Successful applicants receive a €1,000 scholarship per academic year, for up to three years of study (BA Hons level), totalling a maximum of €3,000.
The scholarship amount is applied directly to your tuition fees, reducing either:

• your single annual payment or
• your monthly instalments by approximately €100/month

The €895 enrolment fee remains unchanged and must be paid in full and on time.

Scholarships are applied for through the main programme application form.
There is no separate process.

During your application, you will be asked:

• If you would like to be considered for a scholarship
• Which scholarship you are applying for
• To provide a short written response or creative sample, depending on the scholarship’s requirements

All scholarship recipients are required to take part in Catalyst’s Storytelling activities as a condition of accepting the award. This includes contributing to the documentation of your learning experience through interviews, testimonials, photographs or video content.

The time commitment is approximately 2 hours per month and will be agreed with each recipient individually at the start of the academic year, ensuring the format and frequency align with your preferences and comfort level.

This requirement helps us share honest and inspiring insights with future students. We look forward to following your journey and celebrating your growth along the way.

This scholarship is for applicants with a background in programming, software development, computer science or engineering who are now ready to bring their logic, structure and systems thinking into the world of game development, animation and interactive visual storytelling. Whether you're building procedural landscapes, animating digital characters or experimenting with real-time engines, this is your chance to shift from code to creativity – and play a part in shaping the future of visual experience.

Who it’s for: Applicants with a completed degree or demonstrable experience in programming, computer science or a related tech field, looking to enter game art, VFX, animation or digital storytelling

Eligibility criteria:

• Completed degree or 2+ years professional experience in programming, software development, computer science or engineering
• Clear intent to transition into digital arts, animation or VFX
• Demonstrated technical fluency (e.g. code samples, app/game development, open-source contributions)
• Interest in creative storytelling, interaction or world-building
• Motivation to integrate logic-based thinking with visual creativity

Submission requirements:

Submit a short letter (approx. 300 words) words) that includes:

• Why you are a strong fit for this scholarship
• Your understanding of visual coding – how it differs from traditional programming and what excites you about learning to "think visually" with code
• What you hope to achieve through the programme – creatively, personally and professionally

This scholarship is for applicants with a background in film, cinematography or post-production, who are now drawn to the technical and imaginative world of visual effects, motion graphics or animation. Whether you’re a director who wants more control over VFX workflows, or an editor expanding into 3D environments and compositing – this is for storytellers moving deeper into the craft behind the screen.

Who it’s for: Applicants with film-related education or hands-on experience in directing, editing, camera work or post-production

Eligibility criteria:

• Background in filmmaking (formal education or proven experience in directing, editing, cinematography or post)
• A desire to specialise in VFX, animation or digital post-production
• Existing visual storytelling skills and conceptual thinking
• Willingness to explore new software, tools and technical workflows
• Motivation to enhance cinematic storytelling through digital craft

Submission requirements:

Submit a short letter (approx. 300 words) that includes:

• Why you are a strong fit for this scholarship
• How you would use VFX to enhance a narrative sequence – describe a scene and explain how VFX could elevate the storytelling
• What you hope to achieve through the programme – creatively, personally and professionally

This scholarship is intended for applicants from non-artistic backgrounds who are choosing to pursue screenwriting later in life. Whether you're coming from a career in science, law, education, business or another field, this opportunity supports those making a considered transition into the creative industries with the aim of building a new professional path in storytelling.

Who it’s for: Applicants aged 26+ with prior education or work experience outside the arts, who are now pursuing screenwriting as a meaningful career shift

Eligibility criteria:

• Must be aged 26 or older
• Must have completed a Level 3 qualification or equivalent (e.g. A-Levels, BTEC, Abitur, etc.)
• Must demonstrate a strong motivation to transition into the screenwriting or creative industries
• Must have either:
• – an undergraduate degree in any discipline
• – or at least 5 years of relevant professional experience outside the arts

Submission requirements:

Submit a short letter (approx. 300 words) words) that includes:

• Why you are a strong fit for this scholarship
• Why you are choosing to pursue screenwriting at this point in your life
• Why screenwriting, specifically, is the form you want to explore

This scholarship is for younger applicants who have already started sharing their stories with the world – through short films, scripts, zines, podcasts, animations or any narrative medium. Maybe you’ve won a local film prize, gone viral with a web series, or written something that’s moved your community. This is about recognising your early momentum and fuelling it further.

Who it's for: Applicants under 25 who have publicly shared creative storytelling work or received recognition for it

Eligibility criteria:

• Aged 25 or under at the time of application
• For applicants aged 21 and under: must hold a Level 3 qualification (e.g. A-Levels, BTEC or international equivalent) worth at least 80–100 UCAS tariff points
• For applicants over 21: must demonstrate either the equivalent set of qualifications or directly linked experience in the creative or media industries
• A minimum of one completed narrative project that has been shared publicly or recognised (e.g. short film, podcast, script, zine, game, online story, award or festival selection)
• A demonstrated commitment to developing as a screenwriter through the Catalyst programme

Submission requirements:

Submit a short letter (approx. 300 words) that includes:

• Why you are a strong fit for this scholarship
• How your background connects to your creative goals in this programme
• Please add links to your published work, awards or recognition for your work so far to this letter.

