Neea Rusch

Augusta University Doctoral Student Funding Survival Guide

This pages lists resources and tips for finding additional research funding. It is especially aimed at unfunded doctoral student at Augusta University (my *deepest* condolences).1 Most resources are generally applicable: independent of research topic, graduate program, citizenship status, etc.

This information is based on my experience. It was accurate as of 2025. Hopefully, it remains relevant thereafter, but no guarantees. I am sharing this in case it helps someone else.

🟢 = this worked for me.

At Augusta University

  • 🟢 The Graduate School Travel Funds
    For doctoral students affiliated with The Graduate School. The funds are available for travel involving research presentation or professional development. The amount is capped at $1000/academic year.

  • 🟢 GSGA Travel Funding ️
    For active2 or enrolled graduate students at Augusta University. Funding to cover portions of conference travel/attendance; or journal publication costs (by reimbursement). These policies and amounts change regularly.

  • GrantSelect3
    For everyone with AU login credentials. Funding database for looking for external fellowships, awards, etc. Use filters to exclude entries that are not applicable for whatever reason (year of study, immigration status, topic, etc.).

  • InfoEd Sponsored Program Information Network (SPIN)3
    For students with an employment contract with AU. A funding database that is accessible to AU employees, including students with an employee ID.

  • 🟢 Scholarship Universe4
    For all students with AU login credentials. A database of various scholarships. Some scholarships are annual and internal.5 Others are offered throughout the year to everyone who meets the given eligibility criteria.

Resources Outside Augusta University

IMPORTANT! If your research is in any way related to programming languages, subscribe to TYPES Announce Mailing List for announcements of events with travel support (and many other useful messages).

  • 🟢 Look for travel grants or student scholarships on a conference website.
    Prioritize top conferences, as these have more sponsors with ability to support student travel. My awards page has many confirmed examples.

  • 🟢 Look for student volunteer opportunities to offset conference attendance costs.
    Volunteering has many benefits, including social, but they depend on the conference.

  • SIGPLAN Professional Activities Committee (PAC)
    Specific to programming languages research. Travel funding for cases where attendance is otherwise not possible. The student must be participating in a SIGPLAN sponsored event and be a member of ACM, and the advisor must be a member of SIGPLAN.

Footnotes

  1. A previous version of this document was linked on the GSGA website but that link has since then been removed. ☹ ↩

  2. An active student is a registered student at Augusta University who is not enrolled in the current semester. ↩

  3. For help contact Sponsored Programs Administration. ↩ ↩2

  4. For assistance with scholarships, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid. ↩

  5. The internal scholarships are competitive. For example, in 2025 about 3000 students (~30% of AU student body) applied for internal scholarships. ↩

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