Purpose 

To provide eligible international Ph.D. students with financial assistance through reimbursement of visa-related expenses.

Policy

The International Assistance Fund will reimburse eligible Ph.D. students a maximum of $535 per academic year for paid visa-related expenses. The funding for these resources is not graduate program/department-based and are centralized resources managed within The Graduate School (TGS).

Please be aware that this funding is limited and not all requests may be able to be met through this source. Funding amounts may vary based on demonstrated need, and requests are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis through the application portal. Emailed requests, either from individual students or graduate program leadership, cannot be considered.

Program funds will be available on an annual academic year basis until depletion. Funding cannot be transferred to other Ph.D. students or carried over to future academic years. All funds awarded are subject to taxation based on the tax withholding rate set by the IRS. 

To Apply

To apply for the International Assistance Fund, use the link below to access the application form. 

Submit an application

Eligibility 

Applicants must be currently enrolled in their Ph.D. program, making satisfactory academic progress, and either not expected or approved to graduate in the same term as the application submission. Students on a leave of absence or who are currently enrolled at another Duke school as part of a combined degree program are ineligible.

To be eligible for reimbursement from the International Assistance Fund, the student must:

  • Be enrolled as a full-time Ph.D. student at Duke University at the time the expense is incurred;
  • Either be appointed as a Research Assistant, Graduate Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Instructor or Grader at the time the expense is incurred, or be expected to commence an appointment as a Research Assistant, Graduate Assistant, Teaching Assistant, Instructor or Grader within sixty months (five years) of the time in which the expense is incurred;
  • Timely submit a complete and accurate International Assistance Fund application form and submit requested documentation. 

Qualified expenses that may be reimbursed through the International Assistance Fund include: 

  • Visa application processing fees including first-time visa applications and renewals (E.g., DS 160)
  • SEVIS fees
  • Transportation, accommodation and meal expenses incurred during any trip required to apply for and/or renew a visa
  • Visa-related fees associated with international professional activities pertaining to the bargaining unit member’s appointment (e.g., professional conferences, workshops

Additional Details 

Upon initial review, further documentation may be requested. Submitting an incomplete application may lead to a delay in the review of a student’s request. Students must report in the application if they’ve either applied for or expect to apply for emergency funding from other university sources.

Applications will not be reviewed during non-business hours and Duke-recognized holidays. The review timeline will begin once it reaches TGS and may vary, depending on overall application volume and request complexity.

All decisions and related communications will occur through Duke-issued email addresses. It is the applicant's responsibility to review related communications.

Payment distribution of approved applications will occur via non-compensatory payroll and in accordance with existing Duke Payroll monthly deadlines and schedule. Exceptions to this timeline can neither be expedited nor processed.

i. Primary Contact: grad-finaid@duke.edu

ii. Last reviewed: November 17, 2025