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Postgraduate Scholarships and Opportunities

 

NAS offers valuable professional development opportunities to graduating students. Including:

  • International Residencies
  • Scholarships to support further study & research travel
  • Awards with a total value of $200k per year
  • Exhibitions
  • Internships

These opportunities ensure that the talent & artistic potential of our students continues to develop & flourish beyond study at NAS.

The following 2026 Postgraduate Scholarships and Opportunities are currently open:

  • MFA1 > MFA2: Clitheroe Foundation Scholarship, East Sydney Doctors Scholarship and Tropical Lab International Art Camp
  • MFA2: Lift Off Award
  • BFA3 & MFA2: Aboriginal Art Centre Internships

See the application timelines, guidelines, and forms for each opportunity below.

 

CLITHEROE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP

The Clitheroe Foundation has generously provided $20,000 to support students continuing in the Master of Fine Art program at the National Art School. The Scholarship provides $10,000 each to two students who are completing the first year of the MFA and progressing into their second year.

Recipients may use the Scholarship to support tuition fees and course-related costs, or as a stipend to assist with living expenses during the second year of their degree.

The Scholarship is open to students continuing their progress in the Master of Fine Art program at the National Art School.

Applications for the 2026 Scholarship open until Sunday 16 November 2025.

Please read the Application Guidelines before completing the Application Form.

TROPICAL LAB International Art Camp

For the 20th edition of TROPICAL LAB, taking place from 16 July to 31 July 2026, the National Art School will nominate one current Master of Fine Art student to participate in the program.

TROPICAL LAB is an international art camp hosted by LASALLE College of the Arts in Singapore. Designed for art academies and institutes worldwide, it is a dynamic and immersive fourteen-day program that brings together over 20 student-artists from diverse institutions across the globe.

This intensive experience offers a unique platform for student-artists to research, experiment, and collaborate in the creation of contemporary artworks across all mediums, methods, and approaches. It is both a real and imaginative space for artistic exploration.

The selected participant will receive:

  • Accommodation in Singapore
  • Local travel and studio space
  • $1000 AUD towards flights and transfers

The program includes field trips, talks, and seminars led by established international and Singaporean artists. It culminates in a curated exhibition presented by LASALLE’s curatorial division, the Institute of Contemporary Art Singapore.

Applications are open until Sunday 16 November 2025.

Please read the Application Guidelines before completing the Application Form.

EAST SYDNEY DOCTORS SCHOLARSHIP

The East Sydney Doctors Scholarship is generously funded by East Sydney Doctors. The Scholarship provides $5,000 to a student completing the first year of the Master of Fine Art degree and going into the second year of the program at the National Art School.

The recipient is intended to use the Scholarship as a stipend to support living and study expenses. The Scholarship is open to students continuing their progress in the Master of Fine Art program at the National Art School.

Applications for the 2026 Scholarship will open on Tuesday 7 October 2025 to Sunday 16 November 2025. 

Please read the Application Guidelines before completing the Application Form.

LIFT OFF AWARD

The Lift Off Award, generously funded by private donors, will provide $20,000 to a promising graduating MFA candidate from the National Art School.

The successful recipient will be eligible to use the funding to undertake an artist residency, international travel, to establish a studio, purchase specialised equipment, mount an exhibition, a publication or any project that requires a lift off to support their burgeoning art practice.

Applications for the 2026 Award will open on Tuesday 7 October 2025 to Sunday 16 November 2025. 

Please read the Application Guidelines before completing the Application Form.

TWEED REGIONAL GALLERY & MARGARET OLLEY ART CENTRE NANCY FAIRFAX (AIR) AWARD

The Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre boasts an on-site, live-in artist in residence studio called the Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence Studio (AIR).

The AIR studio is generously supported by benefactor Mr Tim Fairfax AC and named in honour of his mother Nancy Fairfax, who was a great friend of Margaret Olley.

The AIR program includes:

  • A $5000 stipend
  • A two to four-week studio residency
  • A three-month solo exhibition in the Friends Gallery at the Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre.

Please note: The AIR Award is a biennial opportunity, with the next application period scheduled for October 2026. Eligible applicants include 2025 graduates and 2026 graduands.

ABORIGINAL ART CENTRE INTERNSHIPS

The Aboriginal Art Centre Internship (AACI) program is made possible through the generous support of Sharon Toffler and Mark Tedeschi AM QC.

These internships provide graduating students with an opportunity to acquire practical arts management experience and training in an active Aboriginal community art centre environment. Working closely with the Art Centre Manager, interns will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with artists and day-to-day arts centre operations. Successful applicants are expected to take up the internship in 2026.

Recipients will be provided with transport to and from the art centre, accommodation, and stipend for the ten-week period of the internship (usually held between June – October).

Applications will be open to students completing the Bachelor of Fine Art or Master of Fine Art programs in 2025.

Applications for the 2026 AACI program will open on Tuesday 7 October 2025 to Sunday 16 November 2025.

Please read the Application Guidelines before completing the Application Form.

CONTACT

Student Services

+61 2 9339 8744

[email protected]

Emily Ebbs during her residency at the Nancy Fairfax Artist in Residence Studio in 2023. Image credit: Tweed Regional Gallery & Margeret Olley Art Centre.
#Follow us on Instagram

Final call! This is your last chance to apply for our BFA degree for 2026.

Applications close 29 January.

Apply now 🔗 in bio.

