PhD Network

Travel Funding

Click here to go to the PhD Network Travel Funding portal

The PhD Network offers travel funding to enable PhD students to present research in venues that will provide professional development and visibility to enhance careers.

PhD students who have reached candidacy, have been invited to present their research at a conference, and were not awarded PhD Network Travel Funding during the previous fiscal year may apply for up to $500 in matching PhD Network Travel Funding to help with costs not already covered by the student’s advisor, department, college, or external source. Travel funding applications must be submitted and approved before the start of travel (exceptions will be made for events in July and August 2026) and awarded funding will be processed by the student’s college as a reimbursement for eligible expenses. Awards are contingent on the availability of funds.

Please read the PhD Network Travel Funding Policy for full eligibility requirements and other details before applying. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

PhD Network Travel Funding Eligibility Requirements

1. Students must have achieved candidacy in a PhD program at Northeastern University.
2. Students must be presenting their research or formally facilitating a group at a professional conference.
3. PhD Network Travel Funding is to be used when there is not enough other available funding to cover the student’s expected expenses. If the advisor, department, or college can provide funding to cover all expected expenses, those funds should be used first.
4. PhD Network Travel Funding is provided as a match to eligible funding students receive from their advisor, department, or college for travel to the event.
5. PhD Network Travel Funding awards must be approved prior to the start of travel. *Note that exceptions will be made for events taking place in July and August 2026. Students are encouraged to submit applications at least three weeks prior to the start of travel to ensure there is time for PhD Network review.
6. Students can receive one PhD Network Travel Funding award of up to $500 every other fiscal year (based on the date of the award).
7. Students awarded PhD Network Travel Funding must complete a post-travel form after participating in the event.

See the PhD Network Travel Funding Policy for more details.

PhD Network Travel Funding Application

A PhD Network Travel Funding Application should be submitted through the PhD Network Travel Funding portal. In addition to answering the questions in the form, you will be asked to upload the following documentation. See the PhD Network Travel Funding Policy for more details.

Documentation to be uploaded to application:

1. Documentation of invitation to present, facilitate a group, or serve on a panel.
2. A travel budget showing expected costs of the trip (students can use the PhD Network Travel Funding Application – Travel Budget Template).
3. Documentation of eligible funding to be matched by the PhD Network. This can be either a letter or email from the student’s advisor, department, or college including the specific amount and worktag of the funding, or students can use the PhD Network Travel Funding Application – Matching Funding Confirmation template document confirmation of support.

Students can view current and past applications in the PhD Network Travel Funding portal.

Using Awarded PhD Network Travel Funding

Awarded PhD Network Travel Funding is transferred directly to a student’s home college and then provided to the student by the college as a reimbursement for eligible expenses (i.e. the student will not receive a lump-sum payment of $500, but will be reimbursed for $500 in conference-related expenses).

Once a student is notified that they have been awarded PhD Network Travel Funding, they should work with their Department Business Manager to submit a reimbursement request using standard university processes.

Students can refer to Northeastern’s Policy on Travel & Expense Reimbursement and should check with their college for any additional restrictions or guidelines.