Increased Conference Travel Award Amounts

Conferences are more than venues for presenting papers—they are catalysts for stronger research, new collaborations, and sustained career growth. They remain a cornerstone of how knowledge is tested, shared, and advanced across disciplines.

To further support UW–Madison researchers in making these vital professional connections, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) has increased the maximum amounts available through its conference travel award program.

•  Domestic conference travel: Up to $1,500
• International conference travel: Up to $3,000

OVCR conference travel awards are available to tenured or tenure-track faculty and academic staff with permanent principal investigator (PI) status.

Conference travel funding is intended to defray a portion of travel costs rather than cover expenses in full. Eligibility is calculated separately for domestic and international conferences. Applications are accepted year-round; however, requests must be submitted prior to conference travel. If funding is approved, recipients and their department administrators will receive an award letter with account coding details.

Reimbursement is limited to expenses directly related to the approved conference and must comply with University Travel Policy requirements. For additional details and to apply, please visit the OVCR conference travel webpage.

Graduate students seeking conference travel support are encouraged to explore funding opportunities available through the Graduate School: https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/grants-competition/