Funding

Grant

Program dates

TBA

PhD Scholarship•Canada · Vancouver

UBC Public Scholars Award

University of British Columbia — Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

Application Deadline

Closed · May 22, 2026

Reopens ~May 2027

Official Page

The UBC Public Scholars Award is part of the Public Scholars Initiative run by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at the University of British Columbia. It supports doctoral students who connect their dissertation research to public impact — work with communities, policy, industry, the arts, or other partners beyond the academy. Each year the initiative names roughly 30 new scholars at UBC Vancouver and 5 at UBC Okanagan, drawn from every faculty. Scholars join a cohort built around shared resources, events, and a network for public scholarship.

Benefits & funding

  • Award of up to CA$10,000 to support public-facing doctoral research (for example travel, project costs, and — in justified cases — launching a venture tied to the research).
  • Funding may be spread over multiple years when justified.
  • Renewal of up to CA$10,000 available for scholars in good standing.
  • Membership in the Public Scholars cohort: community, professional-development events, and the ‘PhDs Go Public’ network.

Eligibility

  • Registered in a UBC doctoral program (PhD, EdD, or DMA) at the Vancouver or Okanagan campus.
  • Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students.
  • No more than 48 months of doctoral study as of 31 August of the application year (roughly years 1–5); sixth-year students only in exceptional cases with prior PSI approval.
  • Supervisor support required; postdoctoral fellows are not eligible.
  • Open to all faculties and disciplines.

Can you apply?

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Application process

  1. 1
    Download the application form and instructions from the award page.
  2. 2
    Prepare a Tri-agency (or Vanier/Banting-format) CV and complete the application sections, each capped at about 4,000 characters.
  3. 3
    Combine the application and CV into a single PDF and submit it through the Qualtrics form.
  4. 4
    Have your supervisor and any collaborators submit their letters through the separate Qualtrics form.

Program timeline

  1. Applications open (2026/27 cohort)

    Mar 23, 2026

  2. Application deadline (2026/27 cohort)

    May 22, 2026

  3. Results announced

    Late July / early August 2026

  4. Next cycle deadline expected

    ~May 2027