Variable, up to a current maximum value of $2,000 depending on the estimate of eligible expenses provided by the student.

An eligible student can only receive one graduate travel award during a graduate program.

All applicants must:

• Be registered full-time in their program at the time of application and at the time of proposed travel
• Have a GPA of 2.7 or higher, based on the most recent 15 credits of graded coursework (or closest approximation thereof) at the time of application

Master's Students:

• Students in a master’s degree program must have completed no more than four years in the master’s program at the time of travel.
• If you are in a thesis-based program, you must have completed your preliminary course work and other prerequisites, and be actively engaged in thesis research at the time of application.
• If you are in a course-based program, you must have completed at least two university terms of full-time coursework in the program by the time you travel.

 
Doctoral Students:

• Students in a doctoral degree program must have completed no more than six years in the doctoral program at the time of travel.
• At the time of application, you must have completed your preliminary course work and other prerequisites, completed your candidacy examination and be actively engaged in thesis research.

In addition to the above eligibility requirements, an applicant’s travel must fall under one of two categories in order to be eligible for funding:

Conference Travel:

A conference trip eligible for FGSR funding should be a highlight of a student's program. Travel will involve the student's attendance and active participation - by presenting a paper or poster, exhibiting their work, or participating in a panel discussion - at a major national or international research gathering.

 
Research Travel:

The following are examples of travel that would constitute a research trip:

• Trips to field sites
• Visits to off-campus research stations
• Visits to archives, museums and exhibits
• Attendance at workshops
• Attendance at summer institutes
• Data collection trip relevant to your research
• Travel to performance venues for performing art students to present their pieces or to view performances relevant to their research

Please note:

1.) Research travel within the City of Edmonton limits is not eligible for travel award funding

2.) Research travel funding is fiscal-year dependent; you can only claim travel that will be happening between April 1 and March 31 of the current fiscal year

You can apply for a graduate travel award no later than 10 business days after your return date.

There is no limit as to how early you can apply for a graduate award. However, incomplete applications will not be accepted--all supporting documents must be provided at the time of application.

To apply, you must submit a completed Graduate Travel Awards Application form AND supporting documents directly to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. If the required supporting documentation is not provided, the application package will be returned to you.

The application form must be reviewed and signed by the applicant’s supervisor or department chair prior to submission to FGSR.

 
If you are traveling to a conference, your application must include:

• Documentation from the conference organizers confirming your poster or paper has been accepted for presentation OR a letter of invitation to participate in a panel discussion or to exhibit your work;
• Documentation from the conference organizers confirming your registration; the document should outline the cost for registration and what items are included in the registration fee (meals, accommodation, etc.).

 

If the nature of your trip is research development, your application must include:

• Confirmation that you have been invited to a data collection site, workshop, summer institute, etc. and, if available, confirmation that you paid the associated expenses (eg. registration fee), if any OR
• If the above is not available, a letter of support from your University supervisor commenting on the significance of the trip for your research program.

Travel awards are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

The FGSR will offer as many travel awards as the annual budget will support. Once funding in a certain section is expended, no more applicants will be accepted.

For general allowable travel expenses guidelines that FGSR follows, please refer to Travel Expense Procedure.

Ongoing throughout the year until all funds are expended.

You will be notified by email once your application has been processed and a decision has been made. Every effort will be made to process payment for approved applications on the payday closest to the departure date.

If your application is reviewed and found to be incomplete, we will contact you by email to resolve the issue. Your application date is considered to be the date on which all paperwork is submitted and complete.

If you are offered an FGSR graduate travel award, you are not required to submit a Graduate Award Acceptance Form/Decline Form; payment to you will be initiated automatically. However, if you do not participate in the travel/conference that your graduate travel award was approved to fund, or if you status as a graduate student changes, it is your responsibility to notify the FGSR in writing. You may be required to repay any travel funds received.