View Instagram post by nas_au

Jan 12

Open post by nas_au with ID 18307972618254872
Final call! This is your last chance to apply for our BFA degree for 2026. Applications close 29 January. Apply now 🔗 in bio.

Join us from 6–9pm on Thursday 22 January for the opening of SEARCHERS: Graffiti and Contemporary Art.

Featuring Ben Aitken, Howard Arkley, BAGL, BREAK, Andrew Browne, Daniel Crooks, Adam Cullen, Mikala Dwyer, Dale Frank, Shaun Gladwell, Brendan Huntley, Rhys John Kaye, Luke Kennedy, LAZY, Mim Libro, Fiona Lowry, Eddie Martin, MACH, Tony McGillick, Paul McNeil, TV Moore, Callum Morton, Tresor Murace, Sidney Nolan, POWER, Ben Quilty, Scott Redford, Reko Rennie, RUM, Leslie Rice, Joan Ross, Khaled Sabsabi, Tim Silver, SNAIL, SPICE, Bridget Stehli, Maya Stocks, Latai Taumoepeau & TAVEN

RSVP 🔗 in bio.

Presented as part of @sydney_festival.

—
Sidney Nolan, ‘Untitled’, 1983, spray can enamel on canvas, Nolan Collection, managed by Canberra Museum and Gallery on behalf of the Australian Government

View Instagram post by nas_au

Jan 9

Open post by nas_au with ID 17980140308789852
Join us from 6–9pm on Thursday 22 January for the opening of SEARCHERS: Graffiti and Contemporary Art. Featuring Ben Aitken, Howard Arkley, BAGL, BREAK, Andrew Browne, Daniel Crooks, Adam Cullen, Mikala Dwyer, Dale Frank, Shaun Gladwell, Brendan Huntley, Rhys John Kaye, Luke Kennedy, LAZY, Mim Libro, Fiona Lowry, Eddie Martin, MACH, Tony McGillick, Paul McNeil, TV Moore, Callum Morton, Tresor Murace, Sidney Nolan, POWER, Ben Quilty, Scott Redford, Reko Rennie, RUM, Leslie Rice, Joan Ross, Khaled Sabsabi, Tim Silver, SNAIL, SPICE, Bridget Stehli, Maya Stocks, Latai Taumoepeau & TAVEN RSVP 🔗 in bio. Presented as part of @sydney_festival. — Sidney Nolan, ‘Untitled’, 1983, spray can enamel on canvas, Nolan Collection, managed by Canberra Museum and Gallery on behalf of the Australian Government

Marking 20 years of the National Art School Gallery, we are thrilled to share this year`s program of ambitious group and solo exhibitions that foster critical appreciation and innovative art practice.

SEARCHERS: Graffiti and Contemporary Art
17 January – 11 April
Opening: Thurs 22 January, 6pm
Bringing together over thirty of Australia`s most dynamic artists united by one charged medium: spray paint, presented as part of @sydney_festival.

QUEER CONTEMPORARY
Liz Bradshaw: I didn`t expect to live this long
13 February – 7 March
Opening: Thurs 12 February, 6pm
Experience a large-scale sculpture and installation by NAS alum Liz Bradshaw as part of @sydneymardigras.

Mitch Cairns: Artist`s Mouth
1 May – 11 July
Opening: Thurs 30 April, 6pm
Presented with the @instituteofmodernart, the largest and most comprehensive exhibition by Sydney-based artist and NAS alum Mitch Cairns.

Margaret Olley: Australian Intimiste
31 July – 25 October
Opening: Thurs 30 July, 6pm
Celebrating the legacy of NAS alum and one of Australia`s most beloved painters, Margaret Olley AC.

The Postgrad Show
6–15 November

The Grad Show
4–13 December

Full program 🔗 in bio.

—
Howard Arkley, `Triple fronted`, 1987, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Mollie and Jim Gowing Bequest Fund 2014 © The Estate of Howard Arkley, courtesy Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales

View Instagram post by nas_au

Jan 8

Open post by nas_au with ID 17845191504647038
Marking 20 years of the National Art School Gallery, we are thrilled to share this year's program of ambitious group and solo exhibitions that foster critical appreciation and innovative art practice. SEARCHERS: Graffiti and Contemporary Art 17 January – 11 April Opening: Thurs 22 January, 6pm Bringing together over thirty of Australia's most dynamic artists united by one charged medium: spray paint, presented as part of @sydney_festival. QUEER CONTEMPORARY Liz Bradshaw: I didn't expect to live this long 13 February – 7 March Opening: Thurs 12 February, 6pm Experience a large-scale sculpture and installation by NAS alum Liz Bradshaw as part of @sydneymardigras. Mitch Cairns: Artist's Mouth 1 May – 11 July Opening: Thurs 30 April, 6pm Presented with the @instituteofmodernart, the largest and most comprehensive exhibition by Sydney-based artist and NAS alum Mitch Cairns. Margaret Olley: Australian Intimiste 31 July – 25 October Opening: Thurs 30 July, 6pm Celebrating the legacy of NAS alum and one of Australia's most beloved painters, Margaret Olley AC. The Postgrad Show 6–15 November The Grad Show 4–13 December Full program 🔗 in bio. — Howard Arkley, 'Triple fronted', 1987, synthetic polymer paint on canvas, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Mollie and Jim Gowing Bequest Fund 2014 © The Estate of Howard Arkley, courtesy Kalli Rolfe Contemporary Art, image © Art Gallery of New South Wales
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