How Much You Could Receive
The amount of money you could receive through the Student Experience Grant depends on the type of experience you want to participate in, where it is taking place, and the availability of funding from UBC Sauder.
Please look at the categories below for more information on how much you could receive.
If you aren’t sure in which category your experience or initiative fits, we encourage you to get in touch with us.
Funding is available for students attending a conference, case competition, or similar event that is not already supported by UBC Sauder
|
Eligible Experience |
Location |
Potential Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Compete in a case competition E.g., Unilever Games, Undergraduate Real Estate Case Competition, Yale Debating Championships, etc. or Attend a conference E.g., Grace Hopper Conference for Women in Tech, Queen's Marketing Association Conference, Harvard Social Enterprise Conference, The Art of Leadership for Women, Harvard Africa Business Conference |
Local – Lower Mainland | 1/3 of the cost of registration fees. We will reimburse a maximum of $190. |
| West Coast – North America | 1/3 of the cost of major transportation, accommodation, and registration fees. We will reimburse a maximum of $500. | |
| East Coast – North America | 1/3 of the cost of major transportation, accommodation, and registration fees. We will reimburse a maximum of $700. | |
| International | 1/3 of the cost of major transportation, accommodation, and registration fees. We will reimburse a maximum of $1,500. |
Explaining what we cover:
- Major transportation refers to the transportation it takes to get to the destination (flights, trains, ferries, etc.) and is determined based on the cost of a reasonable economy itinerary.
- Accommodation refers to the cost of reasonable economy hotel rooms or Airbnbs, for the duration of the event plus 1 night.
- If you apply to another source of funding, such as the CUS Competition and Conference Fund (for BCom students) and accept funding from both sources, the total funding you receive cannot exceed your total expenses.
What's not covered:
- Teams participating in International Case Competitions that already receive funding from UBC Sauder are not eligible for Student Experience Grants.
- Other experiences that are already funded or subsidized by UBC Sauder or a student society are not eligible. These experiences include but are not limited to: JDC West, Me Inc., NSCC, and UBC Sauder LIFT.
- We do not cover expenses for local transportation such as Ubers, taxis, buses or subways.
- We do not cover expenses for food, souvenirs, hotel incidentals, or personal expenses.
To apply for funding, please take a look at the application instructions in the “How to apply & deadlines” section below.
Funding is available for students looking to volunteer or participate in a service-learning program who would not be able to do so without financial support due to the program's cost or a loss of income.
|
Eligible Experience |
Potential Funding |
|---|---|
| Participate in a volunteer or service learning program E.g. Local, national, or international full-time volunteer program for a non-profit organization |
1/3 of the cost of major transportation, accommodation and registration fees while volunteering, to a maximum of $2,000. |
Explaining what we cover:
- Major transportation refers to the transportation it takes to get to the destination (flights, trains, ferries, etc.) and is determined based on the cost of a reasonable economy itinerary.
- Accommodation refers to the cost of reasonable economy hotel rooms or Airbnbs, for the duration of the volunteer program plus 1 night.
- If you apply to another source of funding and accept funding from multiple sources, the total funding you receive cannot exceed your total expenses.
What's not covered:
- Other experiences that are already funded or subsidized by UBC Sauder or a student society are not eligible. This includes UBC Sauder LIFT.
- We do not cover expenses for local transportation such as Ubers, taxis, buses or subways.
- We do not cover expenses for food, souvenirs, hotel incidentals, or personal expenses.
To apply for funding, please take a look at the application instructions in the “How to apply & deadlines” section below.
Funding is available for new initiatives that support UBC Sauder students’ academic success, professional success, health and wellbeing, or foster a sense of community.
|
Eligible Experience |
Potential funding |
|---|---|
| Organize a new event, program, or service that benefits other UBC Sauder students | Assessed on a case-by-case basis, dependent on the total budget and other revenue sources. Typically, new initiatives will receive between $500–$2,000. |
To apply for funding, please review the application instructions in the “How to apply & deadlines” section below.
BCom students can apply to both the Student Experience Grants and the Commerce Student Initiative Fund and accept funding from both sources. However, the total funding received cannot exceed total expenses. More information about the Commerce Student Initiative Fund can be found below under “Other Sources of Funding.”
How to Apply & Deadlines
|
Application Deadline |
When you will receive a decision or a request for more information |
|---|---|
| Winter Term 1 October 4, 2026 |
October 16, 2026 |
| Winter Term 2 January 31, 2027 |
February 12, 2027 |
Please review the “How much you could receive” section above before applying so that you understand the expenses you could receive funding for.
