Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund

Each year, graduate students travel to professional conferences, both within the United States and abroad, to further their research and engage with colleagues in their respective fields. The Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund is a highly competitive award that offers up to $600 to help cover expenses related to presenting research at conferences, or up to $300 to support attendance at conferences and meetings where new research in the field is shared.

Funding is limited, and applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to students who have not previously received funding and/or are in the later stages of their academic program. 

There are two application cycles for this award: one from July through mid-December, and the other from mid-December - June. Students must apply to the application that corresponds with the date(s) of their conference: 

• For conferences that take place between July 1st - December 15th, 2025, applicants should complete and submit the Summer/Fall Conference Reimbursement Application.
• For conferences that take place between December 16th, 2025 and June 1st, 2026, applicants should complete and submit the Spring Conference Reimbursement Application.
• For conferences that take place between June 1st - June 30th, GSAS students should email Ashley Riley at ashley.riley@tufts.edu for further instructions and SOE students should email Kim Ellwood at kim.ellwood@tufts.edu.

Applicants can expect to receive a decision within 14 business days of the date of submission (business days exclude holidays, weekends, and days where the university is closed). 

PLEASE NOTE: funding is not disbursed until a student has submitted the second part of the conference reimbursement application, the “Proof of Attendance” section (pictured below). 

Only award recipients will have access to this section of the application, meaning, that if an applicant is selected for the fund, they will then be notified via email and given access to the “Proof of Attendance” section of the application with instructions for completion. 

Selected applicants must include all proof of attendance documents into ONE PDF document and upload the file to the Proof of Attendance section of the application form. 

 Acceptable proof of attendance documents include:

• Documentation from the conference proceedings
• An airline boarding pass
• Photos taken at an identifiable location within the conference at which you presented or attended, etc.
• Itemized receipts of purchases
• A completed Non-Resident Application Form (if applicable)

If a student selected for this award does not submit the Proof of Funding section within 30 days following the date of their conference, their award will be forfeited.  

If an applicant is accepted for the award, but their plans change/they no longer intend to attend the conference, please notify your respective Dean’s office (GSAS or SOE) as soon as possible, so that the award money can be allocated to another student.

Funding for approved Fall 2025 applications must be claimed by December 15, 2025; otherwise, it will be forfeited. Similarly, funding for approved Spring 2026 applications must be claimed by June 1, 2026, or it will be forfeited.

Please note: the instructions for completing each application and the guidelines for eligibility are included on both applications. Please read these sections carefully as you complete and submit the e-forms. 

The Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund is sponsored by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the Graduate Student Council.