Leave a bequest

Bequests have played a critical role in the evolution of the University of Sydney. The University’s first major bequest, the Challis bequest of 1880, endowed professorships in medicine and science, law, literature and engineering, laying the ground for the University of Sydney to become a truly world-class institution.

The achievements inspired by Challis’s generosity ensured that other bequests soon followed, creating scholarships and prizes, building new facilities and expanding our learning and teaching resources. Today, bequests continue to nurture some of our most exciting discoveries and promising students.

What is a bequest?

A bequest is a gift left to the University in an individual’s will. Naming the University in your will gives you the opportunity to make an enduring contribution to the University community that can honour you, your family or someone close to you well into the future.

A bequest may include gifts of:

• the residuary of an estate
• a percentage of an estate
• a specific sum of money
• a particular asset such as real estate, works of art, shares, or an insurance policy.

Use of your bequest

General or unspecified bequests are especially valuable to the University as they allow the gift to be allocated to the University’s greatest need at the time of the gift.

A donor may prefer to express a specific purpose for the use of their gift. If so, we strongly encourage donors to discuss their preferences with the Bequest Manager to ensure the University can fulfil your wishes.

We encourage alumni and friends who have included the University in their will to contact the Bequest Manager so that we can acknowledge and thank them for their generosity during their lifetime. Informing us of your intentions also helps the University plan for the future.

Alumni and friends who have named the University as a beneficiary in their will or life insurance policy may be invited to become a member of the Challis Bequest Society.

Further information

If you are interested in including the University of Sydney in your will or would like more information on leaving a bequest please contact:


Bequest Manager
Phone: + 61 2 8627 8492