Conference & Research Travel Funding

The School of Social Research & Practice and the University of North Texas offer several funding opportunities to support students participating in professional conferences and conducting graduate research. Funding availability, eligibility requirements, and application procedures vary by award.

Review the sections below to identify the funding opportunities that best fit your travel plans. Students should review all eligibility requirements and deadlines before applying.

1. School Student Travel Grant

The School of Social Research & Practice may provide funding to help students cover eligible professional conference travel expenses.

Graduate Students Presenting Research

Graduate students presenting research may receive up to $1,500 in combined School, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS), and Toulouse Graduate School (TGS) funding per conference, limited to one conference per academic year.

Graduate Students Attending for Professional Development

Graduate students attending conferences without presenting research may receive up to $500 in School funding per conference, for a maximum of two conferences during their enrollment, limited to one conference per academic year.

Undergraduate Students Presenting Research

Undergraduate students presenting research may receive up to $1,500 in combined School and CLASS funding, limited to one conference during their enrollment.

Important Funding Guidelines

For students presenting research, combined School, CLASS, and TGS funding, where applicable, cannot exceed $1,500 per conference.
Funding awarded for a particular conference cannot be divided among multiple conferences or carried over to a subsequent year.
Awards from professional associations may supplement this funding and do not count toward the $1,500 limit.
Graduate students presenting research are encouraged to explore additional funding opportunities offered by professional associations.

How to Apply

Graduate students presenting research must:

Complete the Travel Funding Request Form.
Provide documentation confirming acceptance to present at the conference.
Provide documentation of consultation with and approval from their major professor.
Apply for the CLASS Travel Grant and provide documentation of the application.
Apply for the TGS Travel Grant and provide documentation of the application.
Email all required materials to ssrp@unt.edu with the subject line Student Travel Grant Application - Grad Presenting.

Graduate students attending for professional development without presenting must:

Complete the Travel Funding Request Form.
Provide documentation of consultation with and approval from their major professor.
Email the completed form and approval documentation to ssrp@unt.edu with the subject line Student Travel Grant Application - Grad Not Presenting.

Undergraduate students presenting research must:

Complete the Travel Funding Request Form.
Provide documentation confirming acceptance to present at the conference.
Provide documentation of consultation with and approval from a faculty advisor or mentor.
Apply for the CLASS Travel Grant and provide documentation of the application.
Email all required materials to ssrp@unt.edu with the subject line Student Travel Grant Application - Undergrad.

2. Anthropology Research Travel Grants

Anthropology research travel grants support eligible graduate students conducting thesis or practicum fieldwork. Calls for proposals are announced during the fall and spring semesters.

Spring 2027 deadline: February 18, 2027

Eligibility

Applicants must:

Be currently enrolled and active in the Graduate School.
Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Have completed or be currently enrolled in ANTH 5050 (Preparation for Applied Thesis).
Have a well-developed master's thesis or practicum proposal and a potential client.

An approved IRB application is not required at the time of application, but students should be close to submitting one.

Funding Criteria

Funding amounts vary by award cycle.
Funds cannot be used for conference travel.
Funds must be used for eligible research-related fieldwork expenses as specified in the current call for proposals.

Application Materials

Applicants should prepare:

A cover letter explaining the purpose of the funding request.
A detailed budget identifying anticipated travel expenses and how the funds will be used.
A thesis or practicum proposal that includes a research timeline.
A recommendation letter or email from their primary advisor.

Submit application materials to anthropology@unt.edu according to the instructions and completed by July 15,2027.

3. Additional University Funding Opportunities

Students may also be eligible for university-level travel or research funding. Eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines vary by program. Review the official websites for current requirements.

College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS)

CLASS offers travel support grants for eligible graduate students conducting or presenting research.

Visit the CLASS Graduate Student Travel Support Grants website for current eligibility requirements, award amounts, and application deadlines.

Toulouse Graduate School (TGS)

Graduate Student Conference Travel Award

TGS offers a limited number of competitive awards to eligible graduate students in good academic standing. The award supports conference registration for professional meetings relevant to the student's degree.

Visit the Toulouse Graduate Student Travel Award website for current requirements and deadlines.

Graduate Student Research Award

Graduate students may apply for research funding for eligible expenses such as equipment use, supplies, research-related travel, and data-access fees. Funds cannot be used for wages or salaries.

Visit the Toulouse Graduate Student Research Award website for current award amounts, eligibility requirements, and deadlines.

Important: When applying for Toulouse funding, email the faculty member supervising your research and maggie@unt.edu to help ensure that any required electronic approvals are addressed.

4. Travel Authorization & Reimbursement

Students receiving travel funding through the School or Anthropology must complete the required travel authorization process before traveling with university funds.

Before Travel

Complete the UNT Travel Request Form. This form initiates the travel authorization process.
Submit the completed form to Dr. Maggie at maggie@unt.edu.
Work with Dr. Maggie to complete any required setup in Coupa, UNT's travel system, and confirm that you are ready to travel.

After Travel

Submit receipts and required supporting documentation to Dr. Maggie.
For conference travel, include a copy of the conference program.
Submit reimbursement documentation within one week of returning from travel, as specified in the existing Anthropology instructions.

Students should retain all receipts and confirm any additional documentation requirements before traveling.

Questions

For questions about School Student Travel Grants, contact ssrp@unt.edu.

For Anthropology research travel grants and travel authorization, contact anthropology@unt.edu or Dr. Maggie at maggie@unt.edu, as appropriate.

Always refer to the linked university funding websites and the current call for proposals for the most up-to-date requirements and deadlines.