The Division believes that presenting papers at professional conferences is important to students' academic careers and growth as professionals. Pre-doctoral students who have been invited to present papers at academic conferences can apply for up to $750 to cover related travel expenses.  You may also apply for funding to attend workshops that align with your dissertation research.  Graduate Programs are not a source of funding for workshop / conference travel for PhD Students.   

In order to ensure that the limited conference-travel funds are distributed as equitably as possible, all students must apply for travel reimbursement at least one month prior to travel or start of workshop.    Students may also submit funding requests for VIRTUAL Conferences (typically for registration expenses associated with virtual participation).

Effective March 13, 2025, all requests for travel must receive Senior Officer Approval.  OGS can submit these requests on your behalf once we receive your funding request but please note that this process may require additional time for approval.  Students should NOT purchase anything related to conference travel without receiving approval from OGS along with Senior Officer Approval.  The Senior Officer Approval process requires that we list any approved funding from any other Brown offices as well as conference scholarships you may have received.

For those who are traveling internationally: advance registration in Brown’s TravelSafe system will be required in order for Brown funds to be paid or reimbursed for Brown-related international travel. "

Applications from PhD students should be submitted via our Google form (you'll need to sign in with your Brown e-mail).  When applying, you should provide any travel funding commitments you have received, i.e, international travel fund, GSC travel fund, travel awards from the conference, faculty member funding.   

See application for all necessary documentation required. Be prepared to submit your invitation to present, budget info. 

Please note that Masters students should contact their Graduate Programs and the School of Professional Studies about conference travel funding.  

View TRAVEL REIMBURSEMENT GUIDELINES

Please remember that you must submit expense report information within 60 days of return from travel!

Please note:  If some portion of your travel is being charged to a grant, AirBnB (and other similar organizations) may not be a reimbursable expense.   Airbnb is considered nonconventional lodging and is only reimbursable when there are no conventional lodging facilities in the area (e.g., in remote areas) or when conventional facilities are in short supply because of an influx of attendees at a special event (e.g., World’s Fair or international sporting event). Such lodging includes college dormitories or similar facilities or rooms not offered commercially but made available to the public by area residents in their homes.   

Brown does not encourage the use of AirBnB but it may be an allowable expense on institutional funding. Please check with your program admin before booking lodging through AirBnB.

International Conference Travel

Master's students and doctoral students in years 1-5 of their studies who are presenting their research at international conferences are eligible to apply for the international travel fund award. This fund is administered by the Graduate School. The BioMed Conference Travel Award may be combined with the International Conference Travel funding for students presenting at international conferences. 

Occasionally, The Office of Graduate Studies will provide funding for graduate students to attend conferences for the purpose of recruiting Graduate Students on Brown's behalf.   Students interested in attending these conferences are encouraged to apply for available travel funding from the conferences.   Please email at us at OGS@Brown.edu for additional information.