Applying for a Bursary to DebConf

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

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 Student dormitory in the Pukyong National University, 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 in the Pukyong National University, 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.

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:

We would especially like to hear from:

Diversity Bursaries are only open to new DebConf attendees, not previous recipients of a Diversity Bursary.

Travel Bursary Reimbursement

We will cover the cost of getting you to and back from Brest, from your home town. Included in this is:

  1. Long distance transportation (airplane / boat / bus / train) by the cheapest reasonable route.
  2. Travel visas, and reasonable travel to receive a visa (as above).
  3. Overnight accommodation on-route (factored into the cheapest reasonable route decision).

Not included:

  1. Food 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, you’ll receive an email with instructions on submitting your reimbursement request, using Debian Reimbursements, to reclaim your travel expenses.

Reimbursement for DebConf-related expenses will be handled by Software in the Public Interest for most requesters. Other Debian Trusted Organizations will handle some local requests.

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