Additional Support Funding

Financial Aid Office Stanford Support Programs

The University has created the following programs specifically for graduate students dealing with challenging financial situations. Please see the Financial Aid Office website for more details. 

Doctoral Professional Development Grant (formerly known as Travel Fellowship)

The purpose of this grant is to support students with expenses related to professional development opportunities that enhance their training and careers. 

• Professional conference: Students must document that they are presenting a paper at a conference. If not presenting, students must provide proof of attendance and justify how this will benefit their professional development (e.g., networking with others in their research field, advancing their training). All requests must have advisor approval.
• Other professional development opportunity: Students must consult and receive approval from the advisor to utilize this grant to enhance their knowledge and skills. 

GSE students are limited to one pre-candidacy and two post-candidacy grants. Pre-candidacy travel grants are forfeited if not used before advancing to candidacy. These cannot be banked for future use after advancing to candidacy, so it is “use it or lose it.”

Students are eligible for a maximum of $700 per grant. Only if travel is beyond North America (US, Canada, and Mexico) is the maximum $1,100. These funds are determined on an individual basis as a subsidy for expenses. The GSE cannot guarantee that the maximum will be awarded. Further information and the forms are available on the GSE website, and the Doctoral Programs Officer can provide further information.

School of Education Dissertation Support Grant (School of Education-DSG)

The GSE makes available grants of up to a total of $5,000 per student for advanced doctoral students needing support for dissertation research activities.

These grants are available to students who do not have access to other funds to cover their dissertation costs.

Sarah Levine (srlevine@stanford.edu) administers this program and should be contacted for any questions. Sarah will send an email to all doctoral students at the start of autumn quarter with application instructions and materials.

GSE Student Emergency Funding Program

The GSE Student Emergency Funding Program assists GSE graduate students who experience a financial emergency or unanticipated expenses* causing financial hardship. This program is designed to assist those who cannot reasonably resolve their financial difficulty through fellowships, loans or personal resources. Emergency funding provides grants that reimburse actual expenses. These awards are not a loan, and do not need to be repaid. Emergency funds awarded are tax-reportable income.

Eligible expenses: Unanticipated or unusual expenses (most commonly medical, dental, or legal, but other expenses can be considered) outside of the standard student budget outlined by the University that may hinder the student’s academic progress will be considered.  Costs must have been incurred while enrolled at Stanford, and costs for a previous or future academic year will not be considered.  Each case is considered on its own merits.

*Emergency funding is not intended for tuition or fees, standard living expenses, research-related expenses, travel to and from internship/practicum/research sites and conferences, or when other aid has ceased.

Limit: up to $2,000 per academic year

Process: Student submits an Emergency Grant-in-Aid application to the Financial Aid Office (FAO). FAO reviews the application and makes the determination that the student is eligible for emergency funds. If FAO is not able to cover your expenses either partially or in-full, then you may apply for GSE Student Emergency Funds. To apply, submit the following documents to Connie Chang, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs:

• A copy of the Emergency Grant-in-Aid application
• Include supporting documents (e.g. receipts)
• Include the response from FAO

You may receive a max amount of $2,000 in GSE Student Emergency Funds per year.