The Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) is pleased to provide professional development funds dedicated for GSAPP PhD students. The GSAPP PhD Travel, Conference, and Exhibition Participation Support will provide awards of $1,500 to PhD students for participation in prominent conferences and exhibitions or for research travel. There is a limit of one award per academic year, and a maximum of two awards during a student’s career at Columbia. The award is not guaranteed, and requests are considered on a first-come, first-served basis. If applications exceed available funds, students who have not received an award in previous years will have priority.

• GSAPP will support three funding cycles: Summer (for events or travel in June through August), Fall (for events or travel in September through December), and Spring (for events or travel in January through May).
• Awards are intended for enrolled PhD students in years two through seven who have maintained satisfactory academic progress. Those not eligible to apply are administrative and staff members, emeritus faculty, visiting faculty, scholars in residence, adjunct faculty or researchers, and full-time faculty or researchers.
• Awards will only be granted for future events/activities. Awards are not intended to reimburse students for past events.
• Applicants may request funds for a singular event. Proposals may not include multiple activities in one request.
• The number of grants and the eligibility requirements may be adjusted periodically based on the availability of funding.

• PhD students in a GSAPP program are eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be in good standing.
• Doctoral applicants must be in years two through seven since their date of first registration in GSAPP.
• The student must be presenting at the conference or exhibition or traveling for dissertation research purposes.
• The conference may be of an academic or professional nature.
• Conferences organized by graduate students are ordinarily not eligible, but may be considered if the student’s department or program provides written consent that the conference in question is worthy of travel support.

Applicants must submit the following documents to the PhD Office (Attn: Greydon Piper):

• Brief Funding Request (no more than one page)
  • For what activity or purpose will you utilize these funds?
  • In what ways will this funding request advance your teaching/scholarship?
  • Please specify anticipated outcomes and impact.
• Invitation from Organizer
• Written approval from Program Director
  • Applicant should submit the Brief Funding Request and the Invitation from Organizer to the Program Director for their review of the funding request.

Application Deadlines:

• Summer conference, exhibition, or travel: July 15
• Fall conference, exhibition, or travel: October 31
• Spring conference, exhibition, or travel: March 31

Recipients of the award will receive a non-tuition financial aid award. Payment is subject to applicable taxation and withholdings.