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Travel Grant for PhD Scholars

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ServiceSetu Foundation · Grant Programme

ServiceSetu Research Travel Grant

The ServiceSetu Travel Grant supports full-time PhD and FPM scholars with up to INR 15000 towards travel for presenting an accepted paper at an eligible national conference in India.

Open to scholars across India in management, social sciences and interdisciplinary fields.

Apply at least 45 days before the conference begins.

ServiceSetu Travel GrantPhD / FPM

Grant value

INR 15000

Up to INR 15000, or your actual fare — whichever is lower.


From

Your city

To

The conference

  • ClassAC 2-tier, or economy air
  • RouteShortest route
  • SanctionConfirmed before you travel
  • PayoutAfter the journey, on documents

What the grant covers

One grant, three simple terms

The grant is meant for the journey itself. Everything about it is fixed in advance, so you know exactly what you will receive before you book anything.

The amount

Up to INR 15000, or the actual cost of travel, whichever is less. It is a travel grant — registration, accommodation and local expenses are not covered.

The journey

Train travel in AC 2-tier, or air travel in economy class, by the shortest route between your city and the conference venue. Both legs of the journey count.

The payout

Selected scholars are informed and the grant is sanctioned before the conference. The money is released after the journey, once your tickets and presentation certificate reach us.

Who can apply

Scholars presenting at national conferences of standing

  • Full-time PhD or FPM scholars registered at any recognised Indian university, institute or business school.
  • A paper accepted for presentation at an eligible national conference, with you as a presenting author.
  • Recommended by your PhD or FPM supervisor, on the form provided below.
  • No other funding applied for or received for the same conference, from your institute or any other agency.
  • Endorsed by your Head of Department, Dean or Director, with signature and official stamp.
  • Attending in person. Online and hybrid participation is not covered.

Eligible conferences

Judged by the standing of the host and the review process.

  • PAN IIM
  • PAN IIT
  • PAN NIT
  • India Finance Conference

Also conferences of comparable standing organised by the IITs, IIMs, NITs and leading business schools such as SP Jain, XLRI, MDI and BITS Pilani.


Eligible domains

Management, economics and finance, social sciences, interdisciplinary research and allied areas.

How applications are judged

Two things decide it

Applications are reviewed by the ServiceSetu academic panel. There is no interview and no additional test — the decision rests on what you submit.

  • Quality of the research paper. The clarity of the research question, the soundness of the method, and the contribution the paper makes to its field.
  • Quality of the conference. The academic standing of the host institution, the rigour of the review process, and the scholarly value of presenting there.

Where applications are closely matched, preference goes to scholars who have not previously received this grant.

How it works

From application to reimbursement

  1. Download and complete the recommendation form

    Your supervisor fills it in and signs it, declaring that you have not applied for or received funding for this conference from any other source. Your Head of Department, Dean or Director then endorses it with their signature and official stamp.

  2. Apply online

    Fill in the form on this page and upload the signed and stamped recommendation as a single scanned PDF. Apply at least 45 days before the conference begins.

  3. Review and sanction

    The academic panel reviews applications on the two criteria above. Selected scholars are informed by email, and the grant is sanctioned before the conference so you can book with confidence.

  4. Travel and present

    Book by the shortest route — AC 2-tier by train, or economy class by air. Keep your tickets, boarding passes and receipts safe.

  5. Submit documents and receive the grant

    After the conference, send us your original tickets or boarding passes together with your certificate of paper presentation. The grant is then transferred to your bank account.

ServiceSetu Academics ServiceSetu Academics

Before you start

Get the recommendation form signed first

You will need it as a scanned PDF to complete your application. One document, three signatures.

  1. Your own signature on the applicant declaration.
  2. Your PhD or FPM supervisor's recommendation and signature.
  3. Your Head of Department, Dean or Director's endorsement, with official stamp.

Application

Apply for the travel grant

Sign in to your ServiceSetu account to apply. All fields are required unless marked optional. Please use the same spelling of names as on the recommendation form.

Sign in to continue

You need a ServiceSetu account to submit a Travel Grant application. Log in if you already have one, or create a free account first.

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Applicant details

Uses your ServiceSetu account email.

University, institute or business school where you are registered.

Conference details
Travel details

Shortest route only. Reimbursement is capped at INR 15000 or your actual fare, whichever is lower.

Recommendation form

A single PDF or image, signed by your supervisor and endorsed by your HoD, Dean or Director with official stamp. Maximum 5 MB.

Declaration

Application submitted

Thank you. Your travel grant application has been received. We have emailed a confirmation to the address you provided.

Questions

Ask us before you apply

If you are unsure whether your conference qualifies, write to us with the conference name and dates before completing the form. We will confirm within two working days.