The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability’s Travel Grant Program funds individual students who are planning trips for the purpose of advancing their academic or professional development goals. The program also considers applications from small groups (2-6 people) who may be traveling together to conferences or to conduct research (see Applying for Group Travel). 

Funding is available only for travel during the Fall, Spring, and Winter inter-session. All travel must be completed on or before May 30, 2026. Funding is not offered during the summertime. The program welcomes applications from all Harvard University students.  

The maximum grant per person is: 

• $1,000.00 (USD) for International Travel 

• $600.00 (USD) for Domestic Travel (lower 48 States) and Canada 

On This Page

• Program Timeline
• Qualifying Travel Purposes + Applicant Qualifications
• Program Requirements
• Application Process
• Funding Criteria + Funding Restrictions
• Applying for Group Travel
• FAQs + Past Student Trips

Program Timeline

Travel is funded in several cycles from September 2025 – May 2026. Each Application Cycle has a unique deadline. Use your departure date and the table below to determine the appropriate Application Cycle and corresponding Application Deadline: 

Fall 2025 + Winter

Cycle	Travel Departure Date	Applications Open	Application Deadline  (by 11:59 PM)	Decision Date
1	September 15 –   October 5	September 3	September 11	September 10
2	October 6 –  November 2	September 8	September 21	September 26
3	November 3 –   December 14	October 6	October 19	October 24
4	December 15 –   January 25	November 17	November 30	December 5

*Please note: Applicants may not apply through this program for funding to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Students interested in traveling to COP29 should apply through Salata Institute’s COP Student Observer’s Program. 

Qualifying Travel Purposes

Students traveling for the purpose of advancing their climate- or sustainability-related academic or professional development goals, including travel related to:  

• Student research presentations or talks at conferences. 
• Professional development or career advancement activities at conferences. 
• Field research related to a student’s thesis or capstone project. 
• Independent research projects supervised by a faculty member. 

Applicant Qualifications

• Applicants must be full-time registered Harvard University students in good academic standing.  
• The Applicants travel destination must not be listed as a high-risk travel location by Harvard University. 
• Travel must take place during the Fall or Spring term, or during the Winter inter-session and an applicant’s departure date must fall within the correct Application Cycle window to which they apply.
• Applicants must be able to arrange their own travel and lodging accommodation and cover any associated up-front costs. Program funding is awarded on a reimbursement basis.
• If traveling internationally, Applicants must have a passport (U.S. or other passport) and a visa, if required, that are valid for the dates of international travel. They must have also secured all necessary documents for re-entry to the United States.

Program Requirements  

• Review and acknowledgement of Harvard University’s Travel Reimbursement Policies. 
• Acknowledgement that funding is awarded on a reimbursement basis. 
• Reimbursement requests must comply with the Salata Institute’s Program Funding Restrictions 
• Completion of all Pre-Travel Materials Requested by the Salata Institute.
• Upon completion of travel, submit a travel reflection (1000 words max.)
• Upon completion of travel, submit 2-3 high-quality photos from the trip.  

Environmental Impacts: While travel can be important for academic pursuits and professional development, it has environmental impacts. Before applying for the Salata Institute’s Travel Grant Pilot Program, please first consider whether your travel is necessary. If travel is required, applicants should consider how to minimize the environmental impacts. Funding will be prioritized towards those who will play an active role as a presenter, facilitator, or researcher in their proposed travel activity. Find tips on minimizing travel impacts here.  

Application Process

The first cycle of applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will open on August 25, 2025. 

Please refer to the Program Timeline section to identify the appropriate Application Deadline for your travel. All applications are due by 11:59 PM on the Application Deadline date. Groups of 2-6 students should review the Applying for Group Travel Section.  

