Undergraduate Student Travel Fund (USTF)
The Undergraduate Student Travel Fund (USTF) supports research and scholarly related travel for undergraduates. Please read the guidelines for applying below, and learn more about the students who have been approved for USTF grants in the past. Click the map to see where our students have gone!
For more information about The Undergraduate Student Travel Fund, please visit our website.
Reminders:
Please apply for funds 30 days before travel, even if you have not yet been accepted.
OSCAR can not reimburse for travel after you've graduated, even if you applied prior to graduation.
Travel to present undergraduate student scholarship at professional events (i.e., conferences, performances, forums, exhibitions). Conference attendance for professional development only (e.g. just attending) is not covered.
- All Mason US full-time undergraduates are eligible so long as they have not graduated by the time they return from their trip.
- All Mason Korea full-time undergraduates are eligible so long as they have not graduated by the time they return from their trip.
- Students must provide evidence of their acceptance to present at the event OR fully justify why funds are needed to support the execution of their research project.
- Students who have not been previously been funded by USTF are given priority.
- Students who are traveling to present the results of their URSP, Federal Work Study Research, or RS course results are given priority in funding.
- Travel funds for students at the Fairfax campus, Sci-Tech, and Mason Square are allocated by the following guidelines:
- Local/regional travel (within 25 miles): maximum $400
- National travel (continental U.S.): maximum $600
- International travel (everywhere not already mentioned): maximum $800
- Travel funds for students at the Mason Korea campus are allocated by the following guidelines:
- Local/regional travel (within 25 miles): maximum $400
- National travel (The Republic of South Korea): maximum $600
- International travel (everywhere not already mentioned): maximum $800Student travel funds can be used to support the following expenses, within reasonable limits:
- Conference registration fees
- Air, train, bus, or taxi fare
- Car or van rental
- Gas (if traveling by personal vehicle)
- Hotel lodging expenses
- Students are expected to pay for the travel expenses up front, and expenses will be reimbursed to the student once they return.
- Departments, programs, and colleges may also contribute to the student travel expenses. If any additional travel support is expected from an outside source, please note this on your application.
- If funding is used for international travel, $50 needs to be budgeted for a travel insurance fee. Students will also need to sign up on the Travel Registration Page
- Students must apply at least one month before they are scheduled to depart.
- Applications are reviewed by the Student Scholarly Activities subcommittee at their monthly meetings.
- Travel support cannot be provided for travel that has already occurred.
- Students are encouraged to submit their work in the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program or in an RS (Research and Scholarship intensive) designated class to professional conferences and events.
- If you have any questions, please contact us at oscar@gmu.edu. It's much easier to solve problems before they occur!
To apply for The Undergraduate Student Travel Fund, please fill out our USTF application
- Before traveling, the students must:
- Complete and submit the USTF application. Students must apply at least one month before they are scheduled to depart. Applications are reviewed by the Student Scholarly Activities Subcommittee at their monthly meetings. Travel support cannot be provided for travel that has already occurred.
- Proof of registration or acceptance to the event will be required as part of the application.
- All Mason students traveling on university-sponsored or university-related international educational travel are required to purchase international travel insurance through Mason Study Abroad. Go to the Independent Student Travel Registration to register travel and purchase insurance.
- After traveling, the student must do the following within two weeks of their return date to be reimbursed for eligible travel expenses:
- Log back in to the USTF application and follow the instructions to submit your reimbursement, receipts, blog post, and picture of you at the event.
