Northwestern University Travel Grant 2027: Up to $800 for Graduate Students

Northwestern University offers a conference travel grant for active PhD and MFA students in The Graduate School who attend academic or professional conferences virtually or travel to in-person conferences on the university’s behalf. The Winter 2027 travel period covers trips beginning from December 1 through February 28, and applications remain open until the funding cap is reached.

About the Northwestern Conference Travel Grant

The Conference Travel Grant (CTG) supports voluntary participation in academic or professional conferences that further a student’s own academic or career interests. Eligible students may use it for virtual conference registration or expenses directly related to traveling to and participating in an in-person conference. It cannot be used for conferences required as part of graduate employment, courses, trainings, extended programs, or other events that are not academic or professional conferences.

Applications are accepted quarterly according to the first day of conference travel. For the Winter 2027 period, travel must begin between December 1 and February 28. The application portal opened on October 16, 2026, and will stay open until the funding cap has been reached and the maximum number of grants for the period has been awarded. Applications must be submitted at least ten business days before the conference begins. Late applications submitted after a conference has started will not be approved. Funding is limited, so applying early is encouraged; approval is not guaranteed.

The Graduate School reviews applications within five to ten business days. Applicants receive the decision by email, and the student’s program is copied if an award is made. A student may receive no more than two grants over their graduate career in The Graduate School, subject to available funds. Only one travel grant may be awarded in a fiscal year for attendance at one conference, and a student cannot have already received a CTG during the current fiscal year.

The maximum award is $600 for specified PhD programs in the McCormick School of Engineering and Feinberg School of Medicine; selected Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences disciplines; and the IBiS, Applied Physics, and NUIN interdisciplinary programs. The maximum is $800 for specified PhD programs in the Bienen School of Music, Kellogg School of Management, and School of Education and Social Policy; all School of Communication PhD and MFA programs; Weinberg College PhD and MFA programs not listed in the $600 group; and the Computer Science & Learning Science and Technology & Social Behavior interdisciplinary PhD programs. Awards are non-transferable and apply only to the conference named in the approved application.

Eligible costs include conference registration, economical airfare, qualifying ground transportation, meals, commercial lodging, tolls, and reasonable parking fees. Some conditions apply: rental vehicles are only eligible when other ground transportation is not feasible and the cost does not exceed the least expensive airfare; rail reimbursement cannot exceed that airfare either. Alcohol, upgraded airfare and accommodation, childcare, passports, visas, and expenses unrelated to the approved conference are among the excluded costs. Expense reports must be submitted within 60 days of the last travel date or by August 15 of the award fiscal year, whichever comes first. For other funding opportunities, browse grants and funding opportunities or explore opportunities without a fixed deadline.

Who Should Apply

This grant is intended for active students in PhD or MFA programs administered by The Graduate School who are within their degree time limitation when conference travel takes place. Their conference attendance must be voluntary and connected to their academic or career interests. Students who have not officially started their academic program are not eligible, and funding will not be available if a student graduates or otherwise leaves the university before travel or expenditure.

Key Highlights

• For eligible PhD and MFA students in Northwestern’s The Graduate School.
• Winter 2027 travel period: December 1 through February 28.
• Maximum award of $600 or $800, depending on the eligible program.
• Applications remain open until the period’s funding cap is reached.
• Apply at least ten business days before the conference starts.
• Virtual and in-person academic or professional conference participation may be supported.