Research Abroad

OVERVIEW

UNT’s Graduate Research Experiences Abroad Travel Grant (GREAT Grant) provides UNT graduate students with funding to undertake independent research abroad in support of the student’s thesis/dissertation research. The GREAT Grant aims to advance the research activities of UNT graduate students and enhance their global perspectives by providing research experiences outside of the U.S. The GREAT Grant is administered by International Affairs.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must:

• Be UNT graduate students in good standing
• Be enrolled full-time at UNT at the time of application
• Return to UNT and be enrolled full-time at UNT in the fall semester immediately after their GREAT Grant project concludes
• Demonstrate how the project is necessary for and supports their thesis/dissertation research
• Conduct independent research abroad for a minimum of 14 consecutive days abroad
• Cannot be participating in a UNT Study Abroad program, any type of UNT group organized activity, conferences, exhibitions, performances, or similar activities, and
• May only receive up to two (2) GREAT Grant awards during your time as a UNT graduate student.

APPLICATION AND DEADLINE

Applications must be submitted by 5 pm on December 15, 2026.

1. Online Application

• GREAT Grant Application

2. Project Statement (upload document)

• A statement of up to 1,000 words that describes the project must be uploaded as part of the online application. The project description must address the following:
  • Describe the project activities abroad, specific goals, and anticipated outcomes
  • Describe how the project is necessary for and supports your thesis/dissertation research
  • Provide a detailed and well-developed project timeline and project plan that describes the project activities that will take place each day, and
  • Describe any relevant experiences that have prepared you to undertake this project

3. Letter of Approval (upload document)

• A one-page signed letter on letterhead by the applicant’s thesis/dissertation committee chair (UNT faculty member) must be uploaded as part of the application. The letter of approval must include:
  • Statement approving the proposed research
  • Statement about how the committee chair will provide academic oversight throughout the duration of the research project
  • Description of the applicant’s academic merits and feasibility of the proposed project
  • Explanation of how the project is necessary for the applicant’s thesis/dissertation research

4. Budget Information

• Budget information must include the following:
  • Itemized budget
  • Budget narrative describing how you calculated your budget
  • Supporting budget documents providing evidence of estimated budget items, such as estimated airfare, estimated accommodations, etc. (upload documents)

• The GREAT Grant award may be used for the following in support of your research project abroad:
  • Roundtrip Airfare
  • Accommodations
  • Meals
  • In-country transportation (in-country airfare, taxis, buses, trains, etc.)
  • UNT international travel insurance

• The GREAT Grant cannot be used for the following expenses:
  • Tuition and/or fees
  • Equipment, supplies, and/or materials
  • Salaries and/or wages for the recipient and/or project collaborators

5. Decision about your UNT Human Subjects Research Determination Form

• You are required to submit a UNT Human Subjects Research Determination Form and upload the decision regarding your form.
• It is recommended that you submit this form at least two weeks prior to the UNT GREAT Grant application deadline.

6. Affiliation Email (if applicable) (upload document)

• If your project requires that you have a connection/association in your project country with a university, institution, organization, researcher(s), group of individuals, etc. to conduct your research and/or to gain access to facilities/resources necessary to conduct your research, then you must upload an email that includes the following information:
  • Approval from the affiliate/collaborator for you to collaborate with them on your project and
  • Confirmation that you will have access to the facilities/resources needed for your project during your project dates
• If the affiliate/collaborator has facilities/resources that are open to the public, then you may upload a copy of the webpage that confirms this information rather than an email.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applications will be reviewed by a UNT committee of faculty and/or staff using the following criteria:

• Demonstrated connection between the project and the student’s thesis/dissertation research
• Contribution of the project to the overall educational career of the student
• Contribution of the project to the scholarly field
• Academic quality and feasibility of the project
• Demonstrated commitment to the project by the student and committee chair
• Demonstrated ability by the student to initiate and sustain research
• Reasonable budget request based on the amount of time abroad and research activities
• Preference may be given to doctoral students
• Preference will be given to UNT graduate students who have not previously received a GREAT Grant award.

AWARD INFORMATION

The number of awards and award amounts are at the discretion of the Vice Provost for International Affairs. The maximum award amount is up to $4,500.

