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Travel Awards & Grants

GPSA established the Travel Award program to provide financial assistance and recognition to graduate and professional students who are participating in academic conferences. Applicants must currently be enrolled as a student at the University of Pittsburgh. There are two levels of funds available: $200 Travel Award and $100 Travel Grant.  Please review the Pre-Approval Application Form for the criteria used to distinguish the two levels. 

Forms You'll Need

Pre-Approval Application Form

Complete this before attending the conference (see step one for more info).

T&B Expense Form

Following the conference, and if you received pre-approval, fill out and submit the Travel and Business (T&B) Expense form within 30 days of the end of your conference. Follow the directions below (see step two) for infomation on how to fill out this form.

Step 1: Obtain Pre-Approval from GPSA

Students are eligible for one GPSA travel award or grant per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) based on the date of the conference and a maximum of two GPSA travel awards/grants during their lifetime. Please note that the tabulation of travel grants toward each students' total does not include GPSA grants approved prior to October 1st, 2009. All applications must be pre-approved, and funds for each cycle are distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The type of event in which the applicant is participating must be listed on the Pre-Approval Application form. Unqualified events include internships, job fairs, and other non-academic events as determined by GPSA.

An applicant attending an event in Allegheny County is eligible only to receive $50 towards the price of registration.

Remember to include proof of participation in the conference as noted on the application. These documents must demonstrate that the conference is academic or professional in nature and that you have participated at the level for which you are requesting an award. Please be advised that GPSA travel grants can only be used for lodging, transportation, and conference-specific expenses only.  There will be no reimbursement given for expenses suchas food, beverages, souvenirs, etc. 

Timeline for Submitting Travel Grants in FY2009-2010

Step 2: Submit a Travel and Business form

1. Type and Sign the Travel and Business Expense form (T&B). The 'expense distribution by account number,' 'authorizing name and title,' and 'authorizing signature' sections are for departmental use only.


2. Include original receipts, affixed to the front of one or more 8x11 sheets of paper with tape, no staples. T&B's turned in with copies of receipts and/or stapled receipts cannot be acepted.


3. Submit all paperwork within 30 days after the conference ends. GPSA retains the authority to redistribute or withhold funding from any student not meeting this requirement.


4. If you are receiving funding from more than one organization or department within the University of Pittsburgh, you should use only one T&B form and receipts. This T&B will be sent from department to department for approval.


5. GPSA strongly prefers to receive students' T&B's with multiple department accounts after all other contributing university organizations have signed it.