USENIX Conference Grant Programs

Student Grant Program

The USENIX Student Grant Program provides funds to cover registration fees and assist with travel and accommodation expenses for full-time students attending accredited institutions who wish to attend USENIX conferences and workshops. Please note that USENIX relies on outside funding for student grants, and funding is strictly limited. We do not guarantee assistance to speakers or participants, and student grants rarely cover full travel costs.

Diversity Grant Program

As part of USENIX's ongoing commitment to encourage diversity in advanced computing, we offer Diversity Grants to support computer scientists interested in attending our conferences. All computer scientists from academia or industry who identify as female or who are members of groups underrepresented in tech are encouraged to apply. Applicants must also work in or study computer science or a related field, and attend all days of the main conference program for which they are applying. Successful applicants will receive funds to help defray the expense of conference attendance.

Grants for Black Students

In addition to our Diversity Grants, we are pleased to offer grants to support Black computer science students interested in attending USENIX Conferences. All undergraduate or graduate computer science students who are Black, African American, or members of the larger African Diaspora are encouraged to apply.

Applicants are also expected to attend the three full days of the main Conference Program, and to agree to be contacted by USENIX and grant program sponsors about future events and opportunities.

FAQs for Grant Applicants and Recipients

How much grant funding will I receive, and what will be covered?

All grant recipients will receive a complimentary registration to the conference for which they have received their grant.

Additionally, USENIX provides travel funds to assist with hotel and airfare. The award for travel funds is based on both the amount of overall funding available to distribute to all applicants and the specific funding requests the applicants have made. If you leave an expense request line empty, we will assume that you do not need financial assistance for that expense.

The USENIX Grant Program rarely has enough funds to cover all travel and/or hotel expenses for grant recipients. When completing the expense request portion of your application, base your accommodation expenses on sharing a room at the conference hotel. Note that expenses you request on your application may be adjusted by USENIX during the review process.

When will I find out whether you'll be offering grants for the conference I want to attend?

Grant applications open when the conference registration site is launched, and are linked from the conference website. USENIX makes every effort to secure funding for grants for its events, and offers grants at most conferences.

Where do I apply for grants?

Applications are located on the individual conference websites once registration opens for that event; look under "Attend" in the main menu for more information.

When will I be notified about the status of my grant application?

USENIX strives to send out notifications to student grant applicants approximately two weeks after the grant application deadline and before the conference's Early Bird deadline. We notify all applicants—both those who are being awarded a grant and those who are not—of their application status. If you do not receive an email during this time period, please check your spam folder for a message from conference@usenix.org.

How are grant applications evaluated?

For Student Grants, preference is shown to:

• Students whose areas of study significantly overlap with the conference topics and who write a concise supporting statement outlining their studies and research.
• First-time applicants and those who have not received a grant in the past 12 months.
• Students from institutions not traditionally represented at USENIX.
• Financial need.
• Degree level (graduate, undergraduate).
• Students who are both presenting a paper at the event and do not have alternate sources of funding available to them.
• Grants for Black Computer Students support undergraduate or graduate computer science students who are Black, African-American or members of the larger African diaspora.

For Diversity Grants, preference is shown to:

• Early career professionals who identify as women, Black, African-American or members of the larger African diaspora, LGBTQ+, Hispanic/Latinx, Indigenous, or members of other historically excluded groups, as described in the supporting statement.
• First-time applicants and those who have not received a grant in the past 12 months.
• Strength of supporting statement, especially detail about how an applicant represents a diverse community and/or historically excluded group(s).

What should I include in my supporting statement?

For Student Grant and Grants for Black Computer Science Student applications, your Supporting Statement should:

• Outline your current research, studies, or curriculum related to the conference topics;
• Tell us why attending the event will be beneficial to you;
• State your class level, name your advisors/mentors, and detail your current funding situation as a student and/or department; and
• Detail any relevant experience (but do not include links to your school research pages or resume).

For Diversity Grant applications, your Supporting Statement should:

• State how the conference will help you in your professional career or studies;
• Detail how you represent diverse community and/or historically excluded group(s);
• Give details on your specific interests and on your current projects/curriculum.

*Note that if you are presenting a poster at the conference, you should check "no" to the application question regarding a paper, but mention in your supporting statement that you are presenting a poster.

Are Post-Docs eligible for grants?

Post-Docs are not eligible for Student Grants; however, they are welcome to apply for Diversity Grants if they meet the qualifications outlined above.

When are applications due?

Applications and student IDs (if applicable) must be submitted online no later than the date and time stated on the website for the conference you wish to attend. Be sure to complete the submission process and watch for an email confirmation. If you do not receive email confirmation, check your email spam folder; if none arrives, contact conference@usenix.org as soon as possible. Unsubmitted drafts and late applications cannot be considered.

