Startup AdVentures

Applications open: Wed 21 May (all three 2025/2026 summer destinations)
Applications close:

• 7am on Tue 5 August 2025 - for the San Francisco Startup AdVenture 
• 7am on Tue 19 August 2025 – for the Shenzhen and Hanoi Startup AdVentures 

Note: 

• There is only ONE application form for ALL destinations – in the application form you will specify your first, second and third choice destination 
• No late applications submissions are accepted 
• Read the information in the How to apply section below   

2025/2026 Summer Program Dates  

• Shenzhen Startup AdVenture - Saturday 22 Nov – Saturday 20 Dec 2025 
• Hanoi Startup AdVenture - Monday 24 Nov – Friday 19 Dec 2025 
• San Francisco Startup AdVenture - Monday 19 Jan – Sunday 15 Feb 2026

Destination specific key dates

Please refer to the individual Startup AdVentures destination pages above for details of destination specific dates, including mandatory events related to the application and onboarding process, such as in-person group interviews and pre-departure sessions.

The Startup AdVenture program is open to all UQ students that meet the Startup AdVenture eligibility criteria (listed below), irrespective of faculty, area of study or degree level (i.e., undergraduate, honours, graduate certificate, graduate diploma, masters levels of study or HDR).

Domestic and international students must have completed at least one semester of study at UQ (i.e., at least six units of credit).

Students that have an interest in entrepreneurship and innovation, and are ready to try something different, get out of their comfort zone and test their resilience are best suited to the Startup AdVenture program.

Eligability Criteria

To apply for a Startup AdVenture, you must:

• Be 18 years of age or over
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0
• Be enrolled at UQ for the semester following the Startup AdVenture, e.g. to be eligible to apply for the Nov/Dec or Jan/Feb Startup AdVentures, you MUST be enrolled at UQ for Semester 1 and not graduate before June 
• Not hold citizenship or residency of the Startup AdVenture destination
• Have not previously participated in an international in-person Startup AdVenture program (virtual Startup AdVentures excluded)
• Be available for, and ready to commit to the full length of the program
• Meet requirements for international travel (refer to the Startup AdVenture Program Overview and T&Cs, and FAQs)
• Have demonstrated entrepreneurial activity and education, and a genuine interest in innovation and entrepreneurship.

Startup AdVentures are not available to:

• International students applying to their home country
• UQ staff members employed on a full-time basis
• Past participants of an international in-person Startup AdVenture
• Students who will graduate in the same semester as the Startup AdVenture program, e.g. you are not eligible to apply for a Nov/Dec Startup AdVenture if you expect to graduate in December 

Inclusions:

• Return flights from/to Brisbane
• Accommodation for the duration of the program (may be on a share basis with other [gender matched] students)
• $600 stipend payment to contribute to living expenses in destination
• Startup matching 
• Program schedule (may include orientation, company visits, events and/or entrepreneurship and innovation themed activities)
• UQ Travel Insurance
• UQ Ventures t-shirt

Exclusions:

• Meals, food, and drinks
• Transportation costs (in-destination transport costs as well as transportation to/from Brisbane airport)
• Visa entry costs, when applicable
• Other costs associated with international travel (e.g., passports, travel to an embassy to obtain a visa, vaccinations, etc.)
• Optional events and/or activities entry costs
• Personal expenses

Costs:

• $129 AUD non-refundable administration fee - applicable only to successful students accepting an offer from UQ Ventures to participate in a Startup AdVenture.

The Startup AdVenture program has a merit-based, competitive application process.

The application process for 2025/2026 summer Startup AdVentures has changed – please read the below.

Step 1: Eligibility check & understanding the program

1. Check your Eligibility

2. Read the Program Details
   Startup AdVenture program overview, terms and conditions (T&Cs), and FAQs, to understand the scope of the program and participant obligations

3. Learn more about past participants’ Startup AdVenture experiences

Read published blogs from past program participants to gain a deeper understanding of the opportunity and what it could mean for you.

4. Understand destination-specific requirements
   Read the information and requirements specific to the Startup AdVenture destination

Step 2: Watch the program playlist & access the application form

5. Watch all videos in the About the Startup AdVenture playlist 

• These videos will give you a deeper understanding of the Startup AdVenture program.
• Watching the videos is a mandatory part of the application process.
• It will take approximate 30 mins to watch all videos.

6. Prepare & Submit your Application

• The application contains activities you must complete. Full instructions are within the application form.
• Allow a minimum of 60-90 minutes to prepare your application.

You can use UQ resources to get assistance in completing your application - Refer to the Startup AdVenture Program Overview and T&Cs for information on getting assistance completing your application, and information of how your application will be assessed.

Step 3: Assessment & Selection Process

7. Assessment of Applications
   Applications will be assessed by the Startup AdVenture Selection Committee.

8. Group Interview
   Successful applicants will be invited to attend an in-person group interview. Group interview outcomes will be assessed by the Startup AdVenture Selection Committee

9. Notification of Outcomes
   Successful applicants will be notified and invited to join the program, while unsuccessful applicants will also receive notifications.

