The Department recognizes that presentations at scholarly conferences form an important aspect of graduate training, and we support student travel to present papers or posters at conferences. While financial support is always dependent on availability of funding,Ìý in practice, the department has an excellent record of funding conference travel.
Before submitting an abstract, check with your supervisor as to whether the conference is in fact appropriate and whether they are able to fund you if other sources do not cover the full cost.Ìý When applying to Arts or PGSS (see (1)), and potentially other sources (e.g. conference-specific awards), your supervisor must provide a supporting statement, so please request this from your supervisor at least one week in advance.
Students should apply for funding in the following order:
1.ÌýÌý Funds from outside the department
There are several funding sources within the university which students should always try first (if eligible):
a. Ìý Arts Graduate Research Enhancement and Travel (GREAT) Awards:
to support research travel and dissemination of research, such as conference presentations, field research, archival research, and collaborative research outside the University.
For AY 2024-25: GREAT awards are determined by a department-internal competition, for which the deadline isÌýSeptember 18,Ìýfor conferences takingÌýplace in the period September 1 - January 31.
There is no GREAT funding available after this date, this year.
b.ÌýÌý Centre for Research on Brain, Language and Music (CRBLM):
Travel grants to present at conferences for graduate students who are student members of CRBLM and whose supervisors are members of CRBLM. Four deadlines each year. See for details.
c. Post-Graduate Students Society (PGSS):
Travel grants to present at conferences.Ìý Six deadlines per year (in AY 24-25). See for details.Ìý
d.ÌýÌý Funding from conferences:
Some conferences are able to provide limited travel funding for students. If so, you should apply for it. Some conferences also provide crash space accommodation for students.
e. Graduate Mobility Award (not for conference travel)
Awards to support graduate students to study and conduct research abroad, for research stay at a lab, conducting experiments, field work, or participation in a formal bilateral exchange/research partnership. See website for details: /gps/funding/travel/grad-mobility-award. In AY 24-25: applications can be submitted throughout the year, at least 8 weeks before travel, with "blackout periods" ofÌýApril 14 – May 15 and July 15 – August 15, when new applications aren't considered.
f.ÌýPermanent International Committee of Linguists Travel Grant
External grant any PhD student can receive once, for a linguistics conference taking place outside Canada.ÌýThe call is open twice a year: from March 1st - May 15th for conferences taking place between July 1st and December 31st and from October 1st - November 15th for conferences taking place between January 1st and July 1st.Ìý See for details.
2.ÌýÌý Funds from research grants in the department
Most professors in the department have research grants which can cover (or partially cover) student travel to present at conferences.Ìý
Supervisors with adequate funding are expected to cover expenses that have not been covered by other sources (GREAT, CRBLM, etc.), provided that they deem the conference appropriate. This may involve topping up of other travel grants, or full or partial funding for students who do not have other funding options.Ìý
3.ÌýÌý Department travel fund pool (open to graduate and undergraduate students)
Additional funds for student travel are sometimes available from the Department. Students whose supervisors do not have funding, or can only provide partial funding, may be considered for theseÌýfunds.
Students in this situation should submit their abstract to the Graduate Â鶹AV and Funding Director (GAFD), as well as a budget, proof that they have applied to all possible sources (e.g. GREAT, CRBLM, PGSS), if eligible, and evidence that they do not have alternative sources of funding. Your supervisor(s) should be cc'ed.
Such applications can be submitted any time, and will be considered at latest at the next (monthly) Faculty Meeting.Ìý Students will be informed within 1-2 weeks as to whether or not their application will be funded.
The following (unranked) criteria will be used to determine the eligibility and priority of requests:
- Profile of the conference/workshop.
- Quality of abstract.
- Funding will only be awarded for papers which have not been previously presented.
- Preference will be given to students who have not presented at a conference in the current academic year.
- Preference will be given to students who have not made many conference presentations.
- Evidence that students have ‘followed through’ on previous conference presentations, by publishing in the proceedings (if available) or elsewhere.
- In cases of co-authorship, priority will normally be given to the principal author.
4. Other
Depending on availability of funding, subsidy for eligible expenses for summer institutes or summer schools may be possible. To be eligible for department-level funding, students must apply for a tuition waiver from the appropriate organization (e.g. LSA) and for any eligible funding sourcesÌýfrom Â鶹AV. Eligible expenses that may be covered or partially covered by the supervisor or department include travel and accommodation. Food expenses will not be covered.
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