Graduate Student Travel Award

The Graduate College sponsors the Graduate Student Travel Award with the aim of providing support for students’ research-related travel expenses. This is an award of up to $600 to help defray the costs associated with presenting at a conference or other qualifying event.

Graduate students may begin the process of applying for the Graduate Student Travel Award by completing and submitting the application and required supporting materials.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Graduate student must be enrolled in a UTRGV degree-seeking graduate program for 6 or more credit hours and must be in good academic standing (have a cumulative 3.0 GPA). If a student drops courses after being awarded and no longer meets the credit hour criteria, he/she will be ineligible for future scholarships in this category.
• Graduate students are not eligible for the award if the event dates occur after graduation.
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
• Research or creative/scholarly work being presented must have been completed while a graduate student at UTRGV.
• Graduate students are limited to one Graduate Student Travel Award per academic year (September 2024 – August 2025).
• The conference or event must be relevant to the student’s graduate program or discipline.
• Travel Awards will be considered for:
  • Research Paper or Project Presentation
  • Presenting a Work of Art or Design
  • Musical Recital
  • Poster Presentation
  • Three Minute Thesis Competition outside of UTRGV, at the state or national level

How to Apply:

Graduate students must submit two items: a completed Graduate Student Travel Award application and the required supporting documentation.

Travel Award Application:

Select the application term that corresponds with the date(s) of your conference/event (i.e., if conference is July 6, 2023, the application term is Summer 2023).

Submit 2026-2027 Travel Award Application

Attach the following supporting materials: 

• A copy of the abstract of the paper, project or presentation. 

• A statement (500 to 1,000 words) on the importance of the conference/event to your professional development. 

• A letter of acceptance, a formal invitation, or a program agenda or schedule as evidence of acceptance. 

• A letter of recommendation from the graduate program coordinator or graduate faculty member in your graduate program indicating how the experience will contribute to your professional development. 

• An unofficial copy of your transcript via ASSIST or copy of class schedule. 

What happens next:

• The Graduate College will review the application and grant the award based on an internal review. 

• Students will be notified of the decision via their UTRGV email. 

(For Staff) 

Upon the student’s return, the administrative staff within the Academic College will need to submit a Non-PO Payment Request form through iShop, using the Graduate College Cost Center provided in the award notification email. Please note that Accounts Payable may require additional documentation, such as: Approval from the Scholarships Office and Travel confirmation from the Dean of Students. Additional information regarding the Non-PO form can be found here: UTRGV Accounts Payable FAQs. Please ensure the student’s Name and SID are visible on the cart.
 
Once the form has been processed by Accounts Payable, the funds will be disbursed directly to the student. 

An iTravel Expense report may also be used in lieu of a Non – PO. Please ensure the student’s Name and SID are present within the Expense Report title. 

Direct Questions To: 

Eddie Martinez, Program Specialist - edelmiro.martinez01@utrgv.edu

Justin Ramirez, Financial Manager - justin.m.ramirez01@utrgv.edu