Student Research Grants Competition Information

Awards for domestic and international research travel are available to UW–Madison graduate students traveling to conduct research supporting their dissertation, thesis, or final exhibition. Research travel award applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis during the academic year. Priority will be given to dissertators and final-year MFA students, and to those who have not previously received an SRGC Research Travel or Conference Presentation Award.

• Student must be enrolled at UW–Madison as a full-time graduate student. Priority will be given to dissertators and MFA students in their final year, and to those who have not previously received an SRGC Research Travel or Conference Presentation Award.
• Student must be traveling to conduct research supporting a dissertation, thesis, or final exhibition.
• Travel must include at least some dates within the window of consideration for the relevant application cycle:
  • Cycle 1 is July 1 through September 30, 2023
  • Cycle 2 is October 1 through December 31, 2023
  • Cycle 3 is January 1 through March 31, 2024.
  • Cycle 4 is April 1 through June 30, 2024.
• You may apply after you complete your research travel.

Complete the Student Research Grants Competition application on the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) website, including:

1. Information regarding research location, dates, and student status.
2. A synopsis of your research plan.
3. An estimated itemized budget that includes all funding sources. Applicants are expected to research rates and be good stewards of university resources when making purchasing decisions. Applications that appear to have inflated costs or been irresponsible with university funds will not be considered. Students should pursue funding from other sources before applying for a Research Travel Award and may be rejected if they do not have any other funding for their research travel.
4. Your advisor’s contact information. Your advisor will be sent an email with a link where they will be asked to verify your research travel plans.

• Payments to domestic students and international students considered resident aliens for tax purposes must be paid through the Bursar’s Office.
• International students with non-resident alien status for tax purposes must be paid through payroll. If you are selected as a Research Travel Award recipient, you may need to submit additional documentation before you can receive the funding. The process you will need to follow will be based on whether you have already held an appointment at UW–Madison.
  • If you have already held an appointment, the Glacier system through the UW–Madison HR Office will follow up with you to determine if you need to submit additional documentation.
  • If you have not held any appointment, the Graduate School Payroll Coordinator will send you a letter requesting a W-4 form and a direct deposit form before your information is forwarded to the UW–Madison HR Office.

Awards for domestic and international conference travel are available to UW–Madison graduate students presenting their research at a conference between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. Presentations at virtual conferences are not currently being considered for Conference Presentation Awards.

To be eligible for a Conference Presentation Award, the following criteria must apply:

• Student must be enrolled at UW–Madison as a full-time graduate student and eligible to receiving funding. Priority will be given to dissertators and final-year MFA students, and to those who have not previously received an SRGC Research Travel or Conference Presentation Award.
• Student must be presenting research (e.g., paper, poster, panel) at a conference. The research being presented must have taken place as part of your UW–Madison graduate school experience.
• Conference start date must fall within the window of consideration for the relevant application cycle:
  • Cycle 1 is July 1 through September 30, 2023
  • Cycle 2 is October 1 through December 31, 2023
  • Cycle 3 is January 1 through March 31, 2024.
  • Cycle 4 is April 1 through June 30, 2024.

Complete the Student Research Grants Competition application on the Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) website, including:

1. Information about the conference.
2. Proof of acceptance to present at the conference (e.g., email, letter of paper/poster acceptance, or conference program cover and page where you are listed as a panelist/presenter).
3. An abstract of paper or poster to be presented.
4. A summary of your travel plans.
5. An estimated itemized budget that includes all outside funding sources. Applicants are expected to research rates and be good stewards of university resources when making purchasing decisions. Applications that appear to have inflated costs or been irresponsible with university resources will not be considered. In addition to your advisor and academic program, you should investigate whether the organization hosting the conference has funding available to support graduate student presenters.
6. Your advisor’s contact information. Your advisor will be sent an email with a link where they will be asked to verify that you will be presenting at the conference.

• Payments to domestic students and international students considered resident aliens for tax purposes must be paid through the Bursar’s Office.
• International students with non-resident alien status for tax purposes must be paid through payroll. If you are selected as a Conference Presentation Award recipient, you may need to submit additional documentation before you can receive the funding. The process you will need to follow will be based on whether you have already held an appointment at UW–Madison.
  • If you have already held an appointment, the Glacier system through the UW–Madison HR Office will follow up with you to determine if you need to submit additional documentation.
  • If you have not held any appointment, the Graduate School Payroll Coordinator will send you a letter requesting a W-4 form and a direct deposit form before your information is forwarded to the UW–Madison HR Office.