Purpose:
The purpose of the fund is to support UTSC undergraduate student travel that will enhance their own academic experience and make a clear contribution to enhancing the UTSC student experience. This initiative is an attempt to address the financial need of students, in support of conference and research related travel. The fund assists UTSC students to undertake an experience that is non-credit-bearing, but contributes to the individual鈥檚 academic direction towards research, graduate school, engaging with the academic community, or community-engaged learning.
Details of Award:
The Conference and Research Travel Fund is an expense reimbursement award. This means that funds are applied for and awarded prior to travel, and reimbursed after returning from travel. Eligible expenses for which receipts are produced will be reimbursed up to $2,000 per student per award and is not meant to cover 100% of costs. Eligible expenses include registration fees, travel transportation (flights, train, or bus travel to destination) and accommodation related expenses only. The Conference and Research Travel Fund can only be awarded once per student.
Eligibility:
To be eligible to apply for this fund, you must:
- be a student in a UTSC undergraduate degree program
- be registered full-time in the academic year in which you plan to travel or full-time in the semester immediately preceding the academic travel;
- have completed a minimum of 4.0 FCEs (Full Course Equivalents)
- have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 1.60 or higher;
- must not have received this award before.
Applications:
Applications must be submitted online, and must include:
- Completed application form;
- A letter to the review committee indicating:
- what the experience entails;
- how participation in the experience aligns with your academic program;
- the reason funds are requested (need);
- A brief letter or statement of support from a professor describing how the proposal is consistent with your academic direction;
- Promotional material or other information about the experience;
- Supporting documents to show costs/quotes for eligible expenses.
The Conference and Research Travel Fund will cover in-person travel only (virtual is excluded). The Conference and Research Travel Fund can only be awarded prior to travel dates, not after travel has occurred.
Students awarded funds to travel outside of Canada are required to complete the and register their travel on the . Please contact studyabroad.utsc@utoronto.ca for any pre-departure questions.
If approved, original receipts must be submitted for reimbursement.
Applications for any model United Nations-related trips will no longer be accepted.
Deadlines:
Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm on the deadline date:
- Friday October 11th, 2024
- Friday February 14th, 2025
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Selection Process:
After each deadline, a committee review鈥檚 applications for this fund. Only applications from UTSC students will be considered. Once decisions have been reached, you will be notified by email. Decisions will include: whether the application has been approved, the overall amount, and the maximum amounts for each type of eligible expense.
Selection Criteria:
Selection will be based on:
- how closely the application aligns to purpose of the award
- financial need
- academic merits of the experience
- the degree of engagement in the experience (e.g. preference will be given to students who are presenting a paper/poster over those attending a conference)
Where necessary, decisions may also be based on the amount of time left in your UTSC degree to participate in academic travel, and whether you will be earning money for this experience.