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Graduate Travel Grants

DEADLINE: July 31, 2025
AMOUNT: Up to $300
GRANTS AWARDED: Up to 18

Graduate travel grants are for research-related travel during the 2025 calendar year to attend Dickens Project-sponsored programming. Awards are to help with travel expenses only, not lodging or conference registration fees.

Eligibility: The student must:
a) be a MA or PhD student in a graduate program at a Dickens Project Consortium institution
b) currently be enrolled and in good academic standing

In order of priority, funding will be awarded to: 
1) students who are attending the 2025 Dickens Universe or the 2025 Winter Conference
2) currently enrolled graduate students who have not participated in Dickens Project programming
3) students who have attended past Dickens Universe conferences 

Note: After travel completion, grant recipients must submit a short report of how the funds were used and the impact on the student’s research.

Eligible Travel Expenses:

UCSC Travel Reimbursement Guidelines
Airfare
  • Only use coach and economy (lowest fare available).
  • Business, first-class, or higher-cost services are not reimbursable.
  • Package deals, vacation bundles, and trip insurance are not reimbursable.
Ground Transportation
  • Taxis, shuttles, public transportation, and ride shares (e.g., Uber and Lyft) are allowed.
  • Luxury rideshares such as Uber Black and Lyft Lux are not allowed.
  • Limousine or town car rentals are not allowed.
  • Use coach and economy-class train fair. Business, first-class, or other higher-cost services are ineligible for reimbursement.
Rental Car/Private Vehicle
  • A vehicle may be rented when renting is more cost-effective to the University than other means of commercial transportation, such as using a taxi. 
  • Rental cars will be reimbursed up to an intermediate-size car.
  • Sports and luxury cars are not reimbursable unless a no-cost upgrade is provided.
  • Additional insurance is not reimbursable; however, fuel is.
  • Personal vehicle: if less expensive than renting a car or other transportation. Mileage reimbursement covers the overall cost.
Reimbursement

Travelers must submit expense reports and reimbursement paperwork within 45 calendar days of the end of the travel date/date of expense. If late, expenses will be treated as taxable income.

Travelers must complete the Payee Setup Form to be entered into our accounting system as a vendor. Submit travel-related receipts to the Dickens Project to initiate the Travel Expense form, but the traveler must review and sign it using DocuSign.
Additional Tips
  • Early check-in, priority boarding, and seat selection are not reimbursable. 
  • Higher-cost economy airfare such as Economy Plus, Extra Comfort, internet fees, or other necessary air expenses to accomplish the business purpose of the trip are allowable. Include the business reason for these fees on your expense report. 
  • Flights purchased with miles or gift cards are not reimbursable. 
  • Cancellation fees and the cost of non-refundable canceled flights are reimbursable if there is a business reason for the cancellation and the Dickens Project approves the cost. 
  • Travelers should not pay for travel expenses for other persons. 
   
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The very generous 2017 Giving Day donors and the Friends of the Dickens Project funded this program.