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Research and Travel Funds for Graduate Students

Two images of Marco graduate students examining manuscripts.Graduate students affiliated with the Marco Institute for Medieval and Renaissance Studies are invited to apply for funds to support their scholarship. Appropriate uses include travel to scholarly conferences to present papers; travel to participate in scholarly classes or seminars; travel to archives or libraries with unique materials unavailable at UT; and research supplies in the form of microfilms of manuscripts (materials purchased will remain the property of the Institute). Marco graduate student research funding includes:

  • Paul Barrette Student Travel and Research Travel Scholarship (Up to $1000)
  • Raymond E. Horne Graduate Student Award (Up to $500)
  • Marco Graduate Student Research and Travel Scholarship (Up to $1000)

Available funds are limited, so applicants are expected to demonstrate that they have applied to other sources of funding both internal and external to the University. Requests for conference travel will be entertained only if the applicant is presenting a paper or attending a class or seminar. Additional funds are available each year for research trips to the Newberry or Folger Libraries; see https://marco.utk.edu/newberry-consortium/.

Marco Travel/Research Funding

Instructions for applying:

Please submit a letter outlining the details of your travel request, including the following (as relevant):

  • Your name, home department, progress toward degree (e.g. in coursework, ABD, etc.)
  • Details of your travel
    • Proposed dates and location(s) of travel
    • Reason for going (e.g. presenting a conference paper; conducting archival research)
    • Title of your paper
    • Name of conference/seminar/colloquium, sponsoring institution
  • Detailed budget, including amount that you are requesting from Marco
    • Include names of other departments/organizations that you are requesting money from, and amounts that you are asking from each.
  • A letter of support from the student’s graduate advisor or other faculty mentor, attesting to the applicant’s progress towards their degree and the importance of the proposed project/travel, is required for requests in excess of $500.

Applications should be addressed to Marco’s Riggsby Director, and emailed to marco@utk.edu. Requests are reviewed by the Marco Steering Committee on a rolling basis throughout the year.

A manuscript image showing camels and horses.Important reminders about university-supported travel:

  • Travel authorization must be obtained prior to departure. NOTE: It is the student’s responsibility to get travel authorization from their home department.
  • Hotel costs must be within the government CONUS rate for the city in question. If your hotel is over that amount, you must include documentation of the conference hotel rate. Otherwise, you will only be reimbursed up to the CONUS amount for the stay.
    • The hotel receipt must be in the traveler’s name. If you share a room, ask the hotel to split your bill and print a copy showing your portion.
  • Meal costs are reimbursed up to the CONUS amounts approved for each meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner); food expenses beyond the daily CONUS rate will not be reimbursed.
  • All receipts must be itemized (list items purchased) and show method of payment (e.g. cash, last 4 digits of credit card).
  • If you are receiving GSS funds, you must include proof of attendance at the conference (e.g. name badge).

Click here to view the full UT travel policy. Direct questions to Marco’s Program Coordinator or your home department’s travel specialist.

Other Research Funding

Research funding is also available from a number of other organizations! The University of Chicago’s graduate program has put together an excellent Fellowship Database which will let you search/filter fellowships by subject, deadline, etc.

The UTK Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships is also an excellent resource, and does provide some support for graduate students as well as undergraduates. Dr. Laura de Furio is a Marco-affiliated staff member there, and is happy to work with our graduate students to find research funding.

The URF has also provided this handy PDF presentation of information about various funding bodies, including the Fulbright program. If you are interested in internal or external funding, you can read that, and then contact the Marco Director or Program Coordinator, or the URF directly.