Assessment criteria

Welcome Grant applications for projects will be assessed against our expected criteria.

• The project should fit within one or more of the following activity categories:
  • Social and cohort building activities – Supporting students to build networks and feel a sense of belonging within their cohort and the wider University
  • Navigating University – Building students’ confidence in navigating the university environment by enabling a healthy, sustainable study-life balance and providing access to supportive places.
  • Skill development – Empowering students to develop practical and transferable skills that enhance their personal and professional growth.
  • Engaging with community and culture – Encouraging students to explore and celebrate diversity, actively contribute to campus life, and build connections with a wide range of communities.
• Designed to encourage broad participation and must be open to all students or targeted to a particular cohort that is broad in nature. Projects that consider equity and strategies for engaging diverse student groups will be highly regarded.
• Demonstrates clear benefits for students’ confidence and engagement by building social connections, a sense of belonging, and community on campus, in line with the University's values and culture.
• Offers a unique and distinguishable experience from existing initiatives with potential for lasting impact. Established events and initiatives may only be considered for funding where the Student Life Welcome Grant funding is shown to increase the scale and impact of the event. 
• Demonstrates careful planning, ensuring the event is achievable and feasible within available resources and timeframe.
• Adopts responsible and sustainable practices across environmental, financial, and resource management.
• Considers strategies to minimise financial and student safety risk. Projects deemed moderate or high risk may be considered ineligible.
• Discloses any external interests in the application form, which will be considered.

Applications from students or student groups who have an ongoing project funded by a Student Life Grant will not be considered. Applications to re-run projects that have previously been funded must outline how the project will be updated or reimagined. Funding is awarded to individual students, not to a student club or society, and is therefore not transferable.

Core commitments

Students who receive the funding will be responsible for project implementation with the support of Student Life, based on certain core commitments.

Take responsibility – Lead the design, planning, coordination and delivery of the project

• Attend a training webinar and regular check-ins with Student Life
• Develop marketing and communications material to promote your project
• Promote the event through avenues outside of Student News
• Implement the project and manage the event
• Communicate any changes in circumstances that affect project delivery to the Office of Student Life as soon as possible, including changes to scope, nature of the project or project members

Manage resources responsibly – Manage allocated funds in a transparent, ethical, and accountable way 

• Acknowledge funding and support from the Student Life Welcome Grant in all promotional material
• Follow guidelines about what items can be purchased with the Student Life Welcome Grant
• Provide receipts to be reimbursed or invoices to be paid to Student Life
• Disclose to Student Life 
  • any additional funding
  • additional support or collaboration with other stakeholders
  • any potential or perceived conflict of interests

Evaluate and reflect – Collect feedback, reflect on outcomes, and share learnings at the conclusion of the project 

• Attend a post-implementation meeting within one week of event delivery
• Collect attendee feedback during the event
• Complete 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).