Travel Grant for REAL and Spaulding-Smith Fellows

The Graduate School provides Travel Grants for Research Enhancement and Leadership (REAL) and Spaulding-Smith Fellows to enhance the retention and success of outstanding graduate students from historically underrepresented groups. REAL and Spaulding-Smith Fellows may apply for these supplemental funds to support travel for professional development and training opportunities such as conferences, workshops, courses, and research.

Before You Begin

  • All Spaulding-Smith and REAL Fellows are eligible (but not guaranteed) to earn one Travel Grant per academic year (July 1 through June 30). You may submit multiple applications in one year, but you can receive only one award.
  • The maximum award for a Travel Grant is $600.
  • Travel support may include conference and/or workshop registration, transportation, lodging, and meals.
  • Conference travel will only be supported for fellows who are presenting at the conference (poster or talk).

How to Apply

  • Application deadlines: There will be two application deadlines a year, one each semester. The application deadlines are October 4, 2024 and March 7, 2025. Please note that it may take one month for applications to be reviewed – so please plan your application accordingly. 
  • To be competitive, applications MUST explain how the opportunity will enhance the applicant’s professional or academic development.
  • Applicants must ask their faculty advisor/PI to email a statement of support (paragraph length). Applications missing an advisor letter will not be considered.

Use the link below to fill out a travel grant application.

In addition to a completed application, you will need a statement of support from your faculty advisor/PI (ask them to email it to oie [dot] travelgrant [at] umass [dot] edu (oie[dot]travelgrant[at]umass[dot]edu)).

Submit a REAL/Spaulding-Smith Fellows Travel Grant Application

Final Report

Within one month of activity completion, students must submit a Final Report. All activities are expected to be completed within one year from the date of the award.

Questions?

Please contact the oie [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (Office of Inclusion and Engagement).

Please note that these travel grants are only available for current REAL and Spaulding-Smith fellows. For other graduate students, the Grad School distributes funding to departments and the travel grants are administered at the department level, so contact your Graduate Program Director (GPD) for information about travel funding available through your department.