Funding Opportunities

Student Travel Reimbursement

Travel funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year will open on July 1. All students will be notified via the mailing list.

The Student Travel Fund supports medical student travel to national and regional professional meetings within the United States to present original research, participate as a panelist or office of a national organization, or receive an award. International travel is not eligible for funding through the Student Travel Fund.

To access Student Travel Funds, applicants must first seek financial support from their research mentor, department, or affiliated organization. These funds are intended to supplement, not replace, primary funding sources. Students should only apply if sufficient funding is not available through these channels. 
        New for 2026-2027: For applications related to presenting original research, applicants must upload a letter of support from their research mentor outlining the department's funding plan and the amount requested for supplementation. 

Students are also encouraged to apply for Professional Development Grants through PSG.

Funding & Policy Information
All applications must be approved prior to travel. Funding is provided as reimbursement after travel is completed, with a maximum funding amount of $800 per student.

No more than two presenting students per individual research project or poster may receive funding to attend the same conference or event. 

All University of Minnesota's Travel Policies must be followed.

Important

  • All travel fund applications must be submitted prior to the travel date. Applications submitted after travel has occurred will not be considered.

  • Travel funds are limited and applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • Placeholder submissions are not permitted. Applications must show confirmed conference or meeting participation. Applications cannot be updated or transferred to a different conference or event; if plans change, a new application must be submitted, pending availability of funds.
  • Student may only receive funding once per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) with at least one year between funding periods.

Application Steps

Before submitting your application, please review the guidelines and prepare the following:

  • W-9 form (required) - This form is required for all applications. Ensure it is complete and saved as W-9_LASTNAME. Incomplete or incorrectly named forms may result in denial.
  • Letter of support (if applicable): Required for students presenting research sponsored or co-sponsored by a faculty member or department. The letter must outline the department's funding plan and the amount requested for supplementation. 
  • Supporting documentation (as applicable): Be prepared to upload documentation based on your travel purpose - proof of research presentation (e.g., acceptance email, abstract acceptance), proof of organization participation (e.g., invitation, confirmation email), or proof of award recognition (e.g., award notification).
  • Itemized budget: Provide anticipated expenses with estimated amounts. Example: Conference registration ($700), Airfare ($500), Hotel ($1,200), including total amount requested.

Once you have all of the requested information and documentation listed above, submit a complete Student Travel Funds application. Applications must include all required information and documentation to be considered.

Criteria for Consideration
Applicants must:

  • Be in good academic standing
  • Be enrolled in the Medical School at the time of travel and not yet graduated
  • Meet one of the following criteria:
    • Presenting original research (oral or poster) at a conference, meeting, symposium, or academic event
      • Applicants must have participated in the research while enrolled as a medical student.
    • Participating as a panelist or officer of a national organization
    • Receiving an award at a conference, meeting, symposium, or academic event

All student travel is also governed by the University of Minnesota's Travel Policy.

Questions? Please contact the TC Student Affairs Office at [email protected]

Student Travel Fund Application

Class 1966 Funds

Class of 1966 Fund applications for the 2024-25 academic year are closed!

The Medical School Class of 1966 has generously established an endowment to support student-initiated projects at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Funds are distributed annually through a competitive application process to individual students or student groups who present project ideas that will be of value to the entire medical student community.  

Selected projects will receive up to $3000. This amount allows the selection committee to select three (3) high profile, high-quality, long-lasting yet discreet projects and ideas annually. Two (2) proposals will be selected from the TC campus, and one (1) from the DU medical school campus.

Past funds recipients 

The committee overseeing this fund invites all students and student groups to submit applications for funding.

Instructions, guidelines, and a sample application

The application process begins annually in the Fall semester each year with new funding being available in November.

At the end of the project, all individuals receiving funding are required to submit a final report. 

Global Health and International

The Global Medical Education and Research Program (GMER) offers opportunities for funding for opportunities during the summer between a student's first and second year, plus international study awards for international clinical electives during a student's clinical years.

For Student Groups

Registered student groups are eligible to apply for funding from the Medical School Student Council. Groups are also eligible to apply for special grants from Student Council.

Research Funding

Our students have a wide range of opportunities to gain hands-on research experience, and contribute to medical advancements that create a healthier future for everyone. Students can do research for credit, for pay (such as through grant stipends), or as a volunteer.

Other Opportunities

As various opportunities are received by the Medical Education Office they will be posted here. New opportunities arrive daily, so make sure to check back often!