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University Support for Pursuit of Arts, Culture & Sports (U-SPARKS) Funding Grant
  1. 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
2. FUNDING DETAILS AND CONSIDERATIONS

Applicants must:

  1. Meet the applicant eligibility
  2. Meet the evaluation criteria of projects
  3. Set measurable target project output and outcomes
  4. Articulate the measurement methods used to achieve the project output and outcomes
  5. Provide evidence to show the achievement of project output and outcomes, upon project completion

 

U-SPARKS provides funding as follows:

  • 100% of funding requested, capped at $5,000 or whichever is lower, will be awarded if application meets all the requirements above.
  • 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:

  1. Provide justification for the actual output and outcomes achieved
  2. 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.

A. Applicant Eligibility

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.

  • 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

 

B. Evaluation Criteria

Sports Arts & Culture
Participation in Competitions/Events
(highlighting NUS internationally or nationally)		  Participation in Competitions/Events
(highlighting NUS internationally or nationally)

  • Participation in competitive activities/ events

  • Involvement in expeditions, both in Singapore and/or Overseas

  • Participation in recreational and/or competitive activities/ events/ performances

  • Involvement in arts festivals, both in Singapore and/or Overseas
Recreational Activities Recreational Activities 

  • Recreational sporting activities/ events that encourage active involvement and participation from the community

  • Sporting activities/ events with meaningful causes that promote sporting inspiration to the community

  • Recreational arts activities/events that encourage active involvement and

  • Participation from the community
    (e.g. large-scale theatrical productions)

  • Learn-to-play programmes (e.g, Acapella workshops) that promote the arts to the community
Educational and Developmental Programmes Educational and Developmental Programmes 
  • Sporting programme (e.g. sports clinic to increase self-awareness for children)
  • Arts Programme relating to market and audience development (e.g. technical course, market development workshops)

 

C. Expenditures not supported

The following expenditures will not be supported, even if the project as a whole is approved:

1.

 General operating expenses of start-up costs of student clubs, societies, and interest groups

2.

Cash prizes or outright donations to beneficiaries/participants

3.

Audit, legal, utilities, fines and penalty fees

4.

Purchase and maintenance of fixed assets

5.

Tobacco and alcohol products

6.

Any private and personal consumption items

7.

 Items, goods or services where approved team members have a direct stake or interest in (This is to avoid conflict of interest)

8.

 Items that are not directly relevant to the proposed project or for which alternatives or substitutes are available within the University
 

3. 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.

USparks Application Process 2022


4. CONTACT DETAILS

1. For Sports Projects:

For enquiries and consultation, contact grant administrators Ivan Ee at ivan.ee@nus.edu.sg or Caroline Ang at carolineang@nus.edu.sg.
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION   

 

2. For Arts & Culture Projects:

For enquiries and consultation, contact grant administrator Ong Yuxin at +65 6516 2495 or email cfaprogrammes@nus.edu.sg.
 SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION