Netflix & IICT Launch Scholarships for 100 Students Across 6 Programs

Netflix and IICT -  Indian Institute of Creative Technologies - are offering scholarships to 100 students and working professionals across India, covering up to 80% of fees across six professional programs. Applications will run from August 24 through September 30, 2026, with the initiative focused on building skills for India's Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR) sectors.

The scholarships are funded through the Netflix Fund for Creative Equity and form part of the first phase of Netflix's India Storytelling Initiative.

A Broader Push to Strengthen India's Creative Talent Pipeline

The broader initiative was announced following a meeting between Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his India visit, and is intended to strengthen India's creative talent pipeline.

Netflix Scholarships Cover Six IICT Creative Programs

The scholarship program includes two one-year diplomas in Interactive Comics & Sequential Arts and Visual Effects Mastery. Four six-month certificate programs cover virtual art department content creation, the art of character animation, media tech workflow, and esports & gaming management.

Monika Shergill, Vice President of Content at Netflix India, said the program will give emerging creators practical training across animation, VFX, gaming and comics. Netflix has also helped shape the curricula for the Visual Effects Mastery and Media Tech Workflow programs around current production practices. Notably, the scholarships are open to both students and working professionals, extending the program's reach beyond traditional entry-level education.

IICT Partnership Connects Training With Industry

IICT Board Chairman and Ministry of Information & Broadcasting Secretary Chanchal Kumar said the partnership can help connect India's creative talent with the evolving requirements of the global AVGC-XR industry. Similarly, IICT CEO Dr. Vishwas Deoskar said the collaboration combines education, industry input and financial access, while FICCI AVGC-XR Forum Chairman Munjal Shroff highlighted its role in industry-aligned talent development.

Also Read: Netflix Q3 Forecast Misses Estimates but Engagement Remains Healthy

Builds on 2025 Netflix-IICT-FICCI MoU

The announcement builds on the October 2025 Netflix-IICT-FICCI MoU, which established plans for curriculum development, workshops, guest lectures, masterclasses and scholarships. Netflix has also joined IICT's R&D, academic and industry development councils as part of the partnership.

IICT, established as India's national centre of excellence for AVGC-XR, currently operates out of Mumbai's NFDC Complex, while its permanent 10-acre campus is being developed at Film City, Goregaon. The scholarship program adds financial support to IICT's industry-focused training model, offering aspiring creators another pathway into India's expanding creative-technology workforce.