Applying for a Bursary to DebConf

There are a few different types of bursary available for DebConf, funded from different budgets:

• Debian funded bursaries are available to active Debian contributors.
• Debian diversity bursaries are available to newcomers to Debian/DebConf. Especially from under-represented communities.

Debian funded Bursaries

Any member of the Debian community is welcome to request a bursary (sponsorship) to attend DebConf. As in previous years, we will do our best to offer sponsored food and accommodation to Debian contributors, but this assistance is subject to demand and available funding.

In these instructions “tell us” refers to filling in the “details of my bursary request” box on the registration form.

If you are applying for a bursary for accommodation or food

If you request a bursary for accommodation, you will stay at the Four Points by Sheraton Kochi Infopark, and will share a room with other people.

If you request a bursary for meals, you will have breakfast, lunch and dinner at the restaurant inside Four Points, reserved by the Conference.

We will look at contributors.debian.org to get a rough idea of your activity in the last few years. If you’re happy with the picture that gives, then you don’t have to tell us anything more. If you want, you can tell us more about your recent activity in Debian, or your plans for the near future.

If you are applying for a bursary for accommodation or food for DebCamp, make sure you tell us (in the “Details of my bursary request” box) your plans for DebCamp. DebCamp is intended for focused work on Debian; please emphasize in what way (e.g. opportunities for collaboration and/or solitude) being at DebCamp will help you get things done you wouldn’t otherwise do.

If you are applying for a travel bursary

We need to decide how to spend a limited amount of money in a way that maximizes the benefit to the Debian project. This shouldn’t discourage you from applying, but please give us the information we need to make good decisions.

• Tell us what you think your most important or interesting contributions to Debian in the past two years are. We’ll look at contributors.debian.org, but it doesn’t always tell the whole story.
• Tell us what your plans are for next year, and how attending DebConf will help.
• Honestly assess your level of financial need. This is not easy, but it plays an important role in our ranking process.
• Give us an estimate of your travel expenses. This is also the maximum amount of funding you are requesting. In general this amount should reflect the most economical form of transport to the venue. If it’s higher for some reason, tell us about that. If it’s lower because you (or someone else) will pay part, tell us about that too.
• If there is someone who knows your contributions to Debian well, and would put in a good word for you, tell us their name and ask them to write to us directly, at bursaries@debconf.org.
• If your main contribution to Debian is helping with DebConf, please ask someone from the appropriate team to let us know how much they need you at this year’s DebConf.

Everyone who is granted travel bursaries will also be granted funding for accommodation and/or food if they ask for it. Note that if you told us you “Absolutely cannot attend” DebConf without a travel bursary, we’ll assume you need accommodation and/or food only if the travel bursary is granted.

Diversity Bursaries

The goal of Diversity Sponsorships is to bring new people to DebConf — people just getting started in free software or with Debian, contributors who are making non-coding contributions, and contributors who are trying to make it to their first DebConf. If you’re interested in being considered for a diversity sponsorship, please tell us a bit about yourself and why you want to come to DebConf:

• Is this your chance to make your first contribution?
• Do you run Debian and want to learn more about the project and how to get involved?
• Are you passionate about free software, and excited to be a part of the Debian community?

We would especially like to hear from:

• Women (cis, trans, queer), non-binary and genderqueer individuals, and transmen
• Residents from African countries, countries outside of Australia, North America, and Western Europe, and people from racial/ethnic minorities in their country of residence
• Individuals over the age of 35

Travel Bursary Reimbursement

In general only the cost of long distance transportation will be reimbursed, so airplane / boat / bus / train to get to Kochi and from Kochi back to your home, but not incidental costs like visas or meals and accommodation during travel.

Travel bursaries are reimbursed after DebConf. The process is:

1. Buy your travel tickets, using your own money
2. Keep the receipt (or at least a PDF scan) for any ticket that you will be asking to be reimbursed for.
3. After attending DebConf, submit your reimbursement request, using the SPI Reimbursement Form, to reclaim your travel expenses.

Reimbursement for DebConf-related expenses will be handled by Software in the Public Interest for all requesters, including Europeans.

If you have any questions about the reimbursement process, or what is eligible, please contact bursaries@debconf.org as soon as possible.