Research Funding for Doctoral Students

Conference Travel Funding
There are two opportunities for Kellogg PhD students to receive funding for conference travel: Kellogg Conference Travel Grant and The Graduate School’s Conference Travel Grant. 

  • Kellogg Conference Travel Grant
    Kellogg PhD students matriculating fall 2016 and after are provided with a budget of $4,000 to cover the following travel costs (1) presenting their research paper at conference, not just attending a conference or (2) interviewing for faculty positions at the annual meeting of their field’s professional association. This is the total funding available while enrolled at Kellogg.Students should prepare a proposed budget and provide the conference invitation referencing that their paper has been accepted. The request is then reviewed and approved by the DGS before travel is booked. Once approved by the DGS, students can proceed with their travel arrangements. Eligible costs include conference registration fees, airfare, ground transportation, hotel, and meals. Students should book flights at the most economical rates. Air travel for Northwestern purposes should be booked through a preferred provider. Students must adhere to Northwestern travel policies and guidelines when submitting expenses for reimbursement. For questions about travel reimbursement policies/guidelines or booking flights, students should contact their program’s department manager (DM). The DM will coordinate reimbursements with the director of Kelloggs PhD Program.

  • TGS Conference Travel Grant
    Students may also apply for a conference travel grant through The Graduate School (TGS). Currently two trips, up to $800 for each trip, is available. Matching funding from the student’s program may be required. Students must prepare a travel budget for approval before the travel occurs, and all proposed costs must be approved by the student’s DGS. Note: TGS does not require that students present their paper to attend a conference. Students should complete a CTG application using the online form. For more information, please email: gradfund@northwestern.edu.

Please note:

  • Northwestern PhD students must adhere to the terms and conditions under Northwestern’s Graduate Student Travel Policies, such as requiring students to register their international travel with the Office of Global Safety and Security (OGSS). Students should also consult Northwestern University's policy on international travel that features health insurance coverage, travel immunizations, and security information resources. International students should confer with Northwestern’s Office of International Student and Scholar Services (OISS) regarding their student visa status while traveling outside of the United States.
  • If students have questions about conference funding available and their eligibility to attend a conference, they should consult with their director of graduate studies (DGS) or the director for Kellogg’s PhD Program.

Additional Research Funding
Kellogg doctoral students may apply for additional research funding, such as data, software, experimental research/subject fees, and research assistants. Submitted applications must be approved by the student’s advisor, the faculty director of the PhD program and, in some instances, Kellogg’s senior associate dean for faculty and research.

Computer Subsidy
Doctoral students are provided with a one-time only computer subsidy of $2,000 to purchase computer equipment for their PhD studies Funding is provided in September of their first year enrolled in the PhD Program. Students purchase this equipment at their own discretion, and receipts are not required.