Due to the number of successful applications and unanticipated budgetary constraints, Graduate Conference Travel Funding is temporarily suspended for the 2025–2026 academic year. Updates will be communicated directly to eligible students if the pause is lifted.
GRADUATE CONFERENCE TRAVEL FUNDING
The Department of History of Art & Architecture encourages students at both the MA and PhD levels to give papers at conferences and undertake internships at non-profit arts organizations as part of their education. The Department draws from the BU History of Art & Architecture Alumni Fund and from the Patricia Hills Endowed Fund to reimburse graduate students for their travel expenses and conference fees when they deliver papers at recognized international, national, and regional conferences. Relevant expenses include travel, accommodation, and conference fees.
Funds can support the following:
- A presentation at an academic conference. In special cases, even if no paper is given, the student may apply for department funding to attend a conference where scholars are presenting papers directly related to their MA Paper research or PhD dissertation research.
- A graduate-level internship at a non-profit arts organization (usually a museum or historical agency).
- A research trip to an archive or a museum that possesses works of art or materials directly related to a student’s MA Paper or PhD dissertation. A written endorsement from the student’s advisor must also be submitted in this situation.
- Expenses, such as image fees, incurred when publishing an essay in a peer-reviewed journal.
Funding Cycle:
Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis. Because the department aims to support as many students as possible, no individual student will be reimbursed for more than one conference or research trip during each academic year, or one internship annually.
Reimbursement Amounts:
For conferences, the maximum reimbursement amount for one trip is $750 for domestic travel and $1,000 for international travel. If the student both organizes a panel and presents a paper, the reimbursement maximum rises to $900 for a domestic and $1,200 for an international trip. For an internship, students receive a $500 award. For archival or library research, the maximum reimbursement amount for one trip is $750 regardless of destination. Please note that funding amounts and award availability can change at any time due to budgetary constraints. Students are asked to submit applications at least four weeks before the start of travel.
To Apply:
Apply at least four weeks before the start of travel or internship.
- For conferences, complete the form found at this link and send to Professor Gregory Williams at ghw@bu.edu.
- For research, complete this form and send to Professor Gregory Williams via ghw@bu.edu.
Also ask your advisor to send a short endorsement to Professor Williams. - For internships, provide a description of the internship and a letter/email confirming the offer and send to Professor Melanie Hall at hallmj@bu.edu.
To Submit Expenses:
If the travel funding application is approved, please send your receipts along with the Expense Form either by email or hardcopy to Susan (srice@bu.edu) after you have completed your trip.
Note: There are many possible sources of graduate conference and research travel funding. Students are expected to apply for other funds available from BU and outside institutions. Within the university, the BU Graduate Student Organization (GSO) offers conference travel grants; for application instructions, go to http://www.bu.edu/gso/travelgrants. Major national organizations such as the College Art Association and the Society of Architectural Historians also offer travel fellowships to their annual meetings.