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 Jan 1, 2025-October 1, 20205 for the Spring 2025 GSA Travel Award. Sign in to your UCD google account to access the instructions and blank sample application and apply today. The Spring travel award application is currently closed.

A note about the coverage period: Going forward, the Travel Awards will cover travel between April 1 and October 31 (Spring) and November 1 through March 31 (Fall). However, for this round only, the Spring Travel Awards will cover travel from January 1 to October 31, 2025, to accommodate the timeline shift.

Orientation Fund

Orientation funds are provided to graduate departments who wish to host events at the beginning of the academic year. The event must occur between September 1 and October 23 to serve incoming graduate students, and receive no outside sponsorship. Applications will be open from August 15 through September 30; priority applications close September 9th. Department graduate student associations may also apply. Here is the application.

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.

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 is here and can also be submitted to gsapro@ucdavis.edu.

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. The maximum award is $1,000 and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. See the RSO Fund Application for more information.