If you are looking for a world-class graduate education in Canada, the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver is one of your best options — and it comes with a comprehensive portfolio of scholarships, awards, and fellowships that can make studying there financially achievable for international students.
From the prestigious Killam Awards to the Wall Research Awards, Google PhD Fellowship, and country-specific scholarships like the China Scholarship Council programme, UBC has funding options across virtually every discipline and nationality. This guide covers everything you need to know about UBC’s graduate programmes and scholarship opportunities for 2026.
🎓 Scholarship Overview
The University of British Columbia is one of Canada’s top two research universities — consistently ranked among the top 40 universities worldwide and a member of Canada’s prestigious U15 group of leading research universities. Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, on the stunning west coast of Canada, UBC offers an unmatched combination of academic excellence, natural beauty, and multicultural city life.
UBC’s Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies office manages a wide portfolio of awards and funding opportunities for both domestic and international graduate students. The university offers over 353 graduate degree programmes across 12 faculties, making it one of the most comprehensive graduate schools in North America.
Graduate programmes span everything from Accounting and Anthropology to Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Medicine, and Sustainable Energy — and include Master’s degrees, PhDs, professional degrees, graduate certificates, and diplomas.
🎓 Graduate Degree Programmes — Overview
UBC offers 353+ graduate programmes across these faculties:
- Faculty of Applied Science — Engineering (Biomedical, Civil, Chemical, Electrical, Mechanical), Architecture, Clean Energy, Data Science
- Faculty of Arts — Humanities, Social Sciences, Languages, Economics, Cinema, Creative Writing, Digital Media
- Faculty of Commerce & Business Administration — MBA, Master of Management, Business Analytics, PhD in Business
- Faculty of Dentistry — Craniofacial Science, Dental Medicine
- Faculty of Education — All levels of education research and leadership
- Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship — Forestry, Conservation
- Faculty of Land and Food Systems — Agriculture, Applied Animal Biology, Food Science
- Faculty of Medicine — Health Sciences, Biomedical Research, Audiology, Biochemistry
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences — Pharmacy, Drug Development
- Faculty of Science — Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics, Astronomy, Biology, Environmental Sciences
- Peter A. Allard School of Law — Law and Legal Studies
Programmes are available in three formats:
- On campus (Vancouver)
- Online/Distance (100%)
- On campus/Online combination
🎓 Scholarships & Awards — Full Breakdown
UBC administers a large number of competitive awards for graduate students. Here are the key scholarships currently open or upcoming for 2026:
🎓 1. Wall Research Awards
Value: CAD $25,000 (Master’s) | CAD $30,000 (PhD) Deadline: 31 March 2026 Open to: Graduate students whose thesis or research project has the potential for significant impact
The Wall Research Awards are among the most generous individual graduate awards at UBC. Funded through the Peter Wall Legacy Fund, they support students whose research demonstrates outstanding potential to benefit society. This is a highly prestigious award — ideal for ambitious researchers in any discipline.
🎓 2. China Scholarship Council (CSC) Doctoral Scholarships
Value: Living allowance + tuition support (fully funded by CSC) Deadline: 27 March 2026 Open to: Chinese citizens pursuing doctoral studies at UBC
UBC has a formal partnership with the China Scholarship Council (CSC), making it a preferred host institution for CSC-funded doctoral students from China. Chinese students who secure a CSC scholarship can study their PhD at UBC with living expenses covered by the Chinese government. This is one of the most accessible routes for Chinese nationals to pursue a fully funded PhD in Canada.
🎓 3. Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards (CIRTA)
Value: CAD $40,000 per year Deadline: UBC internal nomination deadline — 4:00pm, 24 February 2026 Open to: Prospective and incoming PhD students currently outside Canada
CIRTA provides doctoral scholarships at CAD $40,000 per year to recruit outstanding international PhD students to Canadian universities. This is one of the highest-value annual awards available to incoming international PhD students at UBC — worth $40,000 per year, significantly above the standard UKRI or NSERC stipend rates.
