{"id":13324,"date":"2026-09-30T15:41:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T15:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/?page_id=13324"},"modified":"2026-10-01T13:35:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T13:35:33","slug":"wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/","title":{"rendered":"D&amp;I Travel Grants, Registration Fee Waivers and Expression of Interest for Mentorship Program"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--themify_builder_content-->\n<div id=\"themify_builder_content-13324\" data-postid=\"13324\" class=\"themify_builder_content themify_builder_content-13324 themify_builder tf_clear\">\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_twgt248 tb_first tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_scsj248 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_y51848   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/di-initiative\/\">WSC Diversity and Inclusion (D&amp;I) Initiative<\/a>, supported by the WSC Foundation, offers travel grants and registration fee waivers to help researchers from economically disadvantaged and underrepresented regions attend WSC 2026 in Glasgow in person. It also provided mentorship support to help selected applicants to make the most of their participation in WSC conferences and engagement with the WSC community.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module box -->\n<div  class=\"module module-box tb_ojiy702 \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"module-box-content ui  tb_default_color\">\n                <div class=\"tb_text_wrap\"><p><strong>Apply by<\/strong><br \/>15 October 2026<br \/><em>23:59 Anywhere on Earth<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Decisions by<\/strong><br \/>30 October 2026<br \/><em>by email<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>WSC 2026<\/strong><br \/>December 6-9, 2026<br \/><em>Glasgow, Scotland, UK<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module box -->\n<!-- module buttons -->\n<div  class=\"module module-buttons tb_s51z165 buttons-horizontal solid  \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"module-buttons-item tf_in_flx\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/AeWpHdSr8B37TQDcA\" class=\"ui builder_button tf_in_flx light-green\"  title=\"Google sign-in required. Allow 10-15 minutes to complete the application.\">\n                                                Apply for D&amp;I Support                                        <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<!-- \/module buttons -->\n<!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_ffyo137   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>What is offered?<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Up to 3 travel grants of up to USD 1,500 each towards registration, travel and accommodation (at least one travel grant is reserved for a female applicant from the aforementioned regions)<\/li>\n<li>\u00a0Up to 3 registration fee waivers of up to USD 400 each; and<\/li>\n<li>Mentorship support to help selected applicants to make the most of their participation in WSC conferences and engagement with the WSC community. Mentorship will be offered based on an expression of interest and may be available to applicants irrespective of whether they are selected for financial support.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You apply for one of the two, so that up to 6 applicants can be supported. The travel grant is expected to cover the registration fee for most recipients. Only in exceptional circumstances, if registration fee waivers remain unassigned, may a travel grant recipient with a justified need also receive a waiver; you can request this in the form.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_2g5m224   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Who can apply?<\/h3>\n<p>You can apply if all of the following are true:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You are a <strong>PhD student, postdoctoral researcher, or academic or research staff member<\/strong>;<\/li>\n<li>Your university or institution is in a country classified as <strong>low or middle income<\/strong> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/datahelpdesk.worldbank.org\/knowledgebase\/articles\/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups\">World Bank FY2027 classification<\/a>, or in a country on the <a href=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/simulation-around-the-world\/\">Simulation Around the World (SATW) eligible list<\/a><\/li>\n<li>You are an author of at least one contribution <strong>accepted to WSC 2026<\/strong> in any track, including SATW extended abstracts (PhD Colloquium submissions alone do not qualify);<\/li>\n<li>You have <strong>registered for WSC 2026<\/strong>; and<\/li>\n<li>You will <strong>attend in person and present<\/strong> your work if you receive an award.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Preference is given to PhD students, followed by postdoctoral researchers and then other academic or research staff, depending on demand. Priority is also given to applicants from low-income countries, from countries on the SATW list, and from countries on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/topic\/fragilityconflictviolence\/brief\/classification-of-fragile-and-conflict-affected-situations\">World Bank FY2027 fragility and conflict lists<\/a>. No society membership is required.