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Graduate Student Travel Fund

The College of Education Graduate Student Travel Fund provides financial support to graduate students presenting research at national and international conferences.

This funding helps offset travel and registration expenses and supports students in sharing their scholarship, expanding professional networks, and advancing their academic and career goals.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible, students must:

  • Be enrolled in at least six (6) credit hours, dissertation hours, or equivalent coursework during the semester of travel.
  • Be presenting research at a national or international conference.
    • Please note that travel awards strictly support active participants; students attending solely as general audience members are ineligible.
  • Provide documentation of conference acceptance in their name.
  • Apply and receive approval before the conference takes place.

Students who have not received College of Education travel funding within the previous two years are encouraged to apply.

Application Timeline

Applications open at the start of each academic year on September 1st and remain open through May 31st, or until available funds have been exhausted. Both the application and conference travel must occur within the same academic year (fall through spring). Conferences taking place during the summer are not eligible for funding.

Award Limits

  • Awards are available up to $500 for approved travel.
  • Virtual conference registration expenses may be funded up to $250.
  • Funding is not available for local, regional, or state conferences.
  • Students may receive funding for one conference per academic year and no more than twice within a three-year period.
  • If a student receives funding from both the College of Education and the Toulouse Graduate School, reimbursements may be coordinated between the two programs.

Important Reimbursement Requirements

Travel funding is provided as a reimbursement after the travel is completed.

Students must:

  • Submit all required receipts and documentation showing a zero balance.
  • Provide materials to the designated departmental contact.
  • Submit documentation within two weeks of the conference end date.

Final reimbursement processing is completed through the UNT Travel and deposited into the student's designated account.

Other Funding Opportunities

The Research and Innovation offers a Graduate Student Travel award that is separate from COE's. Read more and check the application deadlines for their Graduate Student Travel Award. Students are also encouraged to check with their department for more funding opportunities. 

FAQs

I've already attended my conference. Can I still apply for funding?

Unfortunately, no. 
To be eligible for the College of Education Graduate Student Travel Award, students must apply and ideally receive an award prior to traveling. Requests for funding that are submitted after travel takes place will not be considered.

Where do I submit my reimbursement form and receipts?

Students will turn in all receipts and documentation to their department for reimbursement. Please do not submit forms to COE.

How are travel award funds distributed?

You will receive your travel award as a reimbursement processed by your department. Please contact your department representative for questions about your reimbursement status. Submission of travel documentation should be made to your department admin within 2 weeks of return from travel.

I was awarded funds from the Graduate Student Travel fund; when will I receive my funds?
Follow the instructions detailed in your award letter to facilitate payment. You will need to contact your department for reimbursement instructions. You will need to submit receipts to your department no later than 2 weeks (14 days) after you return from your conference. Travel Awards are always reimbursed after you return from travel; we do not send funds in advance. If advance funding is needed, please contact the Student Money Management Center.
I was not awarded a travel award during the previous award period. Will my application be automatically rolled over to the next evaluation period to be considered?

No, you must apply during each period (within the same academic year that your travel occurred) if you wish to be considered for a travel award.

Questions?

If you have any questions, or would like to check the status of your application, reach out to coe-info@unt.edu