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Student Life Grants
For innovative new project ideas that resonate with students and impact our community.
Overview
Student Life Grants provide funding and support for students to create innovative co-curricular projects that build a sense of community and develop graduate qualities.
Project ideas might include a trivia night, group dinner, employer networking event or a writing competition. Any idea that will positively impact the student community will be considered, and there are specific categories for Dalyell Scholars, Welcome Program activities, and activities open to all students.
The Student Life Grants streamlines the Welcome Week Grants Program, Co-Curricular Grants Program and the Dalyell Grants Program.
You can apply as an individual student or a group of students to access up to $2000 of funding and development support for project ideas that support our students in the areas of social activities and mentoring, professional development, community contribution and academic research.
Additionally, if you are a staff member who supports Dalyell Scholars you can apply.
You’ll get the opportunity to:
- make a significant impact on students in our community
- develop your skills in leadership, communications, project management, budgeting and reporting, with training, mentoring and support from the Student Life team
- build your resume and be recognised as a student leader in our community
Project ideation workshop
If you're interested in getting involved but not sure about a project idea, you can attend the project ideation workshop on Friday 27 May from 1-3pm.
We’ll take you through a set of guided exercises to help you develop and refine ideas. Attending is also a great way to meet other students interested in forming a team.
The project ideation workshop will be held online over Zoom. You need to register no later than 9am, Wednesday 25 May to receive your unique Zoom link.
Assessment criteria
Grants will be awarded for the following programs that
- Support student Welcome Program activities (All students) or
- Support Student Semester 2/Research Period 3-4 activities program (all students) or
- Support student activities during the end of year break (all students)
- Support Dalyell Scholars (Dalyell student and staff)
Grant applications for projects will be assessed against the following criteria:
- The project fits within one or more of the following activity categories:
- social and cohort building activities for our students
- professional development or work-integrated learning activities for our students
- research and other academic opportunities for our students
- community volunteering projects
- It has a positive impact on our student cohort by developing graduate qualities or building social connections and a sense of belonging, community, and wellbeing
- It should be open to all of our students to participate in, regardless of faculty or school or society membership, with the exception of events and initiatives for the Dalyell Scholars category. In the Dalyell Scholars category, projects which must be open to all Dalyell Scholars to participate in, regardless of Faculty or University School.
- Projects should consider strategies to minimise financial and student safety risk. If a project is assessed as having severe risk it will be considered ineligible for funding
- Projects that consider equity and strategies for engaging diverse student groups will be highly regarded
- Projects that engage our domestic and international students based both in Australia and offshore will be highly regarded
- Projects must be well thought out and take place within the defined Welcome Program, Semester or Student Break Period outlined
- Projects should be unique and distinguishable from existing, otherwise well-established events
- The declaration of external interests you’ll complete as part of the application form will also be considered.
Projects may be discipline specific but must be open to all our students.
Projects must impact a wide group of students. Funding is not available for individual activities. Funding is not available to purchase goods from businesses owned by the grant recipients.
Eligibility
To be eligible you’ll need to:
- be a currently enrolled student at the University at the time of the project/event taking place
- demonstrate how the project will build a sense of community and enable graduate qualities development for our students
- agree to the core commitments
- declare any additional funding support or collaborations with other parties (e.g. local councils, other universities or businesses).
Be aware, if you are applying for a Dalyell grant, you will need to be either a current Dalyell Scholar or a Faculty or University School staff member involved in the Dalyell Scholars Stream. Staff members can be awarded a maximum of one grant per Faculty or University School each semester.
How to apply
Applications for Semester 2/Research Period 3-4 2022 close 9am, Friday 10 June 2022.
To apply, you will need to complete the application form and proposal online, including details of your project design such as budget, timeline and activities and making sure you address the assessment criteria. Your application may include multiple events or activities. These can be in person, online or a hybrid model.
You can apply as:
- an individual
- a group of students who are not in a society
- a group of students within a society
- individuals/groups in collaboration with a society
- a group of Dalyell students and staff
You may apply once per semester, either as an individual or part of a group.
