Student Opportunity Fund

The Student Opportunity Fund has been established to support students in maximising the opportunities which are available to them while they are studying at Bond.

The Student Opportunity Fund is funded via generous donations received from Bond alumni and through distributions from the Bond University Endowment Fund.

Value

Up to $2,000

There are a limited number of grants available each semester. Grants are assessed by a committee and are awarded on a competitive selection basis.

Timeline

Week 7: Applications Open
Week 10: Applications Close
Week 12: Successful Applicants Notified

Eligibility

The following persons or bodies are eligible to apply for a bursary from the Student Opportunity Fund:

Bond University students that are currently enrolled in a Bond University undergraduate or postgraduate degree for activities to be undertaken while they still attend the University (Individual Educational Opportunities)
Bond University Student Association affiliated clubs and societies (Co-Curricular Opportunities)

Guidelines

1. Individual Educational Opportunities

This fund provides support for student access to educational experiences "beyond the classroom". This includes academic, leadership or other extracurricular activities such as internships, work experience, volunteer work, conferences, clinical placements, informal study abroad, courses/study and academic competitions.

This category may also include individual applications from members of a study group or team that are not a BUSA affiliated club.

Educational Experience Requests are encouraged to demonstrate:

Unique and outstanding activities
A benefit to the individuals involved and help to enrich their Bond student experience
Orientation toward academic or professional development
Direct relationship to the individual's declared major, field of study, or current program
Support of a Bond faculty member
A detailed budget to support the activity
Attempts for additional and/or alternative funding
Clarity of goals and thoroughness of planning
Adherence to University policies, regulations, and established procedures
Other University funding is not available for the activity
Student invitation or selection is based on merit

Who can apply for these funds?

Bond University students that are currently enrolled in a Bond University undergraduate or postgraduate degree for activities to be undertaken while they still attend the University.

2. Group Co-Curricular Opportunities

This fund provides monetary support to unique and outstanding activities events or projects planned by and for Bond students. Programs should promote a greater sense of community at Bond; enrich the Bond Student Experience or reflect a commitment to a cause. This fund is designed to encourage increased interaction outside of the classroom

Funding Requests are encouraged to demonstrate:

Club activities which will enrich the student experience in a significant way
Club activities that contribute to the campus community in a significant way
A unique opportunity or experience for its participants
Promotion of an issue/cause relevant to Bond students
Promote a broad view of cultural experiences and knowledge
An opportunity for students to gain valuable leadership experience and knowledge
Encouragement of collaborative events planned by and for Bond students that foster intellectual exchange or advance knowledge, such as visiting speakers, forums on topics of general interest, and student publications
Involvement of a significant number of Bond students in planning and participating in the activity
A detailed budget to support the activity
Clarity of goals and thoroughness of planning
Attempts for alternative funding demonstrated
Adherence to University policies, regulations and established procedures

Who can apply for these funds?

Bond University Student Association affiliated clubs and societies.

Restrictions

Funds will not be awarded for:

Activities that have already taken place (no retrospective applications will be accepted)
Applications that are late, incomplete or fail to meet application requirements in any way
The purchase of alcohol for an event or activity
Academic program expenses, including textbooks and laptops
Living expenses not related to a specific project or activity
Food associated with travel
Purchase, replace or repair of equipment
Activities designed to support student businesses generating personal income
A continuing commitment to an activity – the grants are a one-off payment
Course fees
Student Exchanges through the University's Exchange Program. For information on funding available for exchanges, please contact the Study Aboard and Exchange Team in the Office of Admissions on +61 7 559 51034 or exchange@bond.edu.au
Higher Degree Research (HDR) students may only apply to the fund for activities excluding any activity related to the students PhD candidature Examples of activities related to PhD candidature include conference attendance, presentation costs and thesis editing. For more information regarding the funding available to support HDR students in their PhD candidature, please contact the Bond University Graduate School of Research on +61 7 559 54179.

Application Submission

Applications must be made using the online application form. No attachments or hyperlinks will be considered. Applications for this round have closed.

Applications which are late, incomplete or fail to meet application requirements in any way will not be considered. If the activity that you are applying for funding for is by a competitive selection process, and your participation is pending final confirmation from a third party, final confirmation will be accepted after the closing date as an addendum to your application.

Students may only apply to one of the Student Opportunity Fund and Alumni Sponsored Travel Grants for any one activity. It is the student’s responsibility to determine the most suitable grant by considering the criteria.

Accessing Funds

If you are successful in obtaining a grant, approved funds will be deposited into your student account, or in the case of group applications into your association bank account, on a reimbursement basis upon submission of your Completion Report and receipts. Reimbursement will only be made where a receipt is able to be provided.

Payments will be made within the next payment period following the submission of your Completion Report. You can expect payment within 5 weeks of submitting your report. If you are unable to fund your activity until reimbursement is paid and can demonstrate financial difficulty in doing so, please contact the Office of Student Experience immediately to arrange an appointment to discuss.

Please note, any outstanding debts or charges on your student account will automatically be deducted from your grant, so please ensure your student account is up to date.

To access the funds from your student account, visit the Cashiers Office after you are notified of your payment date and complete a Student Refund Form. The funds will then be transferred into your nominated bank account or credit card.

In the case of club applications, you will need to arrange payment into your dedicated club bank account with the Office of Student Experience.

Funds are not transferable and cannot be used for any purpose other than what has been approved; only approved items on your application will be reimbursed. If you are unable to undertake the activity as planned for any reason, please contact the Office of Student Experience immediately.

Grants not claimed during the semester for which they are awarded will be forfeited.

Reporting

Your Completion Report is due to the Office of Student Experience within 2 weeks of completing your activity and must include:

Full name or group name
Receipts for reimbursement
An itemised budget table including item, cost and total that matches the receipts attached to your Completion Report. Any differences from your predicted budget need to be explained.
A 400 word typed statement informing the Committee
-       Details of your activity and experience
-       How this opportunity benefited you and/or enhanced the student experience
-       How your stated outcomes were achieved

Contact

Mrs Sarah Rough
Student Events Officer – Student Experience
Office of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Students and Academic Support)
University Drive
Bond University QLD 4229
Email: srough@bond.edu.au
Ph: +61 7 5595 5619