Applicants will be notified via email if their proposal is selected for funding. Applicants selected for funding will receive an award notification letter with information and conditions about their award and distribution of funds. Applicants must accept the award by returning a signed acceptance form by the deadline stated in the award notification letter.

Awards, including the distribution of award funding, are contingent on applicants securing university approvals, including, but not limited to the following:

• Approval to travel to the country where the research will be conducted
• IRB approval if the research involves human subjects
• IACUC approval if the research involves the use of live, vertebrate animals
• Export Control approval if the research will occur in an export control restricted country

International Affairs reserves the right to revoke funding at any time should the parameters of the project change, should the student no longer be able to undertake the project, should the student’s committee chair no longer support the project/student’s involvement in the project, should the location where the research will be conducted be deemed unsafe, and/or other reasons.

PROJECT PERIOD

The 2026-27 GREAT Grant supports projects that will occur between May 2027-August 13, 2027. All GREAT Grant expenses must be reconciled by August 13, 2027.  Awards cannot be retroactively applied to projects/travel that previously occurred. The award will not carryforward beyond August 13, 2027. In the event the project cannot be started/completed during the project period due to any circumstances, the project and funds will not be extended. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

GREAT Grant recipients are required to register their international travel, receive approval to travel to the country where the research will be conducted, and enroll in UNT’s international travel insurance as described at: https://riskmanagement.unt.edu/emergency/international_travel.html. GREAT Grant recipients must abide by regulations pertaining to research integrity and compliance as described at: https://research.unt.edu/support-units/research-integrity-and-compliance/index.html.

GREAT Grant recipients are required to submit a short report within one-week of return to the U.S. and no later than by August 13, 2027. The report should be no longer than two (2) pages and include the project activities that occurred, the results of the project, and future projects/research planned as a result of the project. GREAT Grant recipients may be invited to present their research/attend at an event organized by International Affairs during the fall semester after their GREAT Grant project concludes.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Application Deadline:    
December 15, 2026

Award Decisions:          
Spring 2027

Project Period:             
May to August 13, 2027

Project Report Due:      
Within one-week of return to the U.S. and no later than August 13, 2027

CONTACT INFORMATION

Shirley Agustin
Assistant Director, Global Engagement
Email: Shirley.Agustin@unt.edu
Phone: (940) 369-6442

OVERVIEW

The UNT International Travel Grant supports the professional development and global scholarship of UNT graduate students. The UNT International Travel Grant is administered by UNT International Affairs.

 ELIGIBILITY

To be considered for the UNT International Travel Grant, UNT graduate students must:

• Receive a Graduate Student Travel Award

• AND Present research or a creative activity at a professional meeting/venue abroad (outside of the U.S.)

 AWARD AMOUNT

• The award amount ranges from $0 to $500.
• The UNT International Travel Grant is awarded in the fall, spring, and summer, as funding remains available.
• All award decisions are made at the discretion of the Vice Provost of International Affairs.

APPLICATION PROCESS

• UNT graduate students are not required to submit a separate application for the UNT International Travel Grant.
• UNT graduate students are required to indicate in their Graduate Student Travel Award application that they would like to be considered for the UNT International Travel Grant.

NOTIFICATION PROCESS

• UNT International Affairs will provide an award notification letter to all students who are awarded the UNT International Travel Grant.

AWARD DISTRIBUTION

• If awarded a UNT International Travel Grant, the student’s academic department or college will administer the award funding. 

CONTACT INFORMATION

• Please contact Shirley Agustin at agustin@unt.edu regarding any questions about the UNT International Travel Grant.
• Please contact Grants@unt.edu regarding any questions about the Graduate Student Travel Awards.    

Application Deadlines for the Graduate Student Travel Award

Fall 2026 Travel Award Cycle

If your travel falls between:  August 24, 2026 - December 31, 2026

• Application Opens: August 1, 2026
• Submission Deadline: September 18, 2026

Spring 2027 Travel Award Cycle

If your travel falls between:  January 1, 2027 - May 31, 2027

• Application Opens: October 1, 2026
• Submission Deadline: November 18, 2026

Summer 2027 Travel Award Cycle

If your travel falls between: June 1, 2027 - August 15, 2027

• Application Opens: February 1, 2027
• Submission Deadline: March 19, 2027