UMN Graduate School: Professional Development Funding Request Grant

The UMN Graduate School offers Professional Development Funding to support graduate students engaged in opportunities that enhance their academic pursuits. Eligible activities include attending workshops, conferences, or learning new techniques. Funding amounts vary based on travel distance, with a maximum of $500 available. Applicants must be enrolled in research-based graduate programs and in good standing. This funding is available from September 1, 2025, to August 31, 2026, with applications accepted monthly.

Applications are accepted and reviewed on a monthly basis, October through April. The monthly deadline to be considered for funding is the 15th of every month by 8:00 am central time.
Professional Development Funding Requests support graduate students who are traveling to engage in professional development opportunities to enhance their thesis or dissertation.
The following endowments generously support Professional Development Funding Requests:
Alexander P. Anderson and Lydia Anderson FellowshipAlbert Howard AwardPatrick R. and Kathryn J. Lewis Graduate Fellowship Fund
What are examples of a Professional Development Opportunity?
Examples could include, but are not limited to: traveling somewhere to learn about a new technique in the discipline, attending a workshop, attending a conference.
If you are only attending a conference then you are eligible to apply for a Professional Development Funding Request. If you are presenting then it is recommended that you apply for a Conference Presentation Funding Request.

Eligibility

If travel is taking place within applicant's county of residence or within counties neighboring applicant's county of residence, the maximum amount that applicant will receive is the registration fee amount. Otherwise, the applicant will receive the full amount ($500).University of Minnesota (UMN) Graduate students currently enrolled in and in good academic standing in a master’s research-based graduate program or doctoral research-based graduate programGraduate students who have completed at least one academic year in their current UMN program.Graduate students who have received a Graduate School Digital Badge and/or were a competitor in the University’s Three-Minute Thesis competition.Graduate students who are pursuing a professional development opportunity during the request year, September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026.

Ineligibility

These requests do not support conference presentations.Graduate students who were previously granted a Professional Development Funding Request are not eligible to apply again.Students in a Professional program are not eligible. View list of research-based (“graduate”) and “professional” programs. If eligible, professional students should consider applying for a Judd Travel Award instead.Requests for professional development opportunities outside of those dates will not be considered for funding.Students cannot receive both Professional Development and Conference Presentation Funds during the same request year.Course tuition within the University of Minnesota system or at another institute of higher education is not an approved Professional Development opportunity for a funding request.