Bequests

Endowments play a vital role in assisting Deakin to meet its aim of offering improved access to higher education – particularly for students from rural and regional areas, Indigenous students and students who face financial and social barriers. These funds also support valuable research across a number of areas that contribute to the advancement of society and a better community for all Australians.

What is a bequest?
Types of bequests
Include Deakin in your will
Who to talk to for further advice
Contact Deakin University

Download the Investing in Education – Bequests brochure (480k) for further information.

What is a bequest?

A bequest is simply a statement in your will that indicates how you wish to distribute all or part of your estate. A bequest can be a gift of money or property, such as real estate, shares, artworks or furniture.

Types of bequests

You may have a number of beneficiaries in your will and you may wish to provide for each of them differently. You may, for example, wish to leave:

A specific bequest, in which you state the exact amount, nature and purpose of your gift
A residual bequest, in which the remainder of your estate is bequeathed, once all other funds and property have been distributed
A contingent bequest, in which the bequest is subject to a prior event occurring, such as your other heirs predeceasing you

Include Deakin in your will

Examples of statements which may be inserted into your will:

I give the sum of $.......... to Deakin University to be applied to ………. research
I give the sum of $.......... to Deakin University to be applied to the establishment of a scholarship to support Indigenous students
I give.......... per cent of my estate to Deakin University to be applied in such a manner as the University may determine
After the foregoing provisions of my will have been carried out, I give to Deakin University the residue of my estate…
Provided that all other beneficiaries named in the will have predeceased me, I give all of my estate to Deakin University…

Who to talk to for further advice

Leaving a bequest in your will is a personal act and you will require certainty that your intentions will be fulfilled. It is therefore important to consult your financial/legal adviser when preparing your bequest. They will be able to compose the bequest to best meet your wishes and circumstances, and they will also ensure that any relevant laws are complied with.

Contact Deakin University

We are happy to talk with you to discuss leaving a bequest to the University.

For further information, contact University Development.