What happens next
Applications will be assessed by a committee of representatives from the Office of Student Life, faculties, the Library, Marketing and Communications and a current student. We’ll be looking to ensure that events and initiatives are diverse and don’t duplicate existing activities at the University. We aim to assess applications and notify applicants of the outcome by email on Wednesday 29 June 2022.
Project ideas
Social and cohort building activities for our students
- Activate a space on campus with an activity or event
- Trivia or games nights cultural outings such as visits to museums, art exhibitions or tours of key Sydney landmarks
- Dinners or coffee meet-ups
- Speed friendship networking events
- Bowling, laser tag, ice skating, bouldering or other activities in an entertainment venue
Professional development or work integrated learning activities for our students
- Information and networking events such as career fairs or career nights
- Career development and skill building workshops
- Pitch, start-up, investment, case or industry project competitions
- Student-led art exhibitions or creative competitions
- Student-led podcasts or videos
- Workplace visits
Research and other academic opportunities for our students
- Student-led conferences
- 1-minute thesis style competitions or similar opportunities to showcase academic work
- Student debates
- Study groups or book clubs
- Writing or essay competitions
- Student-led public talks
Community volunteering projects
- Students participate in corporate volunteering at a local not-for-profit
- Student-led mental health initiatives
- Student-led volunteering initiatives that benefit the wider community e.g. charity drives organised by students
Core commitments
You’ll have the following core commitments:
- design the project
- implement the project and manage the event
- submit a final report including budget reconciliation, attendance and student feedback
- disclose to Student Life:
- any additional funding
- additional support or collaboration with other stakeholders
- any potential or perceived conflict of interests
- develop marketing and communications material to promote your project, such as an invitation
- promote the event through avenues outside of Student News
- provide receipts to be reimbursed or invoices to be paid to Student Life
- respond to a student survey on your experience
- share information about the initiative at meetings or forums.
As a student, it is your responsibility to act in accordance with the values and principles of mutual responsibility and expectations between staff, students and the University as set out in the University of Sydney Student Charter (pdf, 221KB).
Students and staff who receive the funding will ultimately be responsible for project implementation. Any changes to circumstances affecting implementation should be communicated to the Office of Student Life as soon as possible
Key dates
| Event or deadline | Date |
|---|---|
| Project ideation workshop |
1-3pm, Friday 27 May |
| Applications close | 9am, Friday 10 June |
| Applications assessed and successful applicants notified | Wednesday 29 June |
| Training session for successful grant recipients |
6pm, Monday 4 July 2022 |
| Welcome activities to be completed | 1-12 August |
| All other activities/projects to commence and be completed during this period | 1 August - 31 January |
| Invoices due for payment/reimbursement | 2 December 2022 |
| Final reports due | 16 December 2022 |
Tips to help you plan
- You’ll have access to book one of our technology-driven, creative play-spaces including audio and video recording studios. If you are considering a podcast project you won’t need to include the cost of that equipment in your budget.
- Schedule activities to take place between 1 August 2022 and 31 January 2023, and give yourself enough time to plan and promote your project.
- If you plan an in-person event or activity, you’ll need to consider COVID-19 safety. We recommend preparing a scalable version of your project, events and activities that you can deliver online or as a hybrid model as a backup option. Student Life will assist you with this.
- Finish your activities and events at least 2 weeks before your final report is due. We’ll email you a template that you’ll need to use to complete your final report.
- Onshore students can provide receipts to be reimbursed or invoices to be paid to Student Life. It will take a minimum of 1 month to be reimbursed.
- Offshore students will need to contact the Student Life to discuss the payment process. You can email the team at studentlife.office@sydney.edu.au
Support
Student Life will run a training session for successful applicants with tips and tricks on how to capture the University experience, maximise registrations and engagement, inspire your audience and lead a team. Student Life staff will also organise in regular check-ins to ensure your project is on track for success.
More information
We encourage you to reach out with any questions regarding Student Life Grants at studentlife.office@sydney.edu.au
Last updated: 25 July 2022