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_69ib305   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>How are applications selected?<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li>Eligibility check based on your answers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Structured score<\/strong> from your answers: financial need (40%), your WSC contribution (30%; full papers and first authorship count more), and career stage and first-time participation (30%).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Committee review<\/strong> of the highest-ranked applications by the <a href=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/di-initiative\/\">WSC D&amp;I Committee<\/a>, including your CV, letter and motivation statement.<\/li>\n<\/ol>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_c7x6923   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>What to prepare before you start<\/h3>\n<p><em><strong>Required<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>CV (PDF, maximum 4 pages)<\/li>\n<li>A letter (PDF, signed, on institutional letterhead) from your PhD advisor if you are a PhD student, or from your line manager otherwise. It should confirm your position, comment on your research and your accepted WSC work, and explain your need for financial support.<\/li>\n<li>Proof of your status (PDF): PhD enrolment certificate or student ID; for others, a staff ID card, contract\/letter of employment, link to university webpage.<\/li>\n<li>Your WSC 2026 registration confirmation number and the fee you paid<\/li>\n<li>Your WSC 2026 submission ID(s)<\/li>\n<li>Name and email address of your PhD advisor or line manager<\/li>\n<li>A short motivation statement (about 250 words), including why you need financial support<\/li>\n<li>Your approximate annual stipend or salary in USD and, for travel grants, the estimated cost of your trip<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong>Optional<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>ORCID iD and personal webpage<\/li>\n<li>Travel grant applicants only: a short justification if you also wish to be considered for a registration fee waiver<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong>Tip:<\/strong><\/em> Write your statement offline first; the form has a character limit. You need a Google account to upload files. You can edit your application until the deadline.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_t2hn292   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>How are awards paid?<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Travel grants<\/strong> are paid as a <strong>reimbursement after the conference<\/strong>, once you have attended and presented. You submit receipts for eligible costs (registration fee, economy airfare or rail, and accommodation during the conference days) within 30 days after the conference, up to USD 1,500 in total. Visa costs are not covered. <strong>Registration fee waivers<\/strong> are paid as a refund of your registration fee, up to USD 400, also after the conference once you have attended and presented.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module buttons -->\n<div  class=\"module module-buttons tb_lm58366 buttons-horizontal solid  \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div class=\"module-buttons-item tf_in_flx\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/AeWpHdSr8B37TQDcA\" class=\"ui builder_button tf_in_flx light-green\"  title=\"Google sign-in required. Allow 10-15 minutes to complete the application.\">\n                                                Apply for D&amp;I Support                                        <\/a>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n<!-- \/module buttons -->\n<!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_d31u853   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Tutorials &amp; Mentoring<\/h3>\n<p>As part of the D&amp;I Initiative, a mentoring programme is being started alongside the free WSC online tutorials; see the updates on the WSC 2026 website. You can express interest as a mentee, a mentor, or both in the application form; postdocs, faculty and practitioners are welcome as mentors. This is separate from financial need and does not affect your application.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_k6jm595   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Key dates<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>October 15, 2026:\u00a0 <\/strong>Application deadline (23:59 Anywhere on Earth)<\/li>\n<li><strong>October 30, 2026:<\/strong>\u00a0 Decisions sent to all applicants<\/li>\n<li><strong>November 4, 2026:\u00a0<\/strong> Recipients confirm acceptance<\/li>\n<li><strong>December 6-9,202<\/strong>6:\u00a0 WSC 2026, Glasgow<\/li>\n<li><strong>January 8, 2027<\/strong>:\u00a0 Deadline for reimbursement claims<\/li>\n<\/ul>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_wivn64 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_5ctr64 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_vzfa831   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Questions<\/h3>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_subrow themify_builder_sub_row tf_w col_align_top tb_col_count_2 tb_fe6m99\">\n                <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column col4-2 tb_pcl8100 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_kob5456   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <div class=\"title\">\n<h3><span class=\"pull-num\">My paper is in the SATW track. Can I apply?