Funding Opportunities

Funding through the Graduate Student Association

The Graduate Student Association provides six major funding sources for students and student organizations throughout the year. These are the five listed below and the departmental fund.

Specific rules regarding each application are found in the bylaws as well as directly on the application form.

Travel Award

Graduate students attending conferences or professional development opportunities between September 1-November 30, 2025 can apply for the Fall 2025 GSA Travel Award starting August 15. Sign in to your UCD google account to access the instructions and blank sample application and apply today.

The Fall 2025 GSA Travel Award supports graduate students attending conferences or professional development opportunities that include at least one day between September 1 and November 30, 2025. The maximum award amount is $1,000, and each student may submit only one application.

Applications will be accepted only between August 15 and September 15, 2025. Submissions outside of this window will not be considered.

Fall travel awards are currently closed.

Travel Awards are determined by a committee.

Orientation Fund

The GSA is excited to announce the Orientation Application 2025 funding opportunity, designed to support graduate departments planning events and activities to welcome incoming graduate students. Eligible events must take place between September 1 and October 23, 2025, and receive no outside sponsorship. Applications will be open from August 15 through September 30, priority applications close September 9th. Interested departments should submit their application online by the deadline.

The presentation template for Special Projects, Community Engagement, and RSO funds can be found here. Your presentation to the GA must be no more than 5 minutes long, with an additional 3 minutes allocated for questions and answers.

In an effort to be conscientious of reps' time, and to be fair to all presenters, you will be cut off if you exceed the time limit or slide length.

Please only provide and present the necessary information for the funding application: This is not an opportunity to advertise your event! If you wish to advertise your event, you may do so in the weekly announcements. The guidelines for writing and submitting an announcement can be found here.

Special Projects, Community Engagement fund allocations, and RSO fund allocations are voted on by the General Assembly.

Special Projects

The Special Projects Fund is a source of funding for graduate student-initiated projects and events of interest to graduate students (e.g. academic, career development, & social). A maximum of $1,000 may be awarded per project, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Additional instructions and required information are listed on the first page of the application. The application form can be found here. The deadline for the October 1 meeting has been extended until 25 September.

Community Engagement Fund

The Community Engagement Fund is available to assist graduate students holding events that engage and serve broader communities, including those outside the University, and may or may not be directly related to graduate students’ academic work and interests. The maximum amount granted for these projects is $1,000. The application form can be found here.

Registered Student Organization (RSO) Fund

The RSO Fund is available for registered student organizations that are largely run for and by graduate students. The purpose of this funding is to help RSOs establish themselves on campus, build their membership and community, purchase equipment and other materials, and otherwise get the organization up and running. RSOs can only apply once, and preferrably when they are newly formed. The maximum award is $1,000 and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. See the RSO Fund Application for more information. The RSO fund application for 2025-26 is now open.