Before Applying

Review Eligibility Requirements

• Applicants must be presenting Purdue research at the conference (oral, poster, etc.)
• Purdue graduate students may only submit one application per semester.
• Purdue graduate students may only receive one award per fiscal year (Summer – Spring)
• Incomplete applications will not be considered for funding, so double-check completion prior to submission.
• Applicants must use their Purdue email when submitting, failure to do so will result in a ineligible application.

Read Reimbursement Policies

• Applicants should understand the reimbursement procedures and policies here before traveling or making any purchases related to the applicant’s grant application.
• Proper documentation must be submitted for full reimbursement.

Steps to complete your application

1. WRITE APPLICATION ESSAY

Essay Prompt

In 500 words or less (excluding title), please describe your research and the importance of attending this conference. Please keep in mind that someone outside your field will most likely review your application; thus, write for someone who might not be familiar with your subject area (i.e., jargon-free).

Essay Rubric  

Your essay is the only component of the application that is used for scoring. Travel Grants are competitive and applicants are expected to thoroughly address each criterion. Please pay careful attention to the rubric provided below to ensure the best possible outcome. 

Formatting instructions 

• • Essay must fit on one (1) page, using one inch (1”) margins and size 11 Arial font.
    • • Applications that are not formatted correctly will be docked 1 point on the final evaluation.

• • Travel Grant applications are evaluated by a double-blind review process. Do not include any identifying information, such as:
    • • Your name
      • Your advisor’s name
      • Collaborators’ names
      • Lastname_Firstname_TravelGrant.docx
      • Essays that are not named correctly will be docked 1 point on the final evaluation

2. ASK ADVISOR/MAJOR PROFESSOR TO CONFIRM TRAVEL PLANS

You must have support from your advisor/major professor to present your research. Ask your advisor to confirm their approval by emailing the Travel Grant Vice Chair. The email must include:

• • Your name

• • The name of the conference or event

• • The date and place of the conference or event

• • A statement that your advisor supports your attendance to that conference or event

Your advisor’s statement must include all of these components and be sent to travelpgsg@purduegradstudents.com by the application deadline.

3. SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION

When you have completed the above steps, submit your application through this online portal.