, character, and financial need. **Recommendations and Proof:** Submit two current, signed recommendation letters from professional advisors, supervisors, or academic faculty who can speak to your leadership and potential to contribute to the game industry. **Enrollment/Employment Evidence:** Students must provide an online transcript plus proof of enrollment; early professionals must provide proof of employment within the last 12 months.

Key takeaways
- Required uploads: two-page personal statement, two signed recommendation letters, and transcript/proof of enrollment or proof of employment.
- Recommendation letters must come from supervisors, advisors, or faculty and address industry potential.
- Student applicants submit transcripts; early professionals submit recent employment proof.

Restrictions & compliance
**Ineligible Relationships & Prior Awards:** Immediate family members of AIAS Foundation board/staff and individual major donors (≥ $1,000) may not apply; previous scholarship recipients are also ineligible. **Accreditation & Legal Compliance:** Academic institutions must be recognized by standard accrediting bodies; the Foundation retains sole discretion on accreditation questions. Non-U.S. applicants may apply, but any non-U.S. citizen awardee must not appear on a U.S. “Specifically Designated Nationals” watch list.

Key takeaways
- Family members of Foundation leadership/staff and major donors are disqualified.
- Prior recipients cannot reapply; the Foundation decides on accreditation eligibility.
- Non-U.S. citizens are eligible unless listed on the specified terrorism watch list.

Award value
**Amount not specified:** The original guidance does not state scholarship amounts or number of awards. **Next steps:** Consult the AIAS Foundation or the official Girls for Gaming Scholarship page for current award amounts and annual funding details before applying.

Key takeaways
- Scholarship dollar amount and number of awards are not provided in the source text.
- Confirm award value and distribution on the official Foundation webpage.
- Budget planning for applicants should assume variable funding year to year.

Application timeline
**Dates not provided:** The source material does not list application opening/closing dates or decision timelines. **Recommendation:** Check the AIAS Foundation website for the current application window and submission deadlines, and prepare recommendation requests and documentation at least 6–8 weeks in advance.

Key takeaways
- No specific application dates or decision timeline are included in the provided information.
- Verify deadlines on the official scholarship page before preparing materials.
- Start collecting transcripts and recommendation letters early (6–8 weeks recommended).

History of the award
**Background not included:** The provided text contains no historical overview, founding information, or past recipient data for the Girls for Gaming Scholarship. **How to learn more:** For origin, evolution, and impact stories, review Foundation press releases, past award announcements, and the scholarship’s web page or contact AIAS Foundation staff directly.

Key takeaways
- The source does not include the scholarship’s history or founding details.
- Use Foundation resources or public press materials to research award history.
- Reach out to the AIAS Foundation for official historical context or impact reports.