Graduate Student Professional Awards (GSPDA)

Graduate Student Professional Development Awards (GSPDA)


These awards are available to assist graduate students with academic-related expenses that cannot be met by the funding allocated to their specific department. The GSPD awards are intended to meet special one-time needs, such as expenses associated with presenting research at a conference, attending professional meetings, or acquiring language- or other skills-training. Normally, a graduate student will be eligible to receive only one GSPDA per academic year.


Maximum value: $1200


Deadlines: applications will be accepted between Sept. 1 and May 1 and will be reviewed monthly; no applications will be accepted during the summer months.


N.B. Applications must be submitted in advance of the event (e.g., conference, professional meeting, language course) in which the student expects to participate: no applications for retroactive funding will be accepted.


Application procedure:


The graduate student submits the application to the ISLA office, 101 O’Shaughnessy Hall. Applications should be clearly written and carefully proofread. The application should include two (2) copies of the following items, collated:


• GSPDA cover sheet (click here) completed accurately

• A brief statement of purpose (1-2 pp) that outlines and justifies the need for funding. The student should briefly describe the proposed project/activity and its significance; specify her/his current year in the graduate program; and explain how the proposed activity/project will advance the applicant’s progress to degree and contribute to his/her professional development. If the student is applying for funds to present a conference paper or poster and has received a formal acceptance from the conference organizer, it should be so noted.

• An indication of other funding sources to which the student has applied, as well as the dates by which the student will be informed of the outcome of those applications. If the student has not applied for departmental funding or if such funding is not available to him/her, an explanation should be provided.

• A proposed budget, itemizing and justifying each expense: documentation should be provided for airfare and accommodation costs, and foreign currencies should be converted to USD, indicating the exchange rate.

• A letter of recommendation from the applicant’s advisor or Director of Graduate Studies should be sent separately to ISLA, 101 O’Shaughnessy.

Helpful Links >>