Who reviews the grant applications?

The grant review committee consists of USENIX Conference staff, USENIX's Executive Director, USENIX grant administrator(s), and event chairs or program committee members as needed. The USENIX Finance and Sponsorship teams also access awardee details for payment processing and coordination of available funds.

When should I register for the conference?

Do not register for the conference – even if you are an author or a presenter – until you are notified about your grant, which typically occurs prior to the hotel and early bird deadlines. If you receive a grant, we will send you detailed registration instructions. Student Grant recipients will receive a code for complimentary registration; grant funds are intended to be used for travel and/or hotel expenses, and are distributed after the conference takes place.

If you are not awarded a grant, you may register using the standard online registration form. Student registration fees do not increase after the Early Bird deadline. For conferences that often sell out, such as SREcon, spaces will be held for grant recipients to register.

When should I book my hotel for the conference?

Please reserve your hotel room well in advance; conference hotel rooms tend to fill up fast, and the conference discount rate may expire up to three weeks before the conference. Hotel reservations can usually be canceled later if you are unable to attend, though please verify the hotel's cancellation policy prior to booking.

Note that sharing a room is a good way to help reduce expenses, and for the purposes of grants, hotel expenses are estimated based on the assumption that you are sharing a room.

How do I prove my student status for a student grant?

Sign in to or create a USENIX account to upload a scan or photograph of your current student ID, or include a link to your specific school-hosted website (generic department or research website links are NOT acceptable).

Can I apply for and/or receive more than one grant?

Applicants can be awarded only one grant each calendar year. We encourage applicants to submit a single application for the type of grant for which they are most eligible (e.g., Student, Diversity, or Grants for Black Students). If you qualify for more than one grant type, indicate that in your application statement.

Please do not submit multiple grant applications to a single conference. This will not increase your chances of receiving funding. Multiple grant applications from an individual for a single conference will be de-prioritized for review.

What if I need a visa?

If you are applying for a grant and need a visa to attend the conference, submit your visa application as soon as possible. Visa applications for travel to USENIX conferences may require a letter from USENIX. To request an invitation letter, please email us at conference@usenix.org, identify yourself as a student grant applicant (and presenter, if applicable), and include your mailing address. Note that USENIX staff need a minimum of 48 hours to process these requests. Standard business hours for USENIX are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time; please keep these hours in mind when making your request.

If you are traveling to the conference from outside the U.S.A., see detailed advice from the National Academies about visiting the United States.

How many grants are awarded per event?

It depends on the event and the amount of financial support – from corporate sponsorship, donor institutions, and other sources – we receive for that purpose.

When do I receive my grant funds?

Grants are awarded after the conference. Payment depends on verification that the recipient attended the event and the recipient completing each step of the payment process. Payment steps include confirming your contact details, providing US taxation documentation (as needed), and setting up an account on bill.com. All grant recipients receive an email from our Finance team describing these steps in greater detail. If you have questions about these steps, please contact finance@usenix.org.

Do I need to save my receipts?

No, USENIX awards a lump sum toward your travel and lodging, and does not request receipts. We confirm you have registered and attend the conference before the funds are distributed.

How do I receive my funds?

Grants are awarded directly to the recipient; the grant cannot be issued to a third party such as a student's host institution. You will receive your grant award as a direct deposit to your bank account after the conference via bill.com (or wire transfer if bill.com is not available in your country of residence). Your grant award can be used to reimburse your conference and travel expenses. You must attend each day of the conference to be eligible for your grant award, but you do not need to provide receipts or other proof of travel purchases. You will receive emails from our Finance team, bill.com, and track1099.com the week before the conference with instructions for setting up your account.

Why do I need to provide my tax ID or Social Security number?

Grant funds are considered taxable income for the recipient by the United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS). All grant applicants who are U.S. citizens or residents paying taxes in the U.S. will need to provide their tax ID (Social Security number).

What if my legal name does not reflect the name I use to register for the conference?

On the application, you will be asked to provide your name. Please enter your preferred name in this field. If your preferred name does not match your legal name for U.S. tax purposes, please contact Liz Markel, USENIX's Community Engagement Manager (liz@usenix.org). Your legal name information is used only for preparation of tax forms, and is shared only with essential USENIX staff. If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to Liz Markel (liz@usenix.org) and/or the Conference team (conference@usenix.org).

Can I use my grant funds for CEU credits or to join USENIX?

No, grants can only be used for travel expenses and USENIX conference registration. Students may join USENIX at a discounted rate; see the Student Membership page for details.

Whom do I contact about a grants-related question not covered here?

Contact the USENIX Conference Department (conference@usenix.org).