GSAC Research Student Travel Grant
Please Note : GSAC suggests that the students apply to and use the GSAS travel grants before applying here. For further information, see FAQ.
Eligible graduate students may request individual travel grants to defray the costs associated with presenting their work at academic conferences and workshops. GSAS students may request up to $500 and 7 grants will be awarded in each application cycle. Conference registration fees, transportation (by the most economical means available) and lodging (excluding meals) may all be reimbursed. We will randomly select the grantees from the eligible candidates each spring and fall semester. Please check this website for upcoming deadlines. The spring travel grants may be used for an event that occurs between January 1 and June 30 and the fall grants may be used for an event that occurs between July 1 and December 31.
All the recipients are also required to participate in the Columbia Graduate Research Conference to be held at Columbia University. The LUMEN GSAC Research Conference 2013 will be held on 29th March in 301 Philosophy Hall.
The Spring 2013 deadline was February 22nd and the awardees have been selected. Grant recipients have been notified by email.
Any GSAS student enrolled full-time in a Ph.D. or research Masters degree granting program is eligible to apply for the GSAC travel grant. Candidates must be in good standing, must present a paper or poster at the conference, and the conference must be related to the applicant's academic discipline.
A GSAS student may only receive one travel grant during their tenure at Columbia. GSAC board members are not eligible to apply during their appointment.
Applying for a Travel Grant
To apply, eligible students must submit a complete Travel Grant Application before the application period deadline and take part in the Columbia Graduate Research Conference. Before applying, please make sure you will be present at the GSAC Conference which is to be tentatively held around mid-March every year.
A complete application requires the following items:
Email your completed application to gsac@columbia.edu. Paper applications will not be accepted.
Notification of Recipients
Shortly after the deadline, recipients will be notified by email and will be announced on the GSAC website and e-newsletter.
Requesting ReimbursementFunding is on a reimbursement basis, i.e., you must submit receipts for expenses up to the amount awarded by GSAC. You will need to submit a printed copy of the GSAC award letter and a completed Columbia Travel and Business Expense Report (download the form) with original receipts at 109 Low Library.
Past RecipientsSpring 2013
Fall 2012
Spring 2012
Fall 2011
Spring 2011
Fall 2010
Spring 2010
Q: I am presenting a poster at the XYZ conference and/or am unavailable during the tentative dates of the GSAC research conference. Can I still apply?
A: No. As per the current rules, you are required to confirm your participation at the GSAC conference. This is a way for GSAC to recover some of the costs and disseminate within the student body some knowledge that it partially or wholly sponsors. The conference is to be tentatively held around mid-March every year and details about the latest one are available here.
Q: Are there any other travel grants available at Columbia that I can apply to?
A: We suggest that you apply to the GSAS travel grants before applying to GSAC. The GSAS travel grants are guaranteed for the eligible candidates.
Q: My work has been accepted to be presented at a conference that be held on MM/DD/YYYY, when should I apply for a travel grant?
A: If the event occurs between January 1 and June 30, apply for the spring deadline. If the event occurs between July 1 and December 31, apply for the fall deadline.
Q: I already attended the conference, can I still apply for a travel grant?
A: See the question above to see which deadline you should apply for. Remember that you must have original receipts to apply for reimbursement. If you didn't save your receipts, you shouldn't apply because you won't get reimbursed.
Q: I submitted an application and haven't received an email saying whether or not I was selected to receive a travel grant.
A: GSAC only emails the recipients, if you're wondering whether they've been selected check on this webpage -- Past Recipients.
Q: I emailed my application, please confirm that my application was received.
A: GSAC will not confirm receipt of your application.
Q: Where do I get the travel grant application?
A: At the top of this webpage there is a section called Applying for the Travel Grant, download the application there.
Q: I am a 10th year student in the _____ department, am I eligible to apply?
A: All current GSAS students are eligible to apply.
Q: Can I use the travel grant to attend a conference other than the one that was listed on my original application?
A: No.
Q: If only 5 or 7 grants are awarded, why should I bother to apply?
A: The application process is quite simple, what do you have to lose?
