Trip allowances

Conferences do provide the opportunity to establish networks and to gather new input and ideas for the own doctoral project. In order to facilitate the participation of PhD students of the GFA, grants can be requested for conferences as well as workshops or summer schools.

Requirements/formal criteria

• Doctoral candidates have to fulfil the general requirements.
• Eligible for applying are doctoral candidates who, are members of the GFA (until completing the doctoral examination process by receiving the degree certificate, but no longer than a year after the oral defense).
• Per decision of the GFA board from 28^th September 2018, allowances are provided for one trip during PhD studies only. If an approved grant is not used, it is possible to reapply for another conference trip.

Documents to be submitted

• Completed application form with original signatures of the applicant and the first supervisor
• Costs projection (total costs/amount applied for at the GFA) with detailed information about:
  • Travel costs according to the DAAD regulations
  • Accommodation costs according to the „Bundesreisekostengesetz“
• Confirmation of application or acceptance (including indication of own contribution)
• Current certificate of enrolment

Annotations

• The reimbursement request hast to be submitted completely within 6 months after end of the trip.
• During the period of emergency funding, the GFA will not grant allowances for conference trips.
• The amount of funding is based on the following criteria:
  • Up to 80% of the overall costs if the applicant gives a presentation
  • Up to 60% of the overall costs if the applicant presents a poster
  • Up to 50% of the overall costs if the applicant does not take an active part in the workshop or summer school (only applicable if the event is of particular importance for the research project, but the structure of the event provides no possibility for an active participation).
  • Social criteria
• Funding awarded by the conference organiser can be taken into account as proof of the applicant's or the sending working group's own contribution.
• The GFA encourages you to seek alternative sources of funding for your conference trip. Efforts will be assessed positively in the funding decision. When submitting your application, please inform the GFA whether you have applied for further funding for the trip and the status of the respective application. In addition, check with the other funding provider if joint funding with the GFA is possible. The total amount of funding may not exceed the actual costs.
• The GFA allowances for conference trips cover a sum of up to € 1500.
• A renewed application for trips that have already been funded is not possible.
• Summer schools: The approval of allowances for summer schools does not justify the recognition of credits as relevant examination prerequisites.

Application deadlines

• 15^th January -> earliest possible start of funding: 1^st March
• 15^th March -> earliest possible start of funding: 1^st May
• 15^th May -> earliest possible start of funding: 1^st July
• 15^th July -> earliest possible start of funding: 1^st September
• 15^th September -> earliest possible start of funding: 1^st November
• 15^th November -> earliest possible start of funding: 1^st January of the following year