Council of Graduate Students (COGS) - Research Support Grant

Council of Graduate Students (COGS) - Research Support Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: University of Minnesota
Amount: Up to US $500
Last Updated: October 03, 2025

Summary

The Council of Graduate Students (COGS) offers the Research Support Grant to help graduate students at the University of Minnesota with research-related activities. Grants up to $500 support research, conferences, and workshops. Eligibility is based on financial need and academic merit, requiring a personal statement and recommendation letter. Events funded must occur within specified dates, with applications limited to one per semester in each grant category. Previous recipients can reapply, but funds cannot support research projects directly.

Overview

Research Support Grant The Research Support Grant offers awards of up to $500 to assist COGS fee-paying graduate students with funds to support conducting research and/or participating in research-related conferences, workshops, competitions, or seminars. This grants program is intended to support graduate students in the pursuit of their academic scholarship and the timely completion of their graduate degrees. Selection Criteria Applicants’ academic merit and financial need (as previously defined) are evaluated based on: A statement of financial need;A strong, well-written personal statement that explains what the grant funds will be used for;One recommendation letter that addresses the applicant's financial need and academic merit; andEvidence of academic promise via research record, grades, and/or reference letters. Event and Reimbursement Timings Fall 2024 Grants fund events and activities must occur between: September 3rd, 2024 - December 19th, 2024Spring 2025 Grants fund events and activities must occur between:December 20th, 2024 - May 2nd, 2025Summer 2025 Grants fund events and activities must occur between:May 3rd, 2025 - September 5th, 2025Fall 2025 Grant fund events and activities must occur between:September 10th, 2025 - January 11th, 2025

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The work presented must be affiliated with the University of Minnesota.Possible eligible expenses might include travel and fees associated with professional development workshops, learning new techniques essential for your career, and travel to internships.Any student represented by COGS - all "GRD-designated" and non-professional graduate students on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus - is eligible to apply for a COGS grant. You will need a current tuition bill showing the Council of Graduate Students fee assessment or a current registration summary showing Doctoral FTE 8444, Masters FTE 8777, or GRAD 8888.Please note that students registered in 999 courses are not COGS-fee paying students automatically. However, students registered for 999 courses may volunteer to pay the COGS fee by emailing onestop@umn.edu.Each student may submit one application from each of the three grant categories every semester; Previous grant recipients are eligible to apply for COGS grants.This means a student can submit per semester a maximum of one career development grant application, one conference grant application, and one research support grant. Grant applications are limited to one conference or career development "activity" per application.​An event (including conference travel) that has already occurred by the time the grant will be reviewed will be considered for a grant for reimbursement on the same basis as an activity that has not yet occurred.

Ineligibility

The award cannot be used to fund research projects.If your tuition bill shows that you pay the Professional Student Government fee, you are NOT eligible for COGS grants. Instead, explore PSG grant options HERE.