Requests for assistance are considered by the College Finance Committee. Applications may be made at any time of the year and will be considered at the next scheduled committee meeting. The committee usually meets six times throughout the year. Due to the limited funds that may be available each year, those seeking assistance are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Financial assistance for individuals would usually be in the range of $300-$500. It will generally not be possible to provide assistance to meet all the costs of any activity and students should therefore ensure they have alternative funding available.

Availability of funding

Discretionary funding that may be available each year is contingent on the budget reserves of the College. The College reserves the right to decline to fund applications and to close the scheme at any time in the event that budget contingencies require such action.

Activities that may be supported by the College

The committee will consider assisting activities that are connected with the study of law and are consistent with the objectives of the College. Assistance is not available for courses that give credit towards any ANU course or program. Activities that may be considered for assistance include but are not limited to:

• one-off student-initiated internships not taken for formal credit or to fulfil the requirements of another university degree or program;
• individual student study projects that are not substantially supported by other scholarships, grants or other funding;
• student attendance at conferences, either individually or in groups;
• competitions related to law skills or content, not otherwise supported by the College, such as mooting or debating competitions, local and overseas; and
• sponsorship of student conferences or seminars.

Procedure

Students can apply for assistance by completing the  application for student funding (105 KB)  form and forwarding it to the secretary of the Finance Committee either by email to Finance.law@anu.edu.au or by submitting the form to the Law School Office.

Applications may be made at any time of year and will be considered at the next committee meeting. Students should indicate on their request if a response is needed by a particular date, eg if their participation is contingent on support and they need to withdraw by a certain date to avoid a financial or other penalty.

Students should provide as much information as possible about:

• the activity for which assistance is sought;
• quotes or other estimates of total expenditure to be incurred by the student;
• alternative sources of financial assistance that have been approached or obtained; and
• the role that the financial assistance from the college may provide. 

Applicants may be asked to provide further information or may not be provided with assistance where insufficient information has been provided.

Once the request has been considered by the committee the decision will be communicated to the applicant as soon as possible by the secretary of the Finance Committee either by email or by letter, as nominated by the student in their application.  

Where assistance is provided recipients are requested to provide a brief report to the committee within two months of the activity describing the use of the funding and the outcomes of the activity.