Professional development should be a life-long goal for you at UCSB and throughout your career. There are a number of avenues you can pursue to apply for professional development funding while at UCSB. Some of these are within the Bren School and others are across the UCSB campus.

For Bren students, there are three main professional development funding sources that allow you to attend conferences and participate in professional workshops, trainings, certificate programs, and other career development and professional events and activities.

Here are the three main funding sources:

  1. For PhD, MEDS, and 1st-year MESM students: Bren School Conference Funding Program
  2. For 2nd-year MESM students: Jostes Special Opportunities Fund (SOF)
  3. UCSB Individualized Professional Skills (IPS) Grant Program

Before you apply for the UCSB IPS Program, please make sure you seek funding through the Bren School (1 and 2). If the Bren School doesn’t cover the expense or only covers part of it, then you can apply for funding through the UCSB IPS Program.

Please read additional details below.

Bren School Conference Funding Program

Description

The Bren School offers funding for graduate students (PhD, 1st-year MESM, and MEDS) to participate in professional conferences as part of their professional development. Funding is allocated to students who will present a paper (oral or poster) at a conference. MEDS and MESM students may be eligible for conference funding if offered a unique learning opportunity to develop a technical skill. Students also may be considered for conference funding if they have opportunities such as being invited to participate as an active member of a working group meeting or winning an award which will be presented at a conference.

Award Amounts

Up to $500 for US-based conferences
Up to $1000 for international-related conferences

Awards over $300 will be provided as a stipend and deposited in your BARC account. Please note that the award is taxable and international students are subject to a 14% tax deduction from the award. Anything below $300 will run through the Bren School reimbursement process. 

Eligibility Criteria

Students can apply for funding if their request falls under one of the following three areas:

  1. They plan to present a paper (oral or poster) at a conference as part of their professional development.
  2. They have opportunities such as being invited to participate as an active member of a working group meeting or winning an award that will be presented at a conference.
  3. MESM and MEDS students may also be eligible for conference funding if the conference offers a unique learning opportunity to learn a technical skill.

The Bren School Conference Funding Program is open to PhD, MEDS, and 1st-year MESM students. Students need to be in good academic standing at the Bren School and UC Santa Barbara and be enrolled in the university while participating in the conference.

Award Requirements

The following are required if you are selected for a conference funding award/stipend:

  • Attend the conference
  • Have someone take photos of you at the conference
  • Send photos to the Director of Communications and Marketing, AL Black-Goldin, via the Social Media Suggestion Box

Application Process

Students can submit the Bren School Conference Funding Request Form here (View PDF here) and learn more about the funding through the Bren Student Handbook.

Jostes Special Opportunities Fund

Description

The Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at UC Santa Barbara prepares graduates for collaborative problem-solving and environmental leadership through its curriculum and group project framework. The Jostes Special Opportunities Fund (SOF) complements this mission by providing action-oriented student leaders in the 2nd year of their MESM program with opportunities to participate in high-level conferences relevant to their career objectives.

For example, students are encouraged to present, strategically participate as a team to advance Group or Innovation Projects, volunteer, and seize the opportunity to launch their careers in new ways through networking.

The Bren School recognizes the value of student participation at professional and academic conferences, but this can be expensive and beyond many students’ reach. A key resource for the Career Development office at Bren, the SOF helps remove that barrier by providing support for registration, travel, and accommodation costs.

Award Amounts

Up to $1200

Awards over $300 will be provided as a stipend and deposited in your BARC account. Please note that the award is taxable and international students are subject to a 14% tax deduction from the award. Anything below $300 will run through the Bren School reimbursement process. 

Eligibility Criteria

Domestic and international conferences that provide significant professional development and networking opportunities.  This refers to conferences that last longer than one day and include at least one networking event/reception.

The SOF is open to 2nd-year MESM students who are in good academic standing at the Bren School and UC Santa Barbara and are enrolled in the university while attending the conference.

Award Requirements

The following are required if you are selected for a SOF award/stipend:

  • Attend the conference

  • Take photos at the conference 

  • Have someone take photos of you at the conference

  • Send photos to Director of Development Beth Pitton-August (beth@bren.ucsb.edu) and Director of Communications and Marketing, AL Black-Goldin, via the Social Media Suggestion Box

  • Provide a short 2-3 paragraph write-up of your most valuable networking experience at the conference, how it impacted your career aspirations or professional network, and how the funding allowed you to attend.

  • Attend a lunch or other visit with the SOF donors

Application Process

Complete an SOF application and submit it at least 30 days prior to the conference start date. 

UCSB Individualized Professional Skills (IPS) Grant Program

If the Bren School does not cover or only partially covers your expenses, the Graduate Division offers the UCSB Individualized Professional Skills (IPS) Grant Program. The UCSB Individualized Professional Skills (IPS) Program is designed to help graduate students and postdoctoral scholars fill in the funding gaps for pursuing opportunities that support professional development in a variety of career trajectories. Additional details about the IPS program, including IPS Info Session recordings, eligibility guidelines, and how to apply, can be found on the UC Santa Barbara Graduate Student Resource Center web page.