<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p>Yes, if you can attend in person. SATW authors who commit to travelling receive a small priority in the<br \/>score.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_2teo572   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <div class=\"title\">\n<h3>What if my visa is refused or I cannot travel?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p>Please tell us immediately. The award lapses and passes to the next applicant on the waiting list.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column sub_column col4-2 tb_xiyi100 last\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_4e7t107   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <div class=\"title\">\n<h3>I finish my PhD in November. Am I still considered a PhD student?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p>Yes, if you are enrolled on October 15, 2026.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_px18214   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <div class=\"title\">\n<h3>Can I receive both a travel grant and a registration fee waiver?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<p>Normally not: the travel grant can be used to cover the registration fees. If you apply for a travel grant, you can tick a box and explain why the grant alone would not be enough. This is considered only if registration fee waivers remain unassigned.<\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_row themify_builder_row tb_8tg0733 tf_w\">\n                        <div class=\"row_inner col_align_top tb_col_count_1 tf_box tf_rel\">\n                        <div  data-lazy=\"1\" class=\"module_column tb-column col-full tb_qikj733 first\">\n                    <!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_ozn8461   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h3>Your Data<\/h3>\n<p>Your application is seen only by the WSC D&amp;I Committee and its reviewers. It is used to select recipients, administer awards and prepare anonymised reports to the WSC Foundation, and is deleted by December 31, 2029 (one year after the end of the D&amp;I Initiative), except for recipients&#8217; records.<\/p>\n<h3>Contact<\/h3>\n<p>WSC D&amp;I Committee: <a href=\"mailto:wsc.di.grants@gmail.com\">wsc.di.grants@gmail.com<\/a><br \/><br \/><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text --><!-- module text -->\n<div  class=\"module module-text tb_bdbn760   \" data-lazy=\"1\">\n        <div  class=\"tb_text_wrap\">\n        <h5 style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The WSC D&amp;I Initiative is supported by the WSC Foundation for\u00a0 <\/em><em>WSC 2026, WSC 2027, and WSC <\/em><em>2028.<\/em><\/h5>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/files\/2026\/10\/WSC_Foundation_Black.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-13406 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/files\/2026\/10\/WSC_Foundation_Black.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" height=\"98\" \/><\/a><\/p>    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<!-- \/module text -->        <\/div>\n                        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n<!--\/themify_builder_content-->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The WSC Diversity and Inclusion (D&amp;I) Initiative, supported by the WSC Foundation, offers travel grants and registration fee waivers to help researchers from economically disadvantaged and underrepresented regions attend WSC 2026 in Glasgow in person. It also provided mentorship support to help selected applicants to make the most of their participation in WSC conferences and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1001065,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-13324","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v26.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>D&amp;I Travel Grants, Registration Fee Waivers and Expression of Interest for Mentorship Program - Winter Simulation Conference 2026<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"D&amp;I Travel Grants, Registration Fee Waivers and Expression of Interest for Mentorship Program\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The WSC Diversity and Inclusion (D&amp;I) Initiative, supported by the WSC Foundation, offers travel grants and registration fee waivers to help researchers from economically disadvantaged and underrepresented regions attend WSC 2026 in Glasgow in person. 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Winter Simulation Conference 2026","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"D&amp;I Travel Grants, Registration Fee Waivers and Expression of Interest for Mentorship Program","og_description":"The WSC Diversity and Inclusion (D&amp;I) Initiative, supported by the WSC Foundation, offers travel grants and registration fee waivers to help researchers from economically disadvantaged and underrepresented regions attend WSC 2026 in Glasgow in person. It also provided mentorship support to help selected applicants to make the most of their participation in WSC conferences and [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/","og_site_name":"Winter Simulation Conference 2026","article_modified_time":"2026-10-01T13:35:33+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/files\/2026\/10\/WSC_Foundation_Black.png","type":"","width":"","height":""}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/","url":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/","name":"D&amp;I Travel Grants, Registration Fee Waivers and Expression of Interest for Mentorship Program - Winter Simulation Conference 2026","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/files\/2026\/10\/WSC_Foundation_Black.png","datePublished":"2026-09-30T15:41:35+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-01T13:35:33+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/files\/2026\/10\/WSC_Foundation_Black.