Graduate Research and Travel Award
The Department of Religion awards competitive travel awards of up to $1,500 per fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) to assist its graduate students to travel to conferences and to conduct research during the academic year or the summer break.
Eligibility: Graduate students in good standing. Students presenting at conferences will receive priority consideration over those attending only. Research travel must be directly related to the student's dissertation topic.
Deadlines:
*First Friday of September
*Last Friday of October
*Second Friday of Spring semester
*First Friday after Spring Break
AY2023-24 deadlines: March 22, 2024, September 6, 2024, October 25, 2024
AY2024-25 deadlines: January 24, 2025; March 28, 2025
==>> Applications submitted after the deadline will not be reviewed until after the following due date <<==
Required Application Materials:
- Justification or funding purpose (PDF) - describe the type of conference you are attending and explain how it is relevant to your studies. Add the link for the conference website, location, and dates of the event.
- For conference travel: acceptance e-mail or letter sent by the conference organization. (PDF)
- Advisor's statement of support. It can be a simple note acknowledging that they reviewed your proposal and support this travel opportunity. (PDF)
- Budget spreadsheet
Include ALL funding sought or secured from other sources.
Read "GUIDELINES" below.
Details for each expense item are required. (XLS)
To Apply: Please complete this Application Form and upload the materials listed above.
Review of Proposals:
Applications will be reviewed by the department and pass a workflow of approvals. You will receive a 'final' copy of your application via Adobe Sign, which only means your application was accepted.
Decision letters will be sent by email within 10 days after the deadline.
Award Disbursement:
Students awarded funding will receive their award via direct deposit. Please ensure your direct deposit information is current in Esther, and your address is updated in iO.
Please note that awards above $600 in a calendar year are considered taxable income for US citizens. Rice does not withhold taxes from the award payment for US citizens. Important note for International students: taxes will be withheld from the award payment.
Keep in mind that travel funds are to be used for official Rice University business only, in accordance with Rice University travel policy 806 (https://policy.rice.edu/806).
GUIDELINES for submitting an application and calculating a travel budget:
1) Students are expected to apply for outside funding whenever possible to defray costs to the department.
2) The travel budget should be comprehensive. Submit a budget for the ENTIRE trip, regardless of anticipated outside funding and indicate the amount you are requesting to the Department of Religion. Use the budget spreadsheet indicated in "Required Applications Materials."
3) Outside funding support received after submitting the travel request must be reported to the department.
4) If the trip is cancelled after the award is granted, the student must notify the department ASAP and the award amount returned.
5) Keep the receipts for the items you budgeted, as they may be requested.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Students who travel internationally on Rice funds are required to register their trip with International SOS and the U.S. State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).