This page provides brief descriptions of various funding sources for travel to and from academic conferences or for conducting research abroad. Note that this page only includes sources that are generally available to all graduate students in English through the University of Toronto. It does not address travel funding available for specialized geographical areas, conferences, or research endeavours, or funding provided by external organizations.

School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Conference Grant

Offered once per semester (including Summer), this grant is designed to support graduate students presenting at academic conferences, with preference given to those in the early stages of their graduate studies presenting research for the first time. The grant aims to cover at least the minimum registration fee for the proposed conference; depending on the number of applicants and the funds available, top-up funds may be awarded to offset travel expenses for applicants presenting in-person. This grant is not intended to replace other sources of funding (e.g., student, supervisor, or department/faculty contributions), so applicants are encouraged to seek support from these sources to further address their expenses. but will enable students with limited funding to attend a conference that might otherwise not be possible without additional support.

Students can apply for conferences taking place up to five months after the application deadline, or those that took place up to one month before the application cycle. As part of the application, your supervisor (or, for Master’s students, an appropriate graduate faculty member) will need to submit a letter of endorsement. For full details and to apply, see the SGS page.

School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Research Travel Grant

Similar to the Conference Grant above, this grant is offered once per semester (including Summer) and is intended to support PhD students conducting research abroad that is necessary for the completion of their dissertation, with preference given to those in the latter stages of their programs. Students can apply to fund one research trip per application cycle and cannot receive funding for the same trip twice. Amounts awarded will vary depending on the travel destination, the duration of the trip, whether the applicant has previously been awarded a Research Travel Grant, and the number of eligible applicants.

As part of the application, you will have to complete the University’s “Safety Abroad” program, and your supervisor will need to submit a letter of endorsement. For full details and to apply, see the SGS page.

Department of English Graduate Student Conference and Research Travel Grants

This grant is usually offered once per year in late Fall or early Spring. Both MAs and PhDs are eligible to apply for these funds, which can be put towards either conference travel or research travel (though priority is given to the former). MAs may apply for up to $500 and PhDs for up to $750 (domestic travel) or $1000 (international travel). This grant can be used towards upcoming travel or retroactively for conference travel already undertaken during the academic year.

As part of the same application, PhD students who have completed at least three TAships can apply to the Camilla (Cavanagh) O’Connor Doctoral Conference/Travel Bursary, established by Professor John O’Connor in honour of his mother and using funds from her estate. The Bursary represents a $500 award, though the number of awards given may vary from year to year.

An application form with full eligibility requirements and deadline for the above will be sent with the grant announcement over the graduate mailing list, typically in October or November.

Karma Travel Grant

The Graduate English Association’s Karma Travel Grant offers financial support for MAs and PhD students to register for and travel to academic conferences, particularly for those students who have exhausted all other funding opportunities. The grant is typically offered once or twice a year; the number and amount of awards will depend on the available funds and the number of applicants.

Previously known the Karma Yoga Travel Grant, this grant was founded in 2009 and funded by Professor Elizabeth D. Harvey’s ‘pay-what-you-will’ yoga class. Currently, funding for the grant comes from a combination of the GEA budget and the Department.

An application form with full eligibility requirements, deadline, and instructions will be circulated via the GEA listserv. Applications should be submitted to the GEA mailbox (gea.uoft@gmail.com) and will be evaluated by the Executive. You must be a registered graduate student in the Department of English at the time of travel. Money will be awarded following the completion of your travel by submitting your receipts to the GEA Treasurer.