Research and Travel Funding
Each semester, SDUR opens applications for funding for research and travel. Fall applications open in September and close in November. Fall funds are intended for research or travel from October 1 through March 31. Spring applications open in March and close on the first Friday in April and are intended for summer and fall research or travel from April 1 through September 30.
Each application requires a letter of reference from a faculty mentor. Letters are due to SDUR@ksu.edu by the application's due date.
Please note that all awards will be applied to a student's KSIS account in the same manner as a scholarship. If a student has a balance on their account, the award will be applied to the balance. If a student has utilized maximum loan amounts, the award will be applied as loan reduction. If no balance exists, the excess funds will be distributed directly in the form of a check or direct deposit. SDUR encourages students to check their KSIS settings to ensure that awards are applied appropriately.
For any questions related to these awards, please send us an email at SDUR@ksu.edu.
Research Awards
2026 Applications for research funds supporting summer and fall projects are open. Applications and letters of reference are due by noon on Friday, April 3.
These funds are strictly for students who plan to engage with mentored research in summer or fall 2026. In order to receive funds, students must be enrolled for credit. The maximum award amount is $500.00, but final amounts are subject to change.
Students will be required to address the following in their application:
- Personal information
- Title and abstract for proposed research project
- Name and email address of proposed mentor
- Short answer essays (50 words or less) related to the impact of research on their professional development, the work they plan to do, and how the funds will be utilized
Mentors, in your letter of reference, please address the following:
- Brief description of your relationship to the applicant
- Description of the student's role and involvement with research
- Strengths and weaknesses of the student as a potential researcher
Travel Awards
These funds are for students who are attending research-related conferences for the purposes of presentation and/or professional development. Travel awards may cover airfare, personal vehicle mileage, state vehicle rental, hotel, ground transportation and conference registration fees. An explanation of travel expenses is part of the application and should reflect your total out of pocket costs.
If you are applying with a group of 5 or more students, please ask your trip supervisor to send an letter to SDUR at sdur@ksu.edu requesting an amount for the group and detailing how it will be used. Group support will not exceed $2000.
Spring travel awards support travel occurring between April 1 and September 30. Fall travel awards support travel occurring between October 1 and March 31.
Aapplications for summer and fall 2026 travel are open. Applications and letters of reference are due at noon on Friday, April 3.
The maximum award amount is $500.00 and award amounts will be determined by a points system:
Maximum points possible- 30 pts.
Minimum points possible- 13 pts.
Conferences outside of a 150-mile radius of Manhattan- 16pts
Conferences within 150 miles of Manhattan- 10 pts
Conferences within 50 miles of Manhattan- 8 pts
Students who are presenting at a conference- 10 pts
Students attending, but not presenting- 7 pts
An additional 4 points can be earned by answering two short answer questions.
| Number of Points | Dollar Amount |
| 30 pts | $500.00 |
| 27 pts | $450.00 |
| 24 pts | $400.00 |
| 21 pts | $350.00 |
| 18 pts | $300.00 |
| 15 pts | $250.00 |
| 13 pts | $200.00 |
Mentors, in your letter of reference, please address the following:
- Brief description of your relationship to the applicant
- Description of the student's role and involvement with research
- Confirmation of the conference title, dates, location, and if the student is attending or presenting
Student Research Travel FAQs
Your funding is part of your financial aid package. If you do not have a balance with the Cashier’s office, you may receive your funds as a direct deposit or check. Make sure that your address and direct deposit information is up-to-date in KSIS. If you have accepted financial aid, your aid could be reduced if you receive a travel award. If the amount of financial aid you have already accepted is the maximum amount that you can receive for your cost of attendance, then receiving the travel award will result in a reduction of your financial aid. Click here to visit the Student Financial Assistance page for any questions. NOTE: If you are traveling with a department, it may be possible for your funds to be paid to your department. Contact SDUR at sdur@ksu.edu if you have further questions.
Applications are reviewed within 2 weeks of the deadline and announcements are sent shortly thereafter. SDUR will notify you by email of the decision and scholarships will be processed through the Office of Student Financial Assistance (SFA). It can take between 1-3 weeks or more, depending on the time of year and level of activity in SFA, before your funds are available in your student account. Please plan accordingly for up to a total of 3 months between application submission and notification/receipt of funds in your student account.
No, but we ask what you plan to spend the funds on. Should plans change, let us know, but we don't require full disclosure of all expenses.
When five or more students are traveling to the same event as a group (rather than as individuals) their advisor should send a letter to SDUR at sdur@ksu.edu asking for funding for a specific item on the travel agenda, not to exceed $2000. Faculty are encouraged to contact SDUR by email (sdur@ksu.edu) to discuss large group travel ahead of the application process.
Yes, you may. Depending on the number of applications and the funding available, SDUR will consider both, but applications will be considered separately; applicants may receive both awards or only one.
Yes, you may apply for a second award, though first-time applicants are prioritized over second-time applicants.
For students to receive a summer scholarship, students must be enrolled during the summer term in coursework that applies toward their degree program. This may include zero-credit courses (such as required internship, research, or experiential learning enrollments) that are part of the student’s Title IV-eligible program of study.
Students who are enrolled for zero credit hours may still receive summer scholarships, provided the enrollment establishes a summer financial aid term. Scholarships will be applied as “Other Financial Assistance” (OFA) to the summer term.
Students who are not enrolled in any summer coursework—including zero-credit, degree-applicable courses—are not eligible to receive scholarship funds for the summer term. The possibility of payment during the spring or fall semester for summer travel may be available.
For questions, contact the Office of Financial Assistance at 785-532-3552 or finaid@k-state.edu.
You will be required to return the funds. Should this arise, contact staff at SDUR at sdur@ksu.edu.
When you have finished the period for which we funded your research or completed travel, we ask that you reflect on your experience using the link located below.
Reflect on your experience
Have you received funding from SDUR for your research or travel needs? Please respond to this brief survey.
Scholar Development and Undergraduate Research
336 Hale Library
1117 Mid-Campus Drive North
Manhattan, KS 66506
785-532-3422
785-532-6542 fax
sdur@ksu.edu