The Travel Grant Application includes the following sections: 

2. Applicant Information: Identifying questions about the applicant.
3. Travel Proposal: Questions about the intended purpose for travel, travel details, and a travel statement (500 words, PDF Upload) outlining how the trip will advance the applicants academic or professional development goals.
4. Budget & Funding Request: An outline of your overall budget, disclosure of other funding sources, your funding request for this program, and other funding-related questions.
5. Environmental Impact Statement: A statement (50-100 words) about how the applicant will minimize the environmental impacts of travel. Find tips on minimizing travel impacts here.  
6. Optional Supporting Documentation: 
   • Letter of support from a supervising faculty advisor. 
   • Copy of conference or event agenda.
7. Program Agreements: Acknowledgment of the program expectations and requirements.

The next Travel Grant cycle will resume in Fall 2025.

*Please Note: Funding for this program is awarded on a reimbursement basis and can only be applied to expenses that comply with both Harvard University’s Travel Reimbursement Policies and the Salata Institute’s Program Funding Restrictions.

Award decisions: Applicants will be notified of decisions according to the specific Decision Date for their travel window. Please refer to the Program Timeline section above.

Please contact oona_gaffney@harvard.edu with questions. 

Funding Criteria 

Strong applicants will… 

• demonstrate an interest in and engagement with climate change and/or related environmental, social, or economic issues.  
• make a compelling argument for how their travel will needfully support their academic and professional goals. 
• have the necessary academic or professional qualifications that support the purpose of their trip. 

Funding Restrictions 

• Funds will be awarded on a reimbursement basis only; students must be able to cover the upfront costs of transportation and lodging.
• Funding from this program may not be used for the following: travel conducted over the summer; travel to high-risk travel locations; for meals, per diems, or stipends; for travel packages that include hotel/airfare/car rental, unless each component of the expense can be identified; for transportation to or from locations other than the site of the project or conference. 
• Funding cannot be applied retroactively; students must apply for funding prior to their dates of travel.
• The Salata Institute will reimburse students only if they actually travel to their intended destination. 
• The Salata Institute will reimburse students only after they have completed all of the post-travel requirements, including submission of paperwork, receipts, and reflections.
• All expenses paid by credit card should be incurred by the applicant themselves. Expenses cannot be reimbursed if they are made by a family member, friend, or colleague. 
• For foreign travel, exchange rates must be included in receipts and the amounts must be calculated into U.S. dollars. 
• Individual applicants must have a valid form of travel ID for the dates of travel. For international travel, students must have a valid U.S. passport or non-U.S. passport and visa, if required, and have secured all necessary documents for re-entry to the United States. Passports should remain valid for a minimum of 6 months after the return travel date. 
• Reimbursements must be completed within 90 days from the date of purchase. The Salata Institute cannot complete reimbursements after more than 90 days.

Also see: Harvard University’s Travel Reimbursement Policies. 

Applying for Group Travel

The Salata Institute will consider Travel Grant applications for groups of 2 to 6 people (maximum). Students who intend to travel together for research projects or to a conference must apply as a group.  

Applying: 

• Groups must use the “Multiple Applicants” option to complete their application. Look for the first question on the 2^nd page of the application form.  
• Students can use the “Add another Response” to include additional travelers, up to 6 travelers. 
• Travel Proposal: All students participating in the trip should prepare a 300–500-word paragraph about why the trip is important to them. These statements should be included as a single document in the Travel Proposal. Please include each student’s name above their paragraph.  
• Budget: Complete the budget section by entering the total anticipated expenses for the group in each section (travel, lodging, etc.). Reviewers would like to understand the total anticipated cost of the trip.  
• Funding Request: Submit your per-person funding request in the “Funding Request” section. This amount should not exceed the maximum allowable funding request per person. Each traveler in your group will be considered for the amount entered in this section. 
• Previous Application: If any member of your group has applied for funding through the Travel Grant program at any point in the past, mark “Yes”. 
• Remaining sections: (Environmental Impact Statement and Optional Documentation) should be completed with a single submission on behalf of the group. (i.e. one impact statement, one letter of recommendation, etc.)