🎓 4. Google PhD Fellowship
Value: Significant research funding + Google mentorship Deadline: Likely April 2026 Open to: Outstanding PhD students in computer science and related fields
The Google PhD Fellowship Program at UBC recognises exceptional doctoral students doing innovative work in computer science, AI, machine learning, and related fields. Fellows receive financial support and a direct relationship with a Google researcher as mentor — making this one of the most career-boosting awards available to STEM PhD students.
🎓 5. Killam Awards & Fellowships
UBC’s Killam programme is one of Canada’s most prestigious academic funding initiatives, established through the Killam Trusts. Awards include:
- Killam Doctoral Fellowships — among the most prestigious doctoral awards in Canada
- Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellowships — for early-career researchers
- Killam Faculty Research Prizes — recognising faculty excellence
Killam awards are merit-based and highly competitive, recognising researchers whose work is expected to have significant impact.
🎓 6. UBC Public Scholars Award
Value: Stipend support + professional development funding Deadline: 22 May 2026 (applications open 23 March 2026) Open to: UBC PhD students interested in public scholarship and knowledge mobilisation
The Public Scholars Award supports PhD students who want to connect their academic research with broader public audiences — through journalism, policy, community engagement, arts, or other forms of public knowledge exchange. A unique and growing area of doctoral support.
🎓 7. Schmidt Science Fellowships
Value: Significant fellowship funding + global scientific leadership development Deadline: Likely May 2026 Open to: Recent PhD graduates pursuing postdoctoral research
The Schmidt Science Fellows programme at UBC develops the next generation of scientific leaders through interdisciplinary postdoctoral research. Fellows work at the intersection of different scientific fields to solve complex global challenges.
🎓 8. Governor General’s Gold Medal
Value: Prestigious academic honour Deadline: Likely March 2027 Open to: Top doctoral and Master’s graduates at UBC
The Governor General’s Gold Medal is Canada’s most prestigious academic award — presented to the student with the highest academic standing at both doctoral and Master’s level at each Canadian university. Winning this award opens doors across academia, government, and industry.
🎓 9. Organisation of American States (OAS) Fellowships
Value: Graduate scholarship for Master’s or PhD study Deadline: Likely May 2026 Open to: Students from OAS member countries across Latin America and the Caribbean
OAS Academic Scholarships support students from member states to undertake graduate studies at universities in OAS member countries — including Canada and UBC. This is a direct funding route for students from Latin American and Caribbean countries.
🎓 10. Walter C. Sumner Memorial Fellowship
Value: Multi-year fellowship Deadline: 27 March 2026 Open to: Canadian citizens in doctoral studies in Chemistry, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or Computer Science
A prestigious fellowship specifically for Canadian citizens entering or continuing doctoral programmes in the core STEM disciplines.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
General eligibility requirements for UBC graduate programmes and awards:
Academic requirements:
- Master’s applicants: typically a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum B+ or equivalent (approx. 76%+)
- PhD applicants: typically a Master’s degree or exceptional Bachelor’s degree
- Some programmes accept direct entry from Bachelor’s to PhD for outstanding candidates
English language requirements for international students:
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum 90 overall (some programmes require 100+)
- IELTS Academic: Minimum 6.5 overall (with no band below 6.0)
- Cambridge C1 Advanced: Minimum 180
- Some programmes have higher specific requirements — always check individual programme pages
For scholarship awards:
- Most UBC awards require students to be registered or admitted to a UBC graduate programme
- Specific awards have additional criteria by citizenship, discipline, or research area
- Some awards such as CIRTA are specifically for incoming international students
🎓 Who Should Apply
UBC graduate programmes and scholarships are ideal for:
