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- Graduate Research Activities and Development Scheme (GRADS)
Graduate Research Activities and Development Scheme (GRADS)
Applications for GRADS 2024 funding are now closed.
GRADS is a funding scheme for research students to deliver events that build personal and professional skills and/or promote engagement with the wider University community. The scheme is facilitated by HDR Development, a Research Portfolio team.
On this page
What's involved
Up to A$5,000 may be awarded to an eligible applicant to deliver an event for all HDR students or a nominated student group. The event must benefit HDR students by building personal and professional skills and/or promoting engagement with the wider University community. Examples might include:
- inviting a guest speaker to talk about career development
- organising a workshop with student/academic presenters to discuss research communication strategies
- facilitating a discussion around equity and inclusion involving a designated student cohort
- building connections between students in similar roles across schools and faculties (e.g. HDR representatives) to exchange experiences and find collaborators.
Eligibility
All HDR students currently enrolled at the University of Sydney are eligible to apply. You can apply as an individual or as an organising committees comprised of HDR students.
Staff are not eligible unless enrolled as an HDR student.
Value of award and inclusions
Funding amounts will vary depending on the scope and location of the event, with a maximum of A$5,000 being available per event.
Funds can be used for:
- keynote speaker fees
- workshop facilitation
- catering.
Funds can not be used for:
- milestone presentation events
- events for the members of your immediate research team
- events aimed at personal development (skills building for one person)
- events designed for entertainment only.
Core commitments
Funding recipients will be responsible for planning, organising, delivering and reporting on the event within agreed timelines.
If your application is successful, you’ll have the following core commitments:
- attend training with HDR Development
- plan, organise and deliver the event
- develop marketing and communications material to promote the event
- acknowledge funding and support from the HDR Development in all promotional material and during the event
- disclose to HDR Development any potential or perceived conflict of interests
- provide invoices to be paid by HDR Development by the dealdline
- provide feedback within two weeks after the event
- collect attendee feedback at the event
- attend a debriefing meeting at the end of the funding round.
HDR Development will:
- organise an information session during the application stage
- provide training for successful applicants around event management
- provide advice upon request during implementation.
How to apply
Applications are currently closed.
To apply, complete the online application form. You'll be asked to include:
- event title, date, duration, venue, estimated number of attendees
- event description including how it plans to build skills/connections in the HDR community and how it considers equity and strategies for engaging diverse student groups (max 300 words)
- a draft budget, by completing and uploading the template provided in the application form
- quotes to support the budget.
You may submit one application for each event; however, you can submit separate applications for additional events provided they are significantly different.
Selection process
Your application will be assessed by a Graduate Research School selection committee and judged on:
- scale of the event (events that bring students from across Schools and faculties will be prioritised)
- extent to which the proposed event benefits HDR student skill building and/or engagement with the wider University community
- extent to which the proposed event considers equity and strategies for engaging diverse student groups
- clearly articulated event logistics including proposed dates and venues.
Key dates for 2024
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 1 August |
| Information sessions | 8 August (in-person) 14 August (online) |
| Applications closed | 1 September |
| Assessment and selection | 2-6 September |
| Successful applicants notified | 6 September |
| Induction workshop for successful applicants | Week commencing 9 September |
| Event implementation period | 16 September - 15 December |
| Deadline for submitting invoices | 1 December |
| Debriefing meeting | Week commencing 16 December |
What happens next
If your application is successful we'll contact you by email and you'll be invited to attend the induction workshop. You'll then hold your event during the implementation period. Your event must conclude in 2024.
Invoices
Once you've been invoiced for event costs, you'll need to email invoices to hdr.development@sydney.edu.au by 1 December. Unfortunately, we aren't able to process late invoices.
Contact
You can contact HDR Development by sending an email to hdr.development@sydney.edu.au.
Last updated: 16 September 2024