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/files\/2026\/10\/WSC_Foundation_Black.png","width":289,"height":203},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wsc-2026-di-travel-grants-registration-fee-waivers-and-expression-of-interest-for-mentorship-program\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"D&amp;I Travel Grants, Registration Fee Waivers and Expression of Interest for Mentorship Program"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/#website","url":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/","name":"Winter Simulation Conference 2026","description":"Simulation for Climate Resilience","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"}]}},"builder_content":"<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/di-initiative\/\">WSC Diversity and Inclusion (D&amp;I) Initiative<\/a>, supported by the WSC Foundation, offers travel grants and registration fee waivers to help researchers from economically disadvantaged and underrepresented regions attend WSC 2026 in Glasgow in person. It also provided mentorship support to help selected applicants to make the most of their participation in WSC conferences and engagement with the WSC community.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Apply by<\/strong><br \/>15 October 2026<br \/><em>23:59 Anywhere on Earth<\/em><\/p> <p><strong>Decisions by<\/strong><br \/>30 October 2026<br \/><em>by email<\/em><\/p> <p><strong>WSC 2026<\/strong><br \/>December 6-9, 2026<br \/><em>Glasgow, Scotland, UK<\/em><\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/AeWpHdSr8B37TQDcA\" title=\"Google sign-in required. Allow 10-15 minutes to complete the application.\"> Apply for D&amp;I Support <\/a>\n<h3>What is offered?<\/h3> <ul> <li>Up to 3 travel grants of up to USD 1,500 each towards registration, travel and accommodation (at least one travel grant is reserved for a female applicant from the aforementioned regions)<\/li> <li>\u00a0Up to 3 registration fee waivers of up to USD 400 each; and<\/li> <li>Mentorship support to help selected applicants to make the most of their participation in WSC conferences and engagement with the WSC community. Mentorship will be offered based on an expression of interest and may be available to applicants irrespective of whether they are selected for financial support.<\/li> <\/ul> <p>You apply for one of the two, so that up to 6 applicants can be supported. The travel grant is expected to cover the registration fee for most recipients. Only in exceptional circumstances, if registration fee waivers remain unassigned, may a travel grant recipient with a justified need also receive a waiver; you can request this in the form.<\/p>\n<h3>Who can apply?<\/h3> <p>You can apply if all of the following are true:<\/p> <ul> <li>You are a <strong>PhD student, postdoctoral researcher, or academic or research staff member<\/strong>;<\/li> <li>Your university or institution is in a country classified as <strong>low or middle income<\/strong> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/datahelpdesk.worldbank.org\/knowledgebase\/articles\/906519-world-bank-country-and-lending-groups\">World Bank FY2027 classification<\/a>, or in a country on the <a href=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/simulation-around-the-world\/\">Simulation Around the World (SATW) eligible list<\/a><\/li> <li>You are an author of at least one contribution <strong>accepted to WSC 2026<\/strong> in any track, including SATW extended abstracts (PhD Colloquium submissions alone do not qualify);<\/li> <li>You have <strong>registered for WSC 2026<\/strong>; and<\/li> <li>You will <strong>attend in person and present<\/strong> your work if you receive an award.<\/li> <\/ul> <p>Preference is given to PhD students, followed by postdoctoral researchers and then other academic or research staff, depending on demand. Priority is also given to applicants from low-income countries, from countries on the SATW list, and from countries on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.worldbank.org\/en\/topic\/fragilityconflictviolence\/brief\/classification-of-fragile-and-conflict-affected-situations\">World Bank FY2027 fragility and conflict lists<\/a>. No society membership is required.<\/p>\n<h3>How are applications selected?<\/h3> <ol> <li>Eligibility check based on your answers.<\/li> <li><strong>Structured score<\/strong> from your answers: financial need (40%), your WSC contribution (30%; full papers and first authorship count more), and career stage and first-time participation (30%).<\/li> <li><strong>Committee review<\/strong> of the highest-ranked applications by the <a href=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/di-initiative\/\">WSC D&amp;I Committee<\/a>, including your CV, letter and motivation statement.