The Dean’s Student Travel Fund program provides grants for undergraduates and graduate students to present original research at professional and academic conferences.

Eligibility & Award Stipulations

  • These awards are available to undergraduate and graduate students actively pursuing a major within the College of Letters & Science
  • The award supports students who present a paper or poster at conferences.Eligible expenses include airfare, lodging, mileage, and conference registration fees
  • Students may apply for one award up to $1000 to cover one or more conferences
  • Please note that the College does not provide funding for students who only plan to attend a conference without presenting. Additionally, these awards cannot be used for research trips or shadowing opportunities
  • Decisions regrading applications will not be made until a few weeks into each semester, so plan accordingly and have a backup plan if you are not approved for funding

Application

Students must submit the following packet to clsawards@montana.edu: 

  • A cover sheet
    • Full name, major, phone number, email address, number of credits completed, and cumulative GPA 
  • Overview of the research opportunity
    • Research topic, conference name, dates, and location 
  • Budget 
    • Estimated travel, lodging, and registration fees 
  • Essay on how this award will advance the applicant’s research and/or professional goals

Also required:

  • One recommendation letter from a faculty member speaking to the applicant's potential and their specific research opportunity 
    • Applicants: please reach out to your chosen faculty member as soon as possible to give them an adequate amount of time to writethe letter of recommendation
    • Faculty: Letters of recommendation are held to the same deadline as the student's application and can be sent directly to clsawards@montana.edu

Award Periods

Fall Application Period

This period covers opportunities occurring between July 1 and December 31. Fall application becomes available on the first day of each Fall semester. Any travel occurring between July 1 and notification of award will be considered for retroactive reimbursement.

2024 Fall

Applications for Fall 2024 are closed.

Spring Application Period

This covers opportunities occurring between January 1 and June 30. Spring application becomes available on the first day of each Spring semester. Any travel occurring between January 1 and notification of award will be considered for retroactive reimbursement.

2025 Spring

Applications will open in January 2025. More information to come.

Acceptance

Students will work with their home department on spending their awards. Award recipients are encouraged to attend and participate in the College of Letters & Science Annual Awards Ceremony at the end of the academic year. 

Contact

Sheridan Peña
Academic Services Manager
College of Letters & Science
(406) 994-4288
sheridan.pena@montana.edu