If you are planning to participate in an experience or have done so already, please use the link below to apply. If you have already participated, you will need to include receipts and a letter of reflection in your application.
If granted funding, individual applicants and clubs/services are not permitted to apply for funding again for a minimum of 2 academic years. For example, if funding is granted in the 2026-2027 academic year, the same student will not be considered for funding until 2028-2029.
Successful applicants will be required to submit a photo of the funded experience / event and a letter of impact that includes an overview of the event and the skills they developed.
Past Student Experience Grant Recipients
Carmen Cheung
Received funds to attend the Harvard Social Enterprise Conference.
How did the experience impact you?
Thanks to the UBC Sauder Student Experience Grant and UBC CUS CCF, I spent the weekend of March 23-24, 2024 attending the Harvard Social Enterprise Conference held by Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School. At this conference, I learned so much about the relationships between businesses and sustainability. The most impactful panel I learned from was the Gender-Lens Investing: The Next Decade. At this panel, I heard from powerful, experienced, and smart women who shared their experiences in impact investing, micro-investing, and as women investors. It was so refreshing to see these women and hear the lessons they learned throughout their journey in investing.
I came out of this conference weekend inspired and feeling more motivated to change the world in the ways that I can. The Social Enterprise Conference made me more optimistic about the future of businesses and allowed me to see the world more optimistically. A large part of the conference was the vast network and how many passionate and successful individuals there were. I got the opportunity to speak with CEOs, activists, and government officials.
OSAS Student Experience Grant recipient, Carmen Cheung
Jeffrey Low
Received funding to host a new event, Soar Startup Pitch Competition, showcasing entrepreneurial talent in Sauder.
How did the experience impact you?
I am profoundly grateful to have had the opportunity to lead Soar and for the immense support of the Undergraduate Office, through generously providing the $1,500 Student Experience Grant. At the time of organizing Soar, UBC Startups was not an AMS affiliated organization, so we relied on the financial support of the UGO Student Experience Grant to host the event for the community.
As an aspiring startup founder, it is paramount that I develop a track record of successful projects I can demonstrate my ability to build and innovate. Soar was the greatest test of my entrepreneurial ability so far because it was the largest event we have hosted.
It is heartwarming to know that my vision for UBC as a hub in North America for student entrepreneurship is becoming a reality. By bringing $15,000 in external funding to fuel student-run startups and creating a platform that challenges them to strive for excellence, I firmly believe this event will help spark the next wave of innovation on campus.
OSAS Student Experience Grant recipient, Jeffrey Low
Maggie Tomlinson
Received funding to host the first ever Indigenous Business Conference, with the AMS Indigenous Business Association.
How did the experience impact you?
OSAS Student Experience Grant provided an invaluable opportunity not only for me but also for over 30 BCom students to actively participate in a day dedicated to economic reconciliation. This funding marked a significant milestone for our club, serving as the initial support we received for the conference and igniting hope that our vision of hosting such an event could be possible. We had the chance to connect, learn, and meet Indigenous panel speakers, Indigenous high school students, and firm representatives. There were 3 rounds of panelist speaker focusing on Indigenous perspectives on economic reconciliation and highlighting the impactful work of these individuals. The Indigenous Business Association anticipates organizing more successful conferences, with the aim of engaging a broader audience of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students interested in gaining insights into Indigenous business practices.
OSAS Student Experience Grant recipient, Maggie Tomlinson
Mariia Radaeva
Received funding to host a new event, the Innovation Fair, in partnership with Innovation OnBoard.
How did the experience impact you?
The experience of organizing the Innovation Fair has profoundly impacted my personal and professional development. It sharpened my leadership skills, teaching me the nuances of event management, teamwork, and effective communication. On a personal level, it was a journey of growth, filled with learning opportunities from mentors and peers alike, which ignited a deep-seated passion for innovation within me. Professionally, this experience has enriched my resume and provided a compelling narrative for job interviews, showcasing my ability to lead, innovate, and inspire. The skills and confidence gained have opened new doors and have been pivotal in shaping my career path.
OSAS Student Experience Grant recipient, Mariia Radaeva
Yuting Dai and Ciro Wei
Both received funding to participate in the AIESEC Canada National Congress 2024.
How did the experience impact you?
