Graduate Student Travel Award

The Graduate Student Travel Award supports research-related travel expenses by reimbursing eligible students with a maximum award of $500 to help defray the costs associated with presenting at a conference.

Graduate students may apply by completing and submitting the application and required supporting materials.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Graduate student must be enrolled in a graduate program for 6 or more credit hours and must be in good academic standing and 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.
• The travel must occur before graduation.
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
• Research or creative/scholarly work being presented must be completed while a UTRGV graduate student.
• Graduate students are limited to one Graduate Student Travel Award per academic year (September to August).
• 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

How to Apply:

Submit 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 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. 

• If approved, travel award payments will be transferred to their respective college office. If applicable, funds will be transferred to the respective departments.

• Please keep receipts for all costs incurred such as rental vehicle, gas, airfare, lodging, registration fees, and meals.

Direct Questions To: 

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