The Graduate Student Travel Fund (GSTF) at San Diego State University is a competitive award designed to support graduate students in their academic and professional growth. For the summer of 2026, the fund is open for applications, offering financial assistance for domestic travel related to research or conference presentations.
Managed by the College of Graduate Studies (CGS) and funded by Associated Students the GSTF aims to make the application process straightforward and fiscally responsible. This article provides a comprehensive guide to the eligibility requirements, application process, and key dates for the summer 2026 cycle.
Eligibility and Application Requirements
To qualify for the GSTF, applicants must meet specific criteria. They must be enrolled graduate students at SDSU Main Campus or SDSU Global Campus with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Continuous enrollment in fall and spring semesters is required, though summer enrollment is not mandatory unless the student is graduating that term.
Applicants must either be presenting their research or creative work at a professional conference or traveling to gather data for their culminating experience, such as a thesis or dissertation. Simply attending a conference to gather research is not sufficient to qualify for funding.
Application Cycles and Deadlines
The GSTF has three application cycles each academic year. For the summer 2026 cycle, the travel dates are from July 1 to August 31, 2026. The application window opens on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 and closes on Friday, August 7, 2026 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time.
It is crucial for applicants to submit their applications before the deadline, as late submissions will not be considered. The maximum award amount is $1,000 and funds must be used within the designated travel dates for each cycle.
Restrictions and Criteria for Review
The GSTF has specific restrictions to ensure fair distribution of funds. International travel is not covered, and the award cannot be used for coursework, training conferences, or simply attending a conference without presenting. Additionally, students who received the GSTF in the past year (fall 2026 or spring 2026 cycles) are ineligible for the summer 2026 cycle.
The primary criteria for evaluating applications include academic merit, the level of student participation in conferences, the significance of the proposed travel to the student’s academic goals, and the strength of the faculty letter of support. A new requirement for the summer 2026 cycle is a letter of support from the student’s faculty mentor or graduate program advisor.
Faculty Letter of Support
The faculty letter of support should be no more than 500 words and address several key points. It should detail the faculty’s relationship with the student, the significance of the student’s research, the value of the proposed travel, and the student’s preparedness to benefit from the travel. The letter should focus on concrete examples and evidence rather than general praise.
Post-Travel Requirements
If selected for a GSTF award, awardees must complete several post-travel requirements. They must sign a form accepting or declining the award within seven calendar days of receiving the award notice. Additionally, awardees must submit a post-travel report within seven calendar days of receiving the award notice or after their date of return, whichever is sooner.
The post-travel report includes a brief write-up summarizing the student’s accomplishments and how the travel contributed to their research or scholarship, along with any photos taken during the travel. Final travel receipts must also be submitted before the award funds are disbursed.
The Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities and the student’s home college will ensure that potential awardees are in compliance with the Student Code of Conduct and their program’s Graduate Professional Standards. Nominees and current awardees may be deemed ineligible if they violate these standards.
How to Apply
The GSTF summer 2026 Google Form application will be available from July 7, 2026 to August 7, 2026 at 11:59 pm Pacific Time. Feedback will not be provided to applicants after decisions are announced.
For more information or questions, please contact [email protected].