<\/li> <\/ol>\n<h3>What to prepare before you start<\/h3> <p><em><strong>Required<\/strong><\/em><\/p> <ul> <li>CV (PDF, maximum 4 pages)<\/li> <li>A letter (PDF, signed, on institutional letterhead) from your PhD advisor if you are a PhD student, or from your line manager otherwise. It should confirm your position, comment on your research and your accepted WSC work, and explain your need for financial support.<\/li> <li>Proof of your status (PDF): PhD enrolment certificate or student ID; for others, a staff ID card, contract\/letter of employment, link to university webpage.<\/li> <li>Your WSC 2026 registration confirmation number and the fee you paid<\/li> <li>Your WSC 2026 submission ID(s)<\/li> <li>Name and email address of your PhD advisor or line manager<\/li> <li>A short motivation statement (about 250 words), including why you need financial support<\/li> <li>Your approximate annual stipend or salary in USD and, for travel grants, the estimated cost of your trip<\/li> <\/ul> <p><em><strong>Optional<\/strong><\/em><\/p> <ul> <li>ORCID iD and personal webpage<\/li> <li>Travel grant applicants only: a short justification if you also wish to be considered for a registration fee waiver<\/li> <\/ul> <p><em><strong>Tip:<\/strong><\/em> Write your statement offline first; the form has a character limit. You need a Google account to upload files. You can edit your application until the deadline.<\/p>\n<h3>How are awards paid?<\/h3> <p><strong>Travel grants<\/strong> are paid as a <strong>reimbursement after the conference<\/strong>, once you have attended and presented. You submit receipts for eligible costs (registration fee, economy airfare or rail, and accommodation during the conference days) within 30 days after the conference, up to USD 1,500 in total. Visa costs are not covered. <strong>Registration fee waivers<\/strong> are paid as a refund of your registration fee, up to USD 400, also after the conference once you have attended and presented.<\/p>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/AeWpHdSr8B37TQDcA\" title=\"Google sign-in required. Allow 10-15 minutes to complete the application.\"> Apply for D&amp;I Support <\/a>\n<h3>Tutorials &amp; Mentoring<\/h3> <p>As part of the D&amp;I Initiative, a mentoring programme is being started alongside the free WSC online tutorials; see the updates on the WSC 2026 website. You can express interest as a mentee, a mentor, or both in the application form; postdocs, faculty and practitioners are welcome as mentors. This is separate from financial need and does not affect your application.<\/p>\n<h3>Key dates<\/h3> <ul> <li><strong>October 15, 2026:\u00a0 <\/strong>Application deadline (23:59 Anywhere on Earth)<\/li> <li><strong>October 30, 2026:<\/strong>\u00a0 Decisions sent to all applicants<\/li> <li><strong>November 4, 2026:\u00a0<\/strong> Recipients confirm acceptance<\/li> <li><strong>December 6-9,202<\/strong>6:\u00a0 WSC 2026, Glasgow<\/li> <li><strong>January 8, 2027<\/strong>:\u00a0 Deadline for reimbursement claims<\/li> <\/ul>\n<h3>Questions<\/h3>\n<h3>My paper is in the SATW track. Can I apply?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, if you can attend in person. SATW authors who commit to travelling receive a small priority in the<br \/>score.<\/p>\n<h3>What if my visa is refused or I cannot travel?<\/h3>\n<p>Please tell us immediately. The award lapses and passes to the next applicant on the waiting list.<\/p>\n<h3>I finish my PhD in November. Am I still considered a PhD student?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, if you are enrolled on October 15, 2026.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I receive both a travel grant and a registration fee waiver?<\/h3>\n<p>Normally not: the travel grant can be used to cover the registration fees. If you apply for a travel grant, you can tick a box and explain why the grant alone would not be enough. This is considered only if registration fee waivers remain unassigned.<\/p>\n<h3>Your Data<\/h3> <p>Your application is seen only by the WSC D&amp;I Committee and its reviewers. It is used to select recipients, administer awards and prepare anonymised reports to the WSC Foundation, and is deleted by December 31, 2029 (one year after the end of the D&amp;I Initiative), except for recipients' records.<\/p> <h3>Contact<\/h3> <p>WSC D&amp;I Committee: <a href=\"mailto:wsc.di.grants@gmail.com\">wsc.di.grants@gmail.com<\/a><br \/><br \/><\/p>\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center\"><em>The WSC D&amp;I Initiative is supported by the WSC Foundation for\u00a0 <\/em><em>WSC 2026, WSC 2027, and WSC <\/em><em>2028.<\/em><\/h5> <p><a href=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/files\/2026\/10\/WSC_Foundation_Black.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/files\/2026\/10\/WSC_Foundation_Black.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"140\" height=\"98\" \/><\/a><\/p>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13324","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1001065"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13324"}],"version-history":[{"count":59,"href":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13324\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13425,"href":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/13324\/revisions\/13425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/meetings.informs.org\/wordpress\/wsc2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13324"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}