Request for Graduate Student Travel Support
The Graduate School encourages graduate students to present at conferences as part of its mission to deliver high-quality graduate-degree programs (Strategic Plan: Campus Goal 3), and to enhance the reputation of UMD graduate programs. Students may apply for funds to be used in partial support of travel for the dissemination of their scholarly or artistic contributions associated with their graduate studies at UMD, or for research in certain limited cases. It is expected that the student will attempt to secure other support for travel through their advisor, program, department, and college. Students receiving funding from the Graduate Office may be asked to give a brief presentation of their work as part of our GRAD Talks series upon their return.
Eligibility:
- You must be presenting your work, as opposed to attending a conference only.
- You must be in active status in your UMD graduate program at the time of the conference at which you will present.
What to do:
- Fill out the Student Travel Support application form. (Make a copy of the form here.) It's recommended that you submit the application as soon as your presentation has been accepted, but before making travel arrangements.
- Share the completed form with the Director of Graduate Studies in your program, and request their endorsement.
If approved, the DGS will use the DGS Endorsement for Travel Support google form to submit the application and a short statement of support to the UMD Graduate Office. Note to DGSs: To upload the application to the google form, first save it to your Drive, or download it as a pdf.
Important information about timing- Applications must be submitted by your DGS to the Grad Office for review at least two weeks before the last day of classes so that there is enough time to process a scholarship before the end of the semester to which it will be applied, while the student is still enrolled. Please time the submission of your application to your program accordingly.
- All requests submitted and approved during the summer term (including May session) will be applied to the following fall term, provided that the student is enrolled for credit. Students graduating in the summer or enrolling in Grad 999 in the fall are not eligible to receive travel support, unless the department is documenting the travel as University business (e.g., for a student on an RA appointment presenting on behalf of their PI/lab group).
- You and your DGS will be notified of the decision, usually within two weeks. Travel funding is generally not approved for conference attendance only; students must be presenting their work.
Next steps:
- If approved, the funds will be transferred to your program office. In most cases, this award will be treated as a scholarship and may be used by the department to pay up-front costs on your behalf, or may be applied to your student account. The award may affect your financial aid eligibility, and you are strongly encouraged to contact the financial aid experts in One Stop to understand what the impact will be for your individual situation. **If your plans change and you do not attend the conference, the funds must be returned to the Grad Office.
- In rare cases, it may be determined by your program that your travel can be treated as a business expense. If so, you will work with staff there to request reimbursement of expenses up to the awarded amount. In order to be reimbursed directly for expenses, rather than through a scholarship, your purpose for travel must be primarily for the benefit of the University.
Note: Use of University funds for travel must be in compliance with University Policy. Traveling internationally for University purposes requires registration of the travel. If driving, view Using Vehicles for University Business for more information about use of university vehicles, use of a rented vehicle, or use of a personal vehicle.
Per diem rates are linked here. These are the maximum allowable expenses for meals and lodging for a given city, but the conference may offer a lower hotel rate and/or provide meals. Please take these factors into account when making your budget.