Prominence Fund
The Prominence Fund is accepting applications for the Fall 2026 semester through September 30, 2026. Applications received after this date for events taking place during the fall semester will be considered on a case-by-case basis in the event that funds remain after the first round of award determinations.
The Office of Student Affairs Prominence Fund helps supplement the expenses of current students in connection with certain important academic and career pursuits. The creation of this Fund stems from the recognition of the great impact that comes from supporting external opportunities for our students. The Prominence Fund aids students by supplementing expenses connected with these activities, including but not limited to sending representatives to conferences, panels, or workshops. Over the years, our students have participated in events such as the American Society of International Law Conference, Innocence Network Conference, Transactional Law Competition, and the Intellectual Property Law Competition.
For Academic Year 2026-2027, the Prominence Fund will be awarded on a primarily need-based methodology, with applications from students who have exhausted their federal loan eligibility and/or who have received need-based funding from the Law School to be prioritized. This is to help ensure that individuals who would not otherwise be able to afford to pursue certain professional opportunities can receive the greatest benefit from the Fund.
Students may receive awards from the Prominence Fund once per academic year and no more than twice during their degree, with students that have not received disbursements from the Fund in previous academic years to be given priority.
Although students are generally not permitted to receive retroactive assistance from the Fund for activities that occurred prior to their application, those who contacted Student Affairs to apply for funding prior to an event but who did not receive a final determination before these activities took place are still eligible to have their applications evaluated.
The fund may assist recipients with a portion of the costs associated with conference, panel, or workshop registration, transportation expenses, and/or lodging. Recipients will be notified of the eligible expense categories that their approved funding may be used for. Applicants are expected to take reasonable efforts to minimize the expected costs related to activities funds are intended to subsidize, and the total amount of funding necessary to make it possible for students to attend events as detailed by their applications will be a considered factor when selecting recipients.
Once funding is approved, students are expected to make the initial outlay of money for the activity and then submit receipts and proof of travel for reimbursement.
Please note that reimbursements for events that take place internationally may be subject to federal income tax withholding.
How To Apply For Prominence Funding:
To apply for assistance from the Prominence Fund, please submit the following information to the Office of Student Affairs in a PDF file to law.studentaffairs@nyu.edu:
- Name/N-Number of the current student requesting funding (Applicants must apply individually and not as a group)
- Title, date(s), location of applicable activity or event
- Full description of the activity, including the importance of the activity to the student's professional pursuits and the extent to which the activity relates to research or work performed under the supervision of professors at the Law School.
- Proposed budget including itemized expenses for items including but not limited to travel, hotel, and registration, and a total budget request
- A list of other funding sources obtained and the amounts of said funding
Please note that by applying for Prominence Funding, you authorize the Office of Student Affairs to obtain information from (1) federal and institutional financial aid applications; and (2) current aid packages from NYU’s student information systems and/or the Office of Student Financial Services.
Notes on Reimbursements:
Please submit original receipts only and proof of travel (e.g. boarding pass, ticket stub, etc.) with your request. Internet itineraries are not sufficient and will not be accepted.
Please submit a copy of the program brochure, flier, description, etc. for the event you attended.
Reimbursements should be submitted within 2 weeks after the date of the event.
If you have any questions before making your reimbursement request, please send your inquiries to law.studentaffairs@nyu.edu.