Yuting: it was my first time being in the capital of Canada, and I got to meet some of the most inspiring young leaders from across the country (TMU, U of Calgary, U of T, etc.). We shared our personal stories, our AIESEC journeys, our new ideas for this organization and eventually why we stay and connect with the AIESEC values, cross-cultural understanding and leadership. It gives me chills everyday meeting people who are similarly passionate about creating a real impact on people and the world, and seeing how our passion is translated into actions and operations numbers.
Ciro: The National Congress was a transformative event where I had the privilege of not only participating but also being recognized with the prestigious National Contribution Award in AIESEC in Canada, sponsored by RBC Future Launch. This acknowledgment of my year-long dedication and growth within AIESEC was immensely gratifying, reinforcing my commitment to furthering my impact while leveraging AIESEC's partnership with RBC Future Launch. Professionally, the conference provided a platform for me to hone essential skills such as pitching, public speaking, and leadership. Through various sessions and activities, I had the opportunity to practice and refine these skills, equipping me with valuable tools for my future endeavors.
OSAS Student Experience Grant recipients, Yuting Dai and Ciro Wei
Other Sources of Funding for Experiential Learning & Student Initiatives
AMS Fund
The AMS provides additional funding for club events, student initiatives, and more. The Innovative Projects Fund in particular supports UBC students, faculty, and staff working on projects that benefit a significant number of students and develop campus community.
Walter Gage Memorial Fund
The fund supports student individual or group projects and activities that are of broad interest to students and enhance the reputation of UBC.
CCEL Grants for Community Projects
Funding for student initiatives in partnership with a local non-profit or community organization.
UBC Community Engagement Funding
Funds for students to implement initiatives that support engaging the greater UBC and Vancouver community.
UBC Sauder EDI Action Fund
Funding for initiatives, events, and activities that have been developed by students, faculty, and staff to transform EDI ideas into action.
CUS Competition and Conference Fund (CCF)
Funding for BCom students competing in a case competition or attending a conference. Please follow the CUS Instagram for updates or reach out to ccf@cus.ca.
Commerce Student Initiative Fund
CSIF (Commerce Student Initiative Fund) is a $50,000 fund for club and student initiatives that aim to improve and enhance the student experience. CSIF offers students the opportunity to bring their ideas to fruition and facilitate operational success and development.
Frequently Asked Questions
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This fund is not intended to finance start-up businesses. For this type of funding, please look into opportunities from Innovation UBC.
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If you receive funding, this does not mean you will receive an academic concession for the experience you are participating in. In general, most events or activities funded by the Student Experience Grant are not eligible for academic concessions. Please review the information on your program’s site for more information on how to request a concession.
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Study abroad opportunities from Go Global or the RHL Graduate School are not eligible funding. The Student Experience Grant does not provide funding for experiences for which you receive academic credits that count towards your degree.
Therefore, the following experiences are not eligible for funding: BCom Exchange, MBA Exchange, MBA Global Immersion Experience, Global Network Weeks, and Summer Study Abroad.
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Your team is still able to be reimbursed, however the reimbursed amount would go to the person whose name is on the receipts. The person whose name is on the receipts must be a UBC Sauder. Your team would then coordinate payments between team members on your own terms. This is not the responsibility of UBC Sauder.
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No – The two-year rule would only apply to applicants who received/were reimbursed for any amount of funding from the grant.
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The Student Experience Grant is looking to fund opportunities where applicants: (1) are proposing a new, innovative, and clearly defined program to fill a niche not already being filled for current UBC Sauder students. (2) have a clear funding breakdown of how the funds will be spent. (3) are able to provide justification and rationale for how they plan to implement the initiative, at scale.
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For individuals attending Volunteer/Service Learning/Case Competition/Conferences, once all of the purchases have been made, please submit all receipts through the funding acceptance form by the term deadline. Only then will UBC Sauder Finance reimburse these costs.
For organizers of a new event, program, or service, if you are applying on behalf of an organization, your organization will invoice the OSAS Student Experience Grant and UBC Sauder Finance will pay the invoice. If you are an individual organizing an initiative, we will reimburse receipts after they have been purchased or you may direct your partners to invoice UBC Sauder directly. The OSAS Student Experience Grant does not pay invoices from individual students.
IMBA students with Chinese bank accounts are able to receive funding from the Student Experience Grant. Please note that international payments will take longer to process.
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Questions?
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Stanley Turner Fowler | Student Engagement & Development Advisor at OSAS
stanley.turnerfowler@sauder.ubc.ca