Purpose
As part of USC’s continuing efforts to support students’ academic professional development, the Office of Undergraduate Programs (UGP) is pleased to offer a limited number of travel grants each year to undergraduate students presenting at a professional conference in their academic field of study.
Grant Amounts
The UGP Conference Travel Grant is supplemental to other sources of funding (departmental, USG, etc.) Because other sources of funding are still available, UGP Conference Travel Grants are currently offered as airfare vouchers ONLY and may only be used to travel within the continental U.S.
Students seeking travel funding for other conference-related expenses (registration, accommodations, ground travel) should apply to the Undergraduate Student Government until their funding has been exhausted: https://usg.usc.edu/branches/funding/
Once USG funding sources have been exhausted (typically late in the fall semester), UGP Conference Travel Grants will become available as airfare vouchers OR conference registration reimbursement.
Eligibility
At the time of application, eligible USC undergraduate students will have:
- at least a 3.50 cumulative USC GPA
- completed at least 64 total units
- current enrollment in at least 12 units (full-time status)
- been selected to present at a conference in their field(s) of study (oral or poster)
- be traveling within the continental U.S.
If presenting as part of a group, each eligible undergraduate student may apply by submitting an individual travel grant application.
Undergraduate students who will present after they complete their degree (ex. May graduates who will present after commencement) are ineligible.
Applicants for UGP Conference Travel Grants are eligible to receive one award per fiscal year, contingent on the availability of funds. In the case of limited funds, eligible candidates who have not already been recipients of UGP Conference Travel Grants will be given preference.
Application & Reimbursement Process
Applications are due no later than one month prior to travel. Decisions are made on a rolling basis, and grants are awarded based on the availability of airfare vouchers and/or funds.
To apply, eligible undergraduate students submit an online application including an abstract of the accepted paper or poster presentation and documentation from the conference host organization confirming their proposal has been accepted.
Applicants are notified via e-mail with a grant decision within three weeks of submission.