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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 at the University.
They are facilitated by the University's Student Life team.
You can apply as an individual student or a group of students to access up to $3000 of funding and development support for project ideas that support our students in the areas of social and cohort building, career and skills building, engaging with community and culture, and academic enhancement opportunities. You will 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
Student Life Grants also welcome our international students back and we encourage applications with an international student focus in all grant streams.
Applications for 2025 are open.
Submit your application via the portal. Log in with your UniKey to begin.
Grant streams
There are three ongoing grant streams, in addition to one 2025-exclusive stream:
Welcome
Projects will focus on welcoming students to the start of a new semester.
Project dates: 4 – 29 August 2025
Maximum funding per project: $3000
Target audience: All students
General
Projects will focus on providing co-curricular opportunities for students during the semester and break periods.
Project dates: 1 September to 7 November 2025
Maximum funding per project: $2000
Target audience: All students
Dalyell
Projects will focus on providing opportunities for the Dalyell cohort.
Project dates: 4 August to 7 November 2025
Maximum funding per project: $2000
Target audience: Dalyell students
Celebrating 175 years
Projects will focus on celebrating the University’s 175 year anniversary and our role in serving the community as Australia’s first university embodying principles of merit and equity. These grants must showcase and activate an iconic University of Sydney location (this can be done across any of the University’s campuses).
Project dates: 4 August to 7 November 2025
Maximum funding per project: $5000
Target audience: All students
Social and cohort building activities
- Activate a space on campus with an activity or event
- Trivia or games nights
- ‘Fix it’ workshops to encourage our community to reduce waste
- Activating circular economy practices
- Zero waste cooking classes or guides
Engaging with community and culture
- Students participate in corporate volunteering at a local not-for-profit
- Student-led mental health or sustainability initiatives
- Student-led volunteering initiatives that benefit the wider community e.g. charity drives organised by students
- Cultural milestones events such as for Luna New Year, Diwali, Ramadan
- LGBTQIA+ student community building initiatives
Career and skills building
- Information and networking events such as career fairs or career nights
- Career development and skill building workshops
- Industry project competitions
- Student-led art exhibitions or creative competitions
- Workplace visits
- Renewable energy demonstrations
Academic enhancement opportunities
- 3-minute thesis style competitions or similar opportunities to showcase academic work
- Writing or essay competitions
- Student-led public talks
- Sustainable research projects
Information drop-in sessions
If you’re interested in applying for a grant but not sure about your project idea or want some tips and tricks from our team, join one of our Information Drop-In Sessions.
These will allow you to hear directly from our team and learn more about what makes a good application. We have also allocated some time for you to ask your burning questions about the application process.
The sessions will be hosted in person and online and throughout the application period. Once you register, you will receive a room location or zoom link for the session. Please complete the online form to register.
If you are interested in applying for the Celebrating 175 years stream, please register to attend the specific drop-in session for this stream.
Last updated: 15 April 2025
