Application Deadline

Tuesday, September 15, 2026, by 11:59 pm.

All application materials, including letters of recommendation and Director of Graduate Program (DGP) authorizations, must be received by the deadline.

In order to use the "Save & Quit" function, which allows you to save your current draft, you need to register an account with the JotForm. Warning: Registering directory through the Gmail Account might not work, you should try to use your NCSU email account to register via 'Sign up with Email'. After 'Save & Quit', you will receive an email that links to your draft. All final edits must be received by the application deadline. If multiple submissions are recorded, only the most completed one will be used for evaluation.

Eligibility

The GSA Conferences and Travel Awards consist of the GSA Award for Conferences and GSA Travel Assistance Award. These awards are open to currently enrolled, fee-paying graduate students in good academic standing (GPA > 3.00).  Please note that if you are taking advantage of the faculty waiver program (outlined here), you are not eligible for this award.

A student can only receive the GSA Award for Conferences and GSA Travel Assistance Award once per graduate degree. If awarded, a student is reimbursed up to $1,500 for GSA Award for Conferences and $500 for the GSA Travel Assistance Award.

Application Requirements

All parts of this application must be received. Applications missing any of these will NOT be considered:

1. Completed application form
2. Personal statement of the correct length (Please Note: if you copy the statement from a Word file, the form would cut off the statement after the word limit.)
3. Copy of abstract submitted to conference and confirmation of abstract acceptance (if received)
4. Copy of NC State unofficial transcript (accessible via MyPackPortal)
5. Curriculum Vitae (include a list of publications, if applicable)
6. Two letters of recommendation
7. Authorization from applicant's Director of Graduate Programs (DGP)

Recommendation letters must be submitted by the deadline.

DGP Authorization must be submitted by the deadline.

The GSA reserves the right to limit the number of applications to no more than 5% of the total number of graduate students in the same program based on the volume of applications received. In this instance, the DGP will assist in narrowing down the pool of applicants from their respective programs based on the highest quality of research. This restriction would be implemented after all applications have been submitted and evaluated.

Any questions? Check the Frequently Asked Questions page here: FAQ

If your question is still unanswered, please email the Vice President of Academic Affairs, John Goncalves, at gsa-vpacademic@ncsu.edu

Throughout this form, clicking "Save & Quit" will exit your application and send an email with a link where you can edit your responses.

Use this if you do not want to fill out the whole application at once. However, please try to limit the number of times you use this feature.

This section is required and is used to determine your maximum award amount. However, in order to receive reimbursement for travel, you must submit all receipts.

Receipts are not needed for food costs, as NC State operates on a per diem basis for food costs. The exact amount you receive for food is based on your travel dates and times. 

The actual amount you receive in reimbursement may vary based on your actual costs and travel dates/times.

Effective January 1, 2017, the Office of State Budget and Management decreased the mileage reimbursement rate for official university business from 54 cents per mile to 53.5 cents when the round trip mileage does not exceed 100 miles per day of travel. 

If the round trip mileage exceeds 100 miles per day of travel, the employee will be reimbursed 53.5 cents for 100 miles per day with any additional miles over 100 miles per day of travel reimbursed at 17 cents per mile.

If travel is less than 100 miles per day, please enter the value in the first mileage box. If travel is more than 100 miles, enter 100 (per day) in the first mileage box and the remaining miles in the second mileage box. This means that if you travel more than 100 miles per day, the first entry will be increments of 100 and then whatever is leftover will go in the second entry. 

Lodging Costs

Meal Expenses

Information for reimbursement of meals. Input the number of each type of meal, and the cost will autopopulate based on NC State's current per diem rate.

Please upload a pdf or word file for you personal statement 

Considering an audience of educated professionals outside of your field, describe the following:

1. The relevance or impact of your research on the existing field.

2. How your research contributes to society as a whole. 

3. How your attendance at the conference contributes to the scientific and academic enrichment of NC State, your department, and/or your program.

4. How your attendance at this conference supported or will support your personal and career goals.

Submitted documents must be in pdf form

1. Please send the following link(s) in a personalized email to your letters of recommendation and/or DGP. They only need to be submitted once, regardless if you are considering one or both awards.

Recommendation letters must be submitted here by the deadline.

DGP Authorization must be submitted here by the deadline. 

Reminder: The GSA reserves the right to limit the number of applications to no more than 5% of the total number of graduate students in the same program based on the volume of applications received. In this instance, the DGP will assist in narrowing down the pool of applicants from their respective program based on the highest quality of research. This restriction would be implemented after all applications have been submitted and evaluated. 

 

In your email, make sure to include the applicant:

• Unity ID (Ex. jddoe4)
• Campus ID (9 digit number)
• Email
• Award(s) applying to

Applicants will receive notification when letters of recommendation and/or DGP authorizations are submitted. Make sure to follow up with your reference writers and/or DGP if you have not received these emails to ensure all materials are in by the deadline!

Inputting contact information below will NOT send an email requesting a letter of recommendation and/or DGP authorization. You must contact your reference and DGP individually.

I, the applicant, certify that the information submitted in this application is accurate. I certify that the funds received from this award will be used to cover the costs of traveling and presenting at a professional conference and that I have not received other reimbursement for the stated costs. I also certify that I have not received this award previously during my current degree program.

If awarded the GSA Award for Conferences or the GSA Travel Assistance Award, I will submit to the GSA:

1. A copy of the official conference acceptance letter/email no later than 2 weeks of notification (if not included in this application).
2. Original receipts of expenses related to the conference in order to be reimbursed.
3. A brief biography, picture, and an impact statement for publication on the GSA and Graduate School's websites.

I certify that I have read and understood the terms, conditions, and requirements of the NC State Graduate Student Association (GSA) Conferences and Travel Awards application.