University Support for Pursuit of Arts, Culture & Sports (U-SPARKS)
Purpose of U-SPARKS
The U-SPARKS funding grant aims to a promote sporting lifestyle, arts appreciation and cultural understanding among the NUS community and external communities. The grant hopes to:
- To build a culture of active participation in sports, arts and cultural activities
- To aid students in initiating and organising sports, arts and cultural activities that promotes active participation from the community
- To support students who wish to test new ideas or develop new initiatives that will add vibrancy and benefit the campus community and beyond
Funding Details & Consideration
Applicants must:
- Meet the applicant eligibility
- Meet the evaluation criteria of projects
- Set measurable target project output and outcomes
- Articulate the measurement methods used to achieve the project output and outcomes
- Provide evidence to show the achievement of project output and outcomes, upon project completion
U-SPARKS provides funding as follows:
- Up to 100% of funding requested, capped at $5,000 or whichever is lower, will be awarded if application meets all the requirements above.
- Up to 50% of funding amount requested, capped at $2,500 or whichever is lower, will be awarded if upon project completion, the application does not meet and provide evidence to show the achievement of output and outcomes
If project output and outcomes are not satisfactorily met, applicant to:
- Provide justification for the actual output and outcomes achieved
- Demonstrate alternative means were taken to achieve the intended output and outcomes
- Funding is on a reimbursement basis, students will have to incur and bear all expenses upfront. Students can claim for completed projects as long as it is within the financial year of approval.
- Funding disbursed shall only cover the deficit incurred for the project. If there is a surplus arising from the project, we would not be able to fund this application and no funding will be disbursed.
NUS Students or Student Groups applying for the U-SPARKS should:
- Be full-time NUS undergraduate students
- Submit applications with required supporting documents to OSA at least eight weeks before commencement of projects
- Undertake projects that: - contribute to the creative development/ appreciation of culture, sports, performing, visual and literary arts (may include practice and curating) on campus and beyond; - enhance understanding among NUS students and the larger community; - promote active participation from the community
- Showcase past experience/achievements, leadership and organisational skills
- Be approved and mentored by a NUS staff from faculty, department or hall etc.
- For Arts & Culture projects, an annual quantum of $5,000 will be set for all Halls and Societies. Halls and Societies are encouraged to discuss with their interest groups on the grant amount that each interest group will be requesting for their project/s. The annual quantum is renewable on a Financial Year basis.
- This annual quantum excludes collaborative projects across more than one Hall and/or Society (e.g. HONUS productions, or collaborations between two different interest groups), which may request up to $5,000 per project.
- Projects must showcase the ability to apply existing skills/knowledge of organising committee, and the chance to learn new skills/knowledge from executing the project
- Preference will be given to new projects, and for existing projects, support will only be considered provided that the project has:
- Enhancement in impact and magnitude; or
- New component or initiative that was not present in past versions of project/s
| Sports | Arts & Culture |
| Participation in Competitions/Events (highlighting NUS internationally or nationally) |
Participation in Competitions/Events (highlighting NUS internationally or nationally |
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| Recreational Activities | Recreational Activities |
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| Educational and Developmental Programmes | Educational and Developmental Programmes |
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The following expenditures will not be supported, even if the project as a whole is approved:
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General operating expenses of start-up costs of student clubs, societies, and interest groups |
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Cash prizes or outright donations to beneficiaries/participant |
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Audit, legal, utilities, fines and penalty fees |
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Purchase and maintenance of fixed asset |
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Tobacco and alcohol product |
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Any private and personal consumption item |
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Items, goods or services where approved team members have a direct stake or interest in (This is to avoid conflict of interest) |
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Items that are not directly relevant to the proposed project or for which alternatives or substitutes are available within the University |
Application Process
Applicants are to submit their project applications at least 8 weeks before the project implementation.
[For Sports Projects]
Please contact and submit your application to the Sports grant administrator (s) in-charge
[For Arts & Culture Projects]
Please contact and submit your application to the Arts & Culture grant administrator in-charge.
Projects that submit their claims in February/March may obtain reimbursement only in May due to the closing of financial year.
Contact Information
For Sports Projects:
For enquiries and consultation, contact grant administrator Caroline Ang at carolineang@nus.edu.sg.
For Arts & Culture Projects:
For enquiries, email cfaprogrammes@nus.edu.sg.