- International students seeking a world-class graduate degree in Canada in a safe, multicultural, and English-speaking environment
- Chinese students eligible for the CSC Doctoral Scholarship — UBC’s partnership makes it a priority destination
- Latin American and Caribbean students eligible for OAS Fellowships
- Researchers in STEM, health sciences, social sciences, business, and humanities seeking a research-intensive Canadian university
- Students looking for a fully funded PhD through competitive awards like CIRTA ($40,000/year) or Wall Research Awards ($30,000)
- Graduate students interested in interdisciplinary or publicly engaged research
Who should NOT apply:
- Students who have not yet completed a relevant Bachelor’s degree
- Applicants who cannot meet the English language requirements
- Those seeking undergraduate-level study — UBC’s graduate school is for Master’s and PhD level only
🎓 Application Process
Follow these steps to apply to UBC graduate programmes:
- Choose your programme — browse the full list of 353+ graduate programmes at grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/graduate-degree-programs
- Identify a supervisor — for research-based programmes, finding a willing supervisor is a critical first step before applying
- Check admission requirements — each programme has specific academic and English language entry requirements
- Prepare your documents — transcripts, CV, statement of intent, references, English language test scores
- Apply online — submit through UBC’s online graduate admissions portal
- Apply for awards — once admitted, use the UBC award search tool to identify and apply for relevant scholarships
- Monitor deadlines — award deadlines vary throughout the year; check the UBC Graduate School awards page regularly
🎓 Important Dates
| Award | Deadline |
| Walter C. Sumner Memorial Fellowship | 27 March 2026 |
| China Scholarship Council (CSC) | 27 March 2026 |
| Wall Research Awards | 31 March 2026 |
| Canada Impact+ Research Training Awards (CIRTA) | 24 February 2026 (internal) |
| Google PhD Fellowship | Likely April 2026 |
| UBC Public Scholars Award | 22 May 2026 |
| Schmidt Science Fellowships | Likely May 2026 |
| Governor General’s Gold Medal | Likely March 2027 |
🎓 Why Study at UBC
The University of British Columbia is one of the world’s great universities for graduate study. Here is why thousands of international students choose UBC every year:
- Ranked top 40 globally — consistently among the best in the world for research and teaching
- Ranked #3 in Canada — behind only McGill and University of Toronto in most global rankings
- Located in Vancouver, British Columbia — one of the most beautiful, liveable, and diverse cities on earth, consistently ranked in the world’s top 5 most liveable cities
- A massive 353+ graduate programme portfolio — one of the broadest in North America
- Strong research output — UBC researchers produce world-leading work in health sciences, sustainability, AI, social sciences, and more
- Diverse international community — students from over 140 countries study at UBC
- Access to Pacific Rim connections — Vancouver’s position as Canada’s gateway to Asia creates unique research and industry networking opportunities
- The Killam Trusts make UBC one of the most generously funded graduate institutions in Canada
- Post-graduation work permit — international graduates can work in Canada for up to 3 years after completing their degree
🎓 Official Source
For the full programme list, scholarship database, and to apply:
👉 UBC Graduate Degree Programs — Full List
👉 UBC Award Opportunities — Full Database
👉 UBC Killam Awards & Fellowships
👉 Apply to UBC Graduate School
🎓 Scholarship Summary
| Detail | Information |
| University | University of British Columbia (UBC) |
| Country | Canada 🇨🇦 |
| Location | Vancouver, British Columbia |
| Graduate Programmes | 353+ across all disciplines |
| Top Award Value | CAD $40,000/year (CIRTA) |
| Wall Research Award | CAD $25,000–$30,000 |
| Key Scholarships | Killam, Wall, CIRTA, CSC, Google PhD, OAS |
| Open To | International & Domestic Students |
| English Required | IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 90 minimum |
| Levels | Master’s, PhD, Graduate Certificate |
| Application Portal | grad.ubc.ca |
Explore more fully funded scholarships in Canada at https://gradualin.com/category/scholarships/
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