Conference Travel

The department and the Graduate School are able to assist students with funds for travel to one conference per academic year. 

Students should consult with the DGS and DGSA about how to apply for these funds and how to submit receipts to the department upon their return from the conference.

Conference Funding

Academic Year Reimbursement

  • All of our graduate students are eligible for $350 for domestic conference travel expenses.  The amount available may change each year depending on the budgetary situation, and past precedents do not apply.
  • ABD students are eligible for up to $525 for domestic travel and up to $700 for international travel. These totals represent a combination of department and graduate school funds (see Conference Travel Award Application document).
  • Important: Students are not eligible to receive a per diem for travel to conferences.  Receipts are needed for reimbursement.  Travel miles or award miles cannot be used to reimburse students for travel. https://finance.duke.edu/travel/foreign/meals.php

How to Apply for Conference Funding

Students wishing to apply must do so 30 days in advance of the conference, e-mailing their request to the DGS. Requests should include a brief letter of intent, a paper abstract, and a budget.

No reporting or withholding requirement is necessary since students are traveling on Duke business, typically presenting a paper on behalf of Duke. Documentation is necessary to substantiate your participation in the program.  

Reimbursement requests must be submitted to the department and the graduate school.

Eligibility for Conference Funding

Students are limited to one conference travel award per fiscal year (July 1-June 30).

Students attending conferences during the academic year must be registered at the time of the conference.  IMPORTANT: To receive conference funding all students must be presenting a paper at the conference. The name of each student presenting a paper should be found on the conference program. 

For summer conferences students must be registered for the upcoming Fall semester, and must have been registered for the prior Spring semester.

Conference Reimbursement: please thoroughly review the conference travel award application for more information including the policy regarding reimbursement.