Is there something you could be doing this year that will help your professional or personal development?

Every year, FUSA looks for high quality applications from students to undertake a professional development activity linked to their area of study (such as presenting at a conference or undertaking a workshop) or a personal development activity that will boost their capacities as a student leader.

If there is something that you think will get you a little further, or if there is something that will set you apart from the crowd, then you can apply for FUSA support. Applications are assessed in a competitive process against the criteria set out in the Grant rules and based on the amount of funds available per round.

In the past, FUSA has helped students present their first paper at an academic conference, learn something new at specialist workshops, and helped students have professional experiences that they wouldn’t have been able to do otherwise.

You can read the 2026 Grant Guidelines here. The Guidelines contain information on eligibility, the assessment process, and what is required if successful. We provide an example of a successful, high quality application from a previous round as guide here.

2026 Rounds

In 2026, Development Grants are distributed competitively in rounds. In 2026, there will be two rounds. 

Semester 1

Applications Open: Tuesday, 7 April (Week 6).

Application Close: Monday, 11 May (Week 9).

Semester 2

Application Open: Monday, 27 July (Week 1).

Application Close: Monday, 10 August (Week 3).