Conference Support Award for Students, Postdocs, and Faculty
The Bureau of Educational Research manages Conference Support Award Program, with generous support of an endowment from Charles Dunn Hardie, which allows the College of Education to offer the Conference Participation Support Award to faculty. Conference Participation Support Awards are also offered to students and to postdoctoral scholars using other funding sources. These awards support College of Education research activity by reimbursing conference expenses for faculty, postdocs, and students presenting their work at major research conferences in their field. Deadlines are set throughout the academic year.
Both in-person and virtual conference participation will be considered for fall 2025 Conference Participation Support Awards.
Applications will be accepted through Monday, October 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM, using the online submission system.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be graduate students, postdocs, or faculty in the College of Education and must be participating in a major research conference by presenting a paper, poster presentation, and/or panel presentation.
- If you are not the first author, explain your role on the presentation and why it is important for you to attend.
- Indicate if you have received conference funding in the past three years.
- Indicate if you are receiving other funding for this conference.
- Faculty must have an appointment in the College above 0%.
- Students must be registered as either part-time or full-time students.
- Applications must be submitted prior to participation.
- Preference will be given to first-time awardees.
- Applicants are eligible to receive only one Conference Participation Support Award per academic year.
- Costs already committed by other sources (e.g., departmental funds) are not eligible.
Priority will be given to applicants attending the major research conferences recognized in their fields.
Specify in your statement how attending this conference will be beneficial to your research and professional development.
Application Instructions
Complete the fall 2025 Conference Support Application using the online form here. You can save and edit the application until you submit or until October 20, 2025, 11:59 pm, whichever comes first. Select “Complete” at the end of the application to submit your application electronically. You do not need to print the completed application.Deadline
The fall 2025 application submissions are accepted through October 20, 2025 at 11:59 PM. A letter of acceptance for conference participation is not required for application, but it is required when submitting for reimbursement.
- No applications will be accepted after the deadline.
- Recipients will be notified via email.
Fall 2025 Awards must be used for conferences with start dates between August 1, 2025 and January 31, 2026.
If you plan to attend a conference after January 2026, please wait until the spring 2026 competition to apply.
Conference Support FAQ
How do I request reimbursement for my conference expenses?
You will receive detailed instructions for working with the Finance Office when you receive your notice of award.
Can I submit a group application for a co-authored application?
No, only individual applications will be considered.
Can only Ph.D. students apply?
No, all graduate students, postdocs, and faculty in the College of Education are eligible to apply if they are presenting at a major conference in their field.
Can I receive the award before the conference?
No, award recipients will not be provided with a cash advance. Award recipients can submit receipts after the conference. Reimbursable expenses include conference registration fees according to University guidelines.
If I am a part-time student, can I still apply for the award?
Yes, all enrolled students regardless of the number of credits they are enrolled in are eligible to apply if they are presenting at a major conference in their field.
I was accepted to participate in a poster presentation, can I apply for the award?
Yes. All faculty, postdocs, and students who submit a proposal and are accepted to present in one of the following are eligible to apply: poster presentation, oral presentation, and/or panel. Students, postdocs, and faculty who are participating in conferences as volunteers, discussants, and/or moderators are not eligible to apply as those roles may not require submission of work product.
Will priority be given to faculty?
No, priority will not be given to either faculty, postdocs, or students. All applications will be reviewed according to the same criteria.
What if I am not attending a major conference in my discipline?
Applicants who are not attending a major conference in their respective fields, must provide evidence for needing support to attend an out of field conference.
How many words is the written statement?
The statement should be a maximum of 250 words.
What criteria are going to be used for selecting recipients?
Applications are going to be reviewed for the need and expected benefit from participating in the conference, the impact level of conference, and the nature of the participation opportunity.
What if I submit an application after the suggested appropriate deadline date?
Do not delay submitting your application. If you anticipate presenting at a conference, apply during the appropriate term to receive full consideration.
Do I need to receive the Conference Support Participation Award before registering for the conference?
No, the award is a reimbursement for conference expenses and would not provide you with funds in advance of registration.
When do I need to submit my receipts?
Submit your receipts and letter of conference submission acceptance within 60 days of your completed travel date. Detailed instructions will be provided when you receive your notice of award.
Do I need to include my letter of conference submission acceptance with my application?
No, we realize that in meeting our deadlines you may not have received the official notice from the conference organizers. If you have submitted to a conference but not yet received acceptance you are encouraged to apply by the appropriate deadline. The letter of acceptance will need to be included when submitting your receipts for reimbursement.
How will I be notified of the award decision?
Decisions will be sent to University email accounts only. Department heads will also receive notice of award decisions.
Contact Information
Please contact the Bureau of Educational Research (BER) at ber@education.illinois.edu with questions regarding eligibility for this funding opportunity and the review process.
Please contact the Finance Office with all questions about the award reimbursement process (finance@education.illinois.edu).