Conference Travel Grants
Department of Political Science travel grants and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Conference Matching Fund reimburse eligible conference registration, travel, and lodging expenses for students who present papers or posters at professional conferences.
The department reimburses students up to $800 per year (July 1 to June 30) for qualifying expenses. In the year students are on the job market, the department will provide an additional $400 ($1,200 total) to support students who attend the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting.
Applications are requested three times per year according to the schedule detailed below.
Students may apply for a department travel grant as long as there is a balance remaining in their annual allocation.
Students may receive only one GSAS Conference Matching Travel grant in each academic year and no more than two grants during their career at Columbia. The award is not guaranteed, and requests are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. If applications exceed available funds, students who have not received an award in previous years will have priority.
In order for a student to receive an award from the GSAS Conference Matching Travel Fund, the department or program must first approve a student's application and provide funds to defray expenses. GSAS will then match the funds provided by the department, up to a maximum of $400.
Eligibility
Students in the freestanding M.A. program are eligible for both GSAS and department travel grants with the approval of a faculty member at the time of application. Students may apply for a department travel grant only after applying for a GSAS travel grant.
First-year Ph.D. students may apply for a department travel grant with the approval of a faculty member at the time of application. First-year Ph.D. students are not eligible to receive a GSAS travel grant. Second- and third-year students are eligible for both GSAS and department travel grants with the approval of a faculty member at the time of application. GSAS limits awards to one per academic year, and a maximum of two during a student's career at Columbia. Students who have reached these limits remain eligible for department travel grants.
Students who have received the M.Phil. are eligible for both GSAS and department travel grants through their seventh year. GSAS limits awards to one per academic year, and a maximum of two during a student's career at Columbia. Post-M.Phil. students remain eligible for up to $800 in department travel grants each year through the seventh year.
In the year in which Ph.D. students are on the job market, they are eligible for department travel grants to fund up to $1,200 in qualifying expenses for travel to the APSA Annual Meeting. All students, including those not presenting a paper or poster at the APSA Annual Meeting, are eligible for these grants.
The $1,200 allocation for students on the job market includes the regular $800 allocation for that year. A student who receives a grant of $1,200 to attend the APSA Annual Meeting in September will be ineligible for further travel grants for that year.
Students on the market who wish to attend the APSA Annual Meeting and who are not presenting papers or posters should apply for a job market department travel grant. Only students presenting papers are eligible for GSAS grants.
Coordination of GSAS and department travel grants
Since GSAS will award one grant per year and two over the course of a student's GSAS career, students should consider how to maximize the benefits of both programs, considering the cost of each trip, and the cost of likely trips in the future for which additional funding from GSAS may be helpful.
Examples
I. One conference paper in an academic year
Student presents a paper at the APSA Annual Meeting and incurs expenses of $1,200. A GSAS travel grant matching $400 of the department's contribution is awarded, and the department awards $800.
Total GSAS award: $400
Total department award: $800.
2. More than one conference paper in an academic year
Student presents a paper at the ISA Annual Convention and incurs expenses of $400. A GSAS travel grant matching $200 of the department's contribution is awarded, and the department awards $200.
Total GSAS award: $200
Total department award for this trip: $200.
Later, student presents a different paper at the MPSA Conference and incurs expenses of $600. A department travel grant is awarded; it provides $600 for reimbursement of expenses.
Total department award for this trip: $600
Total department award for academic year: $800
3. One conference paper in an academic year, preserving GSAS grant eligibility
Student presents a paper at the ISA Annual Convention, incurs expenses of $400, and opts to preserve eligibility for a GSAS travel grant for a more expensive trip in the future. A department travel grant of $400 is awarded.
Total GSAS award: $0
Total department award: $400
Allocation had the student applied for a GSAS travel grant:
Total GSAS award: $200
Total department award: $200
Application procedures
Submit a GSAS Conference Travel Grant application to the department application portal by the following dates:
- June 27: For conferences occurring between May and August*
- October 25: For conferences occurring between September and December
- February 24: For conferences occurring between January and April
* Grants awarded for applications submitted in June are charged to the upcoming academic year's allocation. In other words, summer grants are the first grants awarded in a new academic year.
Department approval of applications for GSAS grants does not imply or guarantee GSAS approval.
Complete a department travel grant application by the following dates:
- June 27: For conferences occurring between May and August*
- October 25: For conferences occurring between September and December
- February 24: For conferences occurring between January and April
* Grants awarded for applications submitted on June 25 are charged to the upcoming academic year's allocation. In other words, summer grants are the first grants awarded in a new academic year.
Ph.D. students in years 1-3 of study must include the endorsement of a faculty member in their application.
In the year in which Ph.D. students are on the job market, students are eligible for department travel grants to fund up to $1,200 in qualifying expenses for travel to the APSA Annual Meeting. All students, including those not presenting a paper or poster at the APSA Annual Meeting, are eligible for these grants.
Students on the market who wish to attend the APSA Annual Meeting and who are not presenting papers or posters should apply for a department travel grant. Only students presenting papers are eligible for GSAS grants.