This scholarship exists to amplify underrepresented voices in music and sound design. It is open to all individuals who identify as FLINTA* – female, lesbian, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender – who are ready to bring their creativity, perspective and power to the world of music & sound for visual media. This is about shifting the status quo and helping carve out space where there has historically been imbalance.

Whether you're an established producer, a sound experimenter, a multimedia storyteller or just beginning your journey in audio – this scholarship is here to champion your voice and help you thrive at the intersection of sound and identity.

Who it's for: FLINTA creatives working or aspiring to work in music, sound design or audiovisual storytelling

Eligibility criteria:

• FLINTA identity– Applicants must self-identify as FLINTA.
• Creative potential in sound – Demonstrated interest or emerging work in music production, sound design or audiovisual media.
• Desire to challenge norms – A passion for reshaping representation and diversity in creative industries.
• Commitment to growth – Willingness to engage deeply with project-based learning and personal exploration.
• Alignment with Catalyst’s values – Openness to collaboration, experimentation and community-building within an international learning space.

Submission requirements:

Submit a short letter (approx. 300 words) words) that includes:

• Why you are a strong fit for this scholarship
• How your background connects to your creative goals in this programme
• What you hope to achieve through the programme – creatively, personally and professionally

This scholarship supports applicants who are already working in visual media – such as filmmakers, digital artists, animators or installation artists – and who want to expand their creative toolkit into the world of sound design and audiovisual storytelling. It’s designed for those ready to blur boundaries between image and sound, and who want to develop a truly interdisciplinary artistic voice.

Who it's for: Visual artists transitioning into music and sound

Eligibility criteria:

• Background in visual media – Applicants must demonstrate experience in a visual discipline such as film, animation, graphic design, visual arts, photography, installation art or similar.
• A portfolio of previous visual work – Showcasing personal or professional projects that reflect creative intention and storytelling through visual media.
• Clear motivation to explore sound – A personal statement that highlights a strong desire to expand into music and sound design, with reflections on why now is the time to make that shift.
• Collaborative mindset – Evidence of previous collaborative or interdisciplinary work, or openness to working across disciplines.
• Commitment to the MSVM programme – A clear explanation of how the Music & Sound Design for Visual Media programme aligns with the applicant’s creative journey and future goals.

Submission requirements:

Submit a short letter (approx. 300 words) that includes:

• Why you are a strong fit for this scholarship
• How your background connects to your creative goals in this programme
• Why you are choosing to pursue Music & Sound Design for Visual Media at this point in your life
• Why Music & Sound Design for Visual Media, specifically, is the form you want to explore

All scholarship applications are submitted as part of the general programme application. There’s no separate form. In your main application, you’ll be asked whether you’d like to be considered for a scholarship and prompted to submit a short letter or creative task specific to the scholarship you’re applying for.

Ideally not – you should apply to one course only, and as part of that application, you may apply for one scholarship. The scholarship application is integrated into the main course application form, so you’ll be asked to select the scholarship that best fits your profile and goals. We encourage you to choose the option most aligned with your background, motivation and future plans.

If you’re awarded a scholarship, the €1,000 discount will be automatically applied to your tuition fee each year of your programme (for up to three years, totalling €3,000). This will be reflected in the payment plan you choose – either a reduced single payment or lower monthly instalments.

The €895 enrolment fee is separate and not affected by the scholarship. It must be paid in full and on time, even if a scholarship is awarded.

If you choose to pay in instalments, your monthly payments will be reduced based on the scholarship amount. The €1,000/year is divided across your 10 instalments. For example, in most cases, your monthly fee will be reduced by €100.

Scholarship recipients are required to support Catalyst’s Storytelling team by contributing to the documentation of their learning journey. This may include written or video testimonials, participating in interviews, or being featured in photo or video content used to communicate the student experience to future applicants. Recipients should expect to dedicate approximately 2 hours per month to these activities as part of their commitment to the scholarship.

Yes. Participation is a mandatory condition of receiving the scholarship. Recipients are expected to dedicate around 2 hours per month to supporting Catalyst’s Storytelling team through activities such as interviews, testimonials, or creative documentation of their journey. While we aim to ensure the process is respectful and collaborative, active involvement is required.

No – the scholarship is awarded for up to three years (the full BA programme duration), as long as you remain in good academic and financial standing.

Please reach out to the Catalyst Admissions Team at admissions@catalyst-berlin.com. They’ll be happy to help guide you through the application and scholarship process.

Unfortunately, no. Catalyst scholarships must be applied for at the time of your initial course application, as the scholarship form is built into the main application process. If you’ve already submitted your application without selecting a scholarship, it’s not possible to apply retroactively.

If you’re still early in your application journey, feel free to contact our Admissions Team to discuss your options: admissions@catalyst-berlin.com