Undergraduate conference and exchange trip support

Financial support for undergraduate students to attend scientific conferences or international travel opportunities may be available to enhance the student experience through research and/or internationalization-related activities. Eligibility for financial support is based on specific criteria (listed below) and a letter of request from each student to rationalize the details of the request (outlined below). For more information contact Nicole Walsh at the Faculty of Science office at nicole.walsh1@umanitoba.ca.

• Conferences in Canada, poster presentation: up to $250.00.
• Conferences in Canada, oral presentation: up to $350.00.
• International opportunity (exchange trip, oral presentation, poster presentation): up to $500.00

Undergraduate travel support must be applied for at least one month before a conference or exchange trip occurs.

Please note that conference travel funding is limited to twice per year.

Eligibility criteria for conference travel

1. The student must be currently registered in the Faculty of Science as an undergraduate student at the time of application.
2. For students who are near graduation, conference travel must be within four months of their last academic term. 
3. The student must have completed at least 30 credit hours of study at the University of Manitoba.
4. A poster or oral presentation discussing their research findings is required to support conference attendance. No funding will be provided if a presentation is not made at the conference.
5. After completion of the conference, a brief report of the activities and benefits is required to be submitted to your department’s office administrator.
6. In addition to the above requirements, a “letter of request” (which is outlined below) is required to be submitted to the Faculty of Science office.

Letter of request for conference travel

A letter of request from the student is required for conference travel. The letter should include the following information:

1. The nature of the request, i.e. for attendance at a conference; how the work was performed (i.e. summer employment funded by NSERC USRA, FOS summer scholarship, etc.).
2. Travel details: presentation title and type of presentation, name and date of the conference/trip, location, length of stay, name of the supervisor.
3. Student benefits: student background including department and program of study, research interests and perceived benefits of the trip.
4. Confirmation that the above “eligibility criteria for conference travel” have or will be met.
5. The estimated total cost of the trip (preliminary budget):
   • The student must demonstrate that financial assistance is required.
   • Indication of where applications for other financial support have been made to another source, e.g. UMSU, scientific society, department, etc.
   • Confirmation of all existing financial support.
   • A financial contribution from the supervisor is preferred.

Address the letter to Horace Luong, Associate Dean (Student Experience) and send it through email to Nicole Walsh (nicole.walsh1@umanitoba.ca).

Eligibility criteria for an international travel opportunity (one term)

1. The student must be currently registered in the Faculty of Science as an undergraduate student at the time of application.
2. For students who are near graduation, conference travel must be within four months of their last academic term.
3. The student must have completed at least 30 credit hours of study at the University of Manitoba.
4. A letter of reference from a faculty member in the Faculty of Science is required for travel. The letter should describe the academic merit of the trip and the benefits of broad experiences for the student. Please attach this letter of reference to your “letter of request.”
5. After completion of the conference, a brief report of the activities and benefits is required to be submitted to your department’s office administrator.
6. In addition to the above requirements, a “letter of request” (which is outlined below) is required to be submitted to the Faculty of Science office.

Letter of request for international travel opportunity

A letter of request from the student is required for international travel (one term). The letter should include the following information:

1. The nature of the request, i.e. for an international learning opportunity; why the request is being made, reasons for the choice of the country of destination, whether the trip is part of a co-op work term or an organized exchange or transfer program.
2. Travel details: dates of the trip, location, length of stay, contact institution and person.
3. Student benefits: student background including department and program, international interests, perceived benefits of the trip, scientific relevance of the trip to the student’s program and career aspirations.
4. Confirmation that the above “eligibility criteria for an international travel opportunity” have or will be met.
5. The estimated total cost of the trip (preliminary budget):
   • The student must explain why financial assistance is required.
   • Indication of where applications for other financial support have been made to another source, e.g. UMSU, department, International Centre, etc.
   • Confirmation of all existing financial support.
   • A financial contribution from the supervisor is preferred.

Address the letter to Horace Luong, Associate Dean (Student Experience) and send it through email to Nicole Walsh (nicole.walsh1@umanitoba.ca).