HDS Student Conference Fund

Panelists speaking at a conference

The HDS Student Conference Fund exists to facilitate the scholarly engagement of HDS degree candidates by supporting their participation in academic and professional conferences or workshops which are external to Harvard University and related to their field of study.

Eligibility

Students in good standing who have completed at least one semester of full-time study at HDS are eligible to apply.  Generally, the competitive selection process is limited to applicants who are presenting papers, panelists, session conveners, and/or confirmed volunteers. Applications from general attendees may be considered only under exceptional circumstances and with a compelling rationale.

Award Amount

Awards can be up to $500 and are applicable to travel costs and registration fees only (not lodging or other expenses). Individual students applying to attend multiple conferences are eligible to receive a maximum of $500 for funding per academic year.

Application Deadlines and Notifications

The schedule for academic year 2026-27 awards is as follows:

Summer and fall 2026 awards
Deadline: Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Noon
Notifications: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 

Winter and spring 2027 awards
Deadline: Monday, February 1, 2027, at Noon
Notifications: Monday, February 22, 2027

  • Only conferences occurring between June 30 and December 31, 2026, are eligible for summer/fall funding, and only conferences between January 1 and June 1, 2027, are eligible for winter/spring funding. All granted reimbursements for these time periods must occur before June 30, 2027.

Applications

Applications for summer/fall awards will be posted on this website page August 4, 2026

Applications for winter/spring awards will be posted on this website page December 15, 2026

Questions

Questions may be directed to the HDS Office of Career Services at 617.496.3313 or careers@hds.harvard.edu.