The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) and Netflix have announced scholarships for 100 students and working professionals across India. These scholarships provide up to 80 percent financial support for six specialized programs in animation, visual effects, gaming, and other creative technologies.
This initiative is part of the Netflix India Storytelling Initiative, launched earlier this month after a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shared details about the scholarships on Wednesday.
Building on India’s Storytelling Heritage
During their August 5 meeting, Prime Minister Modi emphasized India's deep-rooted tradition of storytelling and its vast pool of creative talent. He highlighted the potential to leverage these strengths to position India as a global hub for content creation. The Netflix India Storytelling Initiative aims to invest in this creative talent pipeline and equip emerging storytellers with skills aligned to industry needs.
The initiative focuses on the Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics (AVGC) ecosystem, which is rapidly growing in India and worldwide. By collaborating with Netflix, IICT seeks to ensure its curriculum meets global standards and reflects current industry workflows.
Scholarship Programs and Eligibility
The scholarships cover two one-year diploma programs and four six-month certificate courses offered by IICT. The diploma programs include Interactive Comics and Sequential Arts, and Visual Effects Mastery. The certificate courses focus on Virtual Art Department Content Creation, Media Tech Workflow, Art of Character Animation, and E-Sports and Gaming Management.
- Up to 80% financial aid available for 100 candidates
- Open to both students and working professionals across India
- Programs designed with Netflix’s input to align with global industry standards
- IICT operates from the National Film Development Corporation Complex in Mumbai, with a permanent campus under development at Film City, Goregaon
These courses aim to provide hands-on experience and industry-relevant knowledge, preparing participants for careers in the expanding AVGC sector.
Why This Partnership Matters for India’s Creative Economy
IICT was established as India’s national center of excellence for the AVGC and Extended Reality (XR) sectors. It is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Maharashtra government, and industry bodies FICCI and CII. The partnership with Netflix represents a strategic effort to bridge the gap between India’s creative talent and the evolving demands of the global content industry.
Chanchal Kumar, Information and Broadcasting Secretary and IICT Board Chairman, explained that collaborations with global leaders like Netflix bring valuable industry insights into the classroom. This helps develop a skilled workforce capable of supporting India’s growing creative economy, which is increasingly important as digital content consumption rises worldwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is eligible for the IICT-Netflix scholarships?
A: Both students and working professionals from across India can apply for these scholarships.
Q: What programs are covered under the scholarships?
A: Scholarships are available for two one-year diploma programs and four six-month certificate courses in animation, visual effects, gaming, and related creative fields.
Q: How much financial support do the scholarships provide?
A: The scholarships offer up to 80 percent financial assistance for tuition fees.
