Conference Funding
Application Deadline: Rolling
The Harvard College Conference Funding Program supports undergraduates presenting their original, independent research at academic conferences. Funding may be used to help cover conference-related expenses, including travel and lodging.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the academic year. Complete applications for funding must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the conference date.
Applicants must:
- Be enrolled Harvard College degree-seeking students
- Be in good academic and disciplinary standing
- Remain enrolled during the semester in which the conference takes place
- Serve as the lead presenter at the conference
- Present original, independent research in the form of a paper or poster
- Provide proof of conference acceptance
- Projects do NOT need to have been mentored by a Harvard-affiliated faculty mentor.
- Funding cannot be applied for retroactively. Applicants must apply for funding well before the conference.
Students may receive conference funding once per academic year.
Students presenting collaboratively must each submit separate applications. Graduating seniors are eligible only through Commencement.
Students must share a report with URAF after attending their conference.
Award amounts are:
- Up to $500 for domestic conferences
- Up to $750 for international conferences
Funding may be used to support conference-related expenses, including travel, lodging, registration fees, and presentation materials.
Applicants are typically notified of funding decisions within approximately two weeks of submission.
Applications are evaluated based on:
- The quality and significance of the research project
- The student’s preparation for conference presentation
- The relationship between the conference and the student’s academic or research goals
- The educational value of the conference opportunity
- Faculty support for the project and presentation (we expect that projects will have faculty supervision but that need not be by a Harvard affiliated faculty member)
Applications are submitted on a rolling basis through CARAT after students receive acceptance to present independent research at an academic conference.
Applicants should prepare the following materials for the application:
- Application Form
Complete the CARAT application form. - Conference Funding Proposal
Submit a 2–4 page double-spaced proposal describing the research project and conference participation. The proposal should address:- The conference and the student’s planned participation, including motivation for attending and goals for the experience
- How the conference presentation fits into the student’s academic trajectory and/or research goals
- The objectives, significance, and implications of the research project
- The current status of the research project and how the conference presentation fits into the broader research plan
- The anticipated use of funding, including estimated conference-related expenses
- Faculty involvement in the project
- IRB or Committee on the Use of Human Subjects Approval (if applicable)
If the research project involved human subjects research with IRB or Committee approval, applicants should upload approval documentation. - Conference Acceptance Proof
Upload a screenshot or document confirming conference acceptance. Letter of Recommendation
One academic letter of recommendation is required from a Harvard-affiliated faculty member familiar with both the student’s research project and plans to present at the conference. At minimum, the recommendation should:- confirm support for the conference presentation; and
- comment on the status of the research project and the student’s preparedness to present the work.
The recommender does not need to be the direct supervisor of the research project if the research was conducted with a non-Harvard faculty member.
- Current Resume
Submit a current resume (maximum one page) describing significant activities, achievements, and experiences. - Current Unofficial Transcript
Download and upload a current unofficial transcript from my.harvard.edu.
Applications should be submitted at least two weeks before the conference presentation date. Funding cannot be awarded retroactively. Applicants are typically notified of funding decisions within approximately two weeks of submission. After submitting the application in CARAT and confirming that the recommendation letter has been uploaded, applicants should email URAF at undergradresearch@fas.harvard.edu to indicate that the application is ready for review. Letters are considered successfully uploaded when the recommender’s name appears highlighted in green in the “Submitted Applications” tab in CARAT.