Mason can help you with travel experiences for conferences and other professional trips.
Eligibility Criteria and Important Notes
- You must be a graduate student currently enrolled in a certificate, Master's, or doctoral program at George Mason University
- You must be presenting at the conference
- You can only receive GSTF funding once per fiscal year (between July 1 and June 30)
- You must receive your faculty advisor's approval to attend the conference, and for international conferences, you must also receive approval from your department chair
- Your Mason email address will be the primary method of communication about your funding request and reimbursement. (Make sure your Mason email inbox is not full. The GSTF will not resubmit bounced-back email notifications.)
- If you do not follow these procedures and adhere to guidelines, you may not receive funding.
- The GSTF reserves the right to modify its procedures at any time.
- You must submit your GSTF application before the deadline (listed below)
GSTF funding is limited, so meeting the eligibility requirement does not guarantee funding. Upon submission, your application will be reviewed by the GSTF, and you will receive a notification after the application deadline on whether or not your funding was approved.
Application Deadlines
Be aware of these deadlines and plan ahead! Funding must be requested prior to your conference attendance. Funding will not be provided for conferences you have already attended.
IF...The first day you will attend the conference is between: |
THEN...Your application must be submitted after the previous deadline and before: |
| August 1 - September 30 | July 15 |
| October 1 - November 30 | September 15 |
| December 1 - January 31 | November 15 |
| February 1 - March 31 | January 15 |
| April 1 - May 31 | March 15 |
| June 1 - July 31 | May 15 |
* There is one exception to these deadlines, if students can provide proof that they received acceptance to present their research at a conference after the applicable deadline. Please email this proof to the GSTF. The decision regarding what is considered “acceptable proof” will be determined by the GSTF.
Funding Amount
The GSTF will determine the amount of funding allocated to students based upon their level of participation, the scope of the conference, and the amount expected to be spent on travel. If the GSTF approves the student for an amount greater than the amount the student’s original receipts total, the balance will remain with the GSTF, and will not be distributed to the student. (Example: If the student is approved for $450.00 of GSTF funding, but only spends $300.00 at the conference, only $300.00 will be reimbursed to the student.)
If awarded GSTF funding, the amount granted to the student for his/her conference travel will vary between $150.00 to $450.00 per student per fiscal year. The breakdown is as follows:
- Students presenting in conferences held in DC, Maryland or Virginia (DMV): up to $150
- Students presenting outside of the DMV: up to $350 for poster presentations, or up to $450 for oral presentations
- Students presenting in an international conference: up to $1000
Please note that funding is limited, especially for international conferences. International travel must be approved of by both your faculty advisor and your department chair. In addition, active members of GAPSA are eligible for an additional $50 of funding. For more information about GAPSA, visit their website or contact gapsa@gmu.edu.