Undergraduate Case & Conference Travel Grant Program

The Carlson School of Management Undergraduate Program provides funding for transofrmative student learning experiences through the Undergraduate Student Case & Conference Travel Grant. 

This grant provides financial support for students to engage in conferences, events, and case competitions that promote student development and transformative student learning. Up to $500 is available per student per academic year on a first-come, first-served basis. 

How to Apply

• Applicants must submit an application and itemized budget by the deadline of November 1st, 2026.

  1. Complete the 2026-2027 grant application.

  2. Submit a detailed, itemized budget via email to Caroline Fails. The amount requested for each grant is not guaranteed - all funding decisions are at the discretion of the Carlson Undergraduate Program.

• Applicants will be notified of their approval within one week of the application.

• Once approved, students will be required to provide itemized receipts either before or after the event as confirmation of their expenses for the event, conference, etc. (e.g., conference fee payment confirmation, airfare and/or hotel booking receipt)

  1. Students will be contacted by Carlson Business Operations to complete a W-9 and formally process the reimbursement.

  2. Funds will be reimbursed to the student account within a month of the event date.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Be a currently enrolled, degree-seeking undergraduate student at Minnesota Carlson. 

• Maintain a 2.0+ GPA.

• Be in good standing with the University (no active disciplinary holds)

• Funding must be for events that meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Add to the knowledge base, professional, leadership and academic development of Carlson students (including participation in leadership development programs and professional/academic conferences).

  • Support student participation in case competition travel as a means of professional, academic, and leadership development.

• The event must take place before December 18th, 2026 to be part of the fall application cycle. The application will reopen in the spring.

• Please Note:

  • Funding is limited to $500 per student, per event.

  • Students are limited to one grant per academic year.

  • All funding is issued via reimbursement to the student account after the event takes place.

  • A limit of 4 students may receive funding for the same event or conference. 

  • Carlson-Affiliated student organization leaders traveling for their student organization should request funding through the Carlson Student Organization Grant instead.

• Pre-Event: All awarded students must complete a one-on-one meeting to discuss their academic, professional and leadership goals for the event etc. with a Student Engagement & Development (SED) team member prior to their attendance at the event or conference.

• Post-Event: All awarded students must submit a short summary and reflection outlining what was learned from the event or program and highlight its alignment with the student’s personal and professional goals.

Application Content Requirements:

Grant funding will be awarded to students that meet at least one of the following criteria:

1. Add to the knowledge base, professional, leadership and academic development of Carlson students (including participation in leadership development programs and professional/academic conferences).

2. Support student participation in case competition travel as a means of professional, academic, and leadership development.

Grant funding cannot support:

• Scholarships for study abroad programs. 

• Personal expenses outside of what is required for an event, conference or case program.

Examples of past successful grant applications:

• DigiMarCon Silicon Valley 2025 — San Francisco, California

  • Students engaged with cutting-edge developments in digital marketing, analytics, generative AI, user experience design, and omnichannel strategy, gaining exposure to how data-driven marketing operates in Silicon Valley ecosystems.

• Harvard Intercollegiate Business Convention — Cambridge & Boston, Massachusetts

  • Students participated in leadership-focused programming, entrepreneurship discussions, and cross-university networking with peers and professionals from across the country.

• Plug and Play Silicon Valley Summit 2025 — San Jose & Silicon Valley, California

  • Students connected with startup founders, venture capital partners, and early-stage investors, exploring innovation, product development, and venture ecosystems at a global scale.

• Grace Hopper Celebration (GHC) 2025 — Chicago, Illinois

  • Students attended the world’s largest conference for women in technology, focusing on technical career pathways, recruiting, self-advocacy, and representation in computing and data-driven fields.

• Afrotech 2025 — Houston, Texas

  • Students participated in one of the largest conferences for Black professionals in technology, engaging in recruiting, technical skill-building, and professional development sessions.

• Phi Kappa Psi – Explore Finance Conference — Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Students explored career pathways in finance through alumni engagement, professional panels, and leadership development programming.

• United Nations Headquarters Conference — Geneva, Switzerland

  • A student represented Carlson internationally, participating in high-level discussions on human rights, global equity, racism, and international governance.

If you have any questions regarding the Carlson Undergraduate Program Grants or the application process, please contact Lynn Nguyen or Caroline Fails.