10. Onboarding Requirements
    Successful applicants must:

• Accept their placement in the Startup AdVenture program, by the date stated in the program offer, and accept the Startup AdVenture program terms and conditions and participant obligations
• Pay the non-refundable administration fee
• Participate in mandatory pre-departure activities as directed by the UQ Ventures team
• Complete all required onboarding tasks 

Successful applicants will have the cost of their participation in the program covered by a UQ Grant.

Students who are successful in being invited to join a Startup AdVenture program do not need to do anything in relation to the funding - the UQ Grant will be automatically applied by the UQ Ventures team.

Funding through the New Colombo Program (NCP) Grant scheme, for participation in the Startup AdVenture program, is not available in 2025.

The Startup AdVenture program is an extra-curricular learning experience.

For it to be considered for course credit, students must be enrolled in a relevant, elective topic and have their Startup AdVenture participation approved by the faculty/course coordinator in advance of the program start date.

It is the student’s responsibility to enquire, gain approval and enrol into the appropriate elective course.

Students that are interested in exploring the option of course credit, must speak with their Faculty Academic Advisors about their individual circumstances. It is also important for students to share their intention to enrol in an elective course in your Startup AdVenture application so that UQ Ventures can work with relevant parties to facilitate the conferral of your credit. 

Possible Topics for Course Credit Include:

• EAIT - Engineering students with professional practice hours left to complete in their degree can count the internship towards this requirement. Further details on Engineering professional practice.
• Science - For students in the Faculty of Science, Students who have completed at least 24 units and have an elective available can enrol to SCIE3050. More details on SCIE3050 course.
• Business Industry Placement & Special topics in Business – For students that have a free elective, you may be able to enrol into elective courses such as RBUS3999/RBUS4999/RBUS7999 – Business Industry Placement. Students are advised to have a consultation with their faculty Work Integrated Learning Advisor. More details on Internships for academic credit (BEL).

Students participating in a Startup AdVenture are expected to:

• Meet international travel requirements: Ensure compliance with all international travel and visa requirements for the Startup AdVenture destination, as well as meet health and wellbeing requirements associated with travel. 
• Complete all pre-departure preparations: Attend all mandatory pre-departure events and activities and complete pre-departure/onboarding tasks. Most mandatory sessions are in-person - refer to the key dates section on the Startup AdVenture destination page for details.
• Participate in organised events: Attend all mandatory in-destination events and activities as detailed in the program schedule.
• Commit to the full program duration:
  • Complete the program in its entirety. Failure to do so may result in the student needing to pay a proportional reimbursement of fees incurred by UQ Ventures. 
• Travel with the group: Fly to and from the Startup AdVenture destination on flights organised by UQ Ventures. Participants who do not use the organised flights, including the return sector only, may be liable to reimburse UQ Ventures.
• Remain within the destination state, province or region: Refrain from traveling to other states, provinces, or regions outside of the program location.
• Adapt to assigned placements: Acknowledge that the assigned startup placement and/or tasks, projects or responsibilities at the hosting startup may not align with personal preferences.
• Commit to full-time, in-person participation at the host startup: Engage in full-time, in-person hours at the hosting startup’s workspace when it is open. Self-nominated days off or remote participation (i.e. work from ‘home’, co-working space, other) are not permitted unless pre-approved by UQ Ventures. Only UQ Ventures can authorise remote participation.

In cases where the host startup’s workspace is closed, or the startup team is working from their home, students are required to:

• remain in the Startup AdVenture destination city
• take responsibility for sourcing a suitable alternative workspace, such as a co-working space, library, etc.
• maintain regular communication with their host startup supervisor

• Document and share experiences: Create a Media Project to document and share their experience, which may include LinkedIn posts, blogs, vlogs, or similar formats. Specific requirements for the Media Project will be provided prior to departure. 
• Provide program feedback: Submit feedback on their experience to UQ Ventures at the conclusion of the program. Instructions will be provided during the program.
• Pay it forward: Where possible, support future Startup AdVenture participants by contributing in ways that suit you—such as sharing your most valuable tips or resources for the destination, or speaking about your experience at a Startup AdVenture information session.

If there is any reason, known or anticipated, that could impact their ability to fulfill any of the Startup AdVenture Participant Obligations, students must make full disclosure in the Startup AdVenture application form, and for students invited to join a Startup AdVenture program, in their Letter of Offer. Failure to disclose may impact a student’s participation in the program or eligibility for future opportunities.

Withdrawal and non-completion

Students who withdraw after accepting their placement or fail to complete the full Startup AdVenture program may be required to reimburse UQ Ventures for costs or losses incurred by UQ Ventures as a consequence of the student withdrawing from their placement or failing to complete the Startup AdVenture program in its entirety (up to a maximum $7,000). Such costs may include expenses associated with the cancellation and non-use of flights, accommodation, and other non-refundable program expenses.

Note: the $129 program administration fee, payable upon accepting a placement in the Startup AdVenture program, is non-refundable.

Please refer to the Startup AdVenture program terms and conditions and FAQs document.