NATIONAL CONFERENCE
SCHOLARSHIPS & BURSARIES
NAAUC prides itself on promoting diversity in conversation and ensuring equal opportunity for all. To facilitate this, we offer several scholarships. These range from a partial cover to fully funded. This is to enable high quality candidates who are interested in student leadership and furthering their residential communities to attend our National Conference. Our scholarships are also designed to maximise personal and professional gain from attending the National Conference.
Scholarship and Bursary Applications are now closed for National Conference 2026.
Meet Kimjoline.
Kimjoline is NAAUCs 2025 South Australian State Representative and is currently residing at Aquinas College in Adelaide whilst in her second year studying a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science. Kim shares with us her journey with NAAUC and how our scholarships & bursaries program removed financial pressure so she could show up for herself and her community.
Community Scholarship
The Community Scholarship honours outstanding individuals who have demonstrated excellence through their contributions to their residential community in areas such as academics, sports, arts/culture, leadership, service, and related fields. This scholarship is designed to support students whose financial circumstances might prevent them from attending the National Conference.
Recipients will be reimbursed for the full cost of one NAAUC National Conference ticket.
How to Apply:
In 300 words or fewer, outline your suitability for the Community Scholarship, addressing:
Your notable contributions during your time living at a university residence (such as academics, sports, arts/culture, leadership, or service)
The financial barriers that hinder your ability to attend the conference, particularly the circumstances that may prevent your residence from sponsoring your attendance
Equity Scholarship
NAAUC believes in creating communities that are more diverse, inclusive, and representative of our broader society. We believe that we hold a significant responsibility to make university campuses and residences more welcoming and accessible, ensuring that everyone has a place within residential communities across Australia.
The Equity Scholarship aims to facilitate students from disadvantaged or marginalized communities in attending our National Conference to share their experiences and engage in discussion with student leaders from around the country. This scholarship is designed to support individuals from underrepresented groups, including but not limited to, those in the LGBTQIA+ community, POC, people with disabilities, First Nations Peoples, and women in leadership.
Recipients will be reimbursed for the full cost of one NAAUC National Conference ticket.
How to Apply:
In 300 words or fewer, outline your suitability for the Equity Scholarship, addressing:
Your background and the specific elements of your identity that make you eligible to receive this scholarship
Your notable contributions during your time living at a university residence (such as academics, sports, arts/culture, leadership, or service)
The financial or societal barriers that hinder your ability to attend the conference, particularly the circumstances that may prevent your residence from sponsoring your attendance
Changemakers Scholarship
The Changemakers Scholarship is designed for students who are passionate about undertaking a formal project or research initiative focused on an area of importance within the residential sector. Previous recipients have investigated impactful topics such as sex education in Australian residences and diversity in residential student leadership teams.
Recipients will be reimbursed for the full cost of one NAAUC National Conference ticket.
How to Apply
Outline your proposed research and your personal suitability for the Changemakers Scholarship by providing two separate statements addressing the following:
1. Project Proposal (300 words or fewer):
The specific project or research you intend to undertake during or after the National Conference
Why this topic is of interest to you and how you plan to make a tangible impact on your community
How your project will enrich the experience of other delegates at the conference
2. Personal Statement (200 words or fewer):
Your notable contributions during your time living at a university residence (such as academics, sports, leadership, or service)
The circumstances or barriers that hinder your ability to attend the conference, particularly those that may prevent your residence from sponsoring your attendance
Members Scholarship
Member residences have access to an additional scholarship. All applicants for the Community, Equity, and Changemakers Scholarships who are from member residences will automatically be considered for the Members Scholarship. No additional application is necessary.
Recipients will be reimbursed for the full cost of one NAAUC National Conference ticket.
Travel Bursary
The NAAUC Travel Bursary provides additional assistance to delegates travelling to the National Conference, recognising that travel costs can often preclude students from valuable opportunities and experiences. Please note that applications submitted in conjunction with another NAAUC Scholarship will receive higher consideration.
Recipients will be granted a reimbursement to assist with the costs of travel to the conference. The specific bursary amount is determined by the NAAUC Executive Committee. It will depend on flight costs and communication with the applicant.
How to Apply:
In 200 words or fewer, please outline your suitability for the Travel Bursary, addressing:
Your notable contributions during your time living at a university residence (such as academics, sports, leadership, or service)
The financial barriers that hinder your ability to attend the conference, particularly the circumstances that may prevent your residence from sponsoring your attendance and travel costs
Sponsorships
Interested in becoming a sponsor?
The NAAUC National Conference is more than an annual gathering, it’s a launchpad for leadership, empowerment and action. For many, it’s a transformative moment: where confidence grows, networks form and purpose is clarified.
As NAAUC is a not-for-profit run entirely by volunteers we appreciate whatever help we can get, and endeavours as large as our National Conference wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and partners. Get in contact today to support Australia’s peak representative body, joining NAAUC’s mission to unite university residences and empower student leaders.
Please direct all scholarship and bursary related inquiries to conference.admin@naauc.edu.au