The University of British Columbia in Canada is inviting applicants for the 2024 UBC Killam Scholarship for Canadian and international students.
The UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarships are the most prestigious awards available to graduate students at UBC providing an annual stipend valued at $40,000 for two years.
SCHOLARSHIP AT A GLANCE:
| Key Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Name | UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarship |
| Institution | University of British Columbia (UBC) |
| Eligibility | Open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and international students; must have completed no more than 24 months of doctoral study by September 1, 2025. |
| Value | $40,000 CAD per year for two years |
| Application Deadline | September 13, 2024 |
| Evaluation Criteria | 50% Research ability and potential (quality of proposal, methodology, significance) and 50% relevant experience and achievements (academic record, extracurricular activities). |
| Number of Awards | Approximately 15-20 awards available |
| Application Process | Download and complete the application form; results announced in Spring 2025. |
| Purpose | To support advanced education and research at UBC, established in memory of Izaak Walton Killam and Dorothy J. Killam. |
Facts About the UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarships
- The Killam Scholarships are named after the late Izaak Walton Killam, a prominent Canadian financier and philanthropist, and his wife Dorothy J. Killam, who left a substantial portion of their estate to support advanced education and research in Canada.
- The Killam Doctoral Scholarships are the most prestigious awards available to graduate students at UBC, providing an annual stipend of $40,000 for two years, plus a $2,000 research travel allowance.
- The scholarships are highly competitive, with only about 15-20 awards granted each year to the top doctoral candidates in the annual Affiliated Fellowships competition.
- Killam Scholars are expected to be exceptional individuals who are “likely to contribute to the advancement of learning or to win distinction in a profession” and have “special distinction of intellect founded upon sound character”, as per the wishes of Dorothy Killam.
- The Killam Scholarships are open to students of any nationality, making UBC an attractive destination for top international doctoral talent.
- Killam Scholars come from diverse backgrounds and research fields, with recent winners representing nearly every faculty at UBC and conducting cutting-edge research on topics ranging from fire management to food systems.
- In addition to the financial support, Killam Scholars gain prestige and recognition as part of a distinguished group of researchers who have been selected to carry on the Killam legacy of excellence in higher education.
- The Killam Laureates website provides fascinating insights into the lives of Izaak and Dorothy Killam, the original donors behind the scholarships, and their vision for supporting advanced studies in Canada.
Details For 2025 UBC Killam Scholarship in Canada (University of British Columbia)
The Killam Scholarship and Prize Programmes were established in memory of Izaak Walton Killam through the Will of his wife, Dorothy J. Killam, and through gifts made during her lifetime.
Their primary purpose is to support advanced education and research at five Canadian universities and the Canada Council for the Arts.
The UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarships are provided annually from the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Fund for Advanced Studies.
It was Mrs. Killam’s desire that those selected to receive scholarships: “Be likely to contribute to the advancement of learning or to win distinction in a profession.
Eligibility Requirements For 2025 UBC Killam Scholarship in Canada (University of British Columbia)
To be considered for the UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarship, you must:
- have completed no more than 24 months of doctoral study as of the start date of the scholarship. Therefore, applicants to the 2024-2025 competition must have completed no more than 24 months of doctoral study as of 1 September 2025.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Research ability and potential – 50%
- Quality of research proposal
- specific, focused and feasible research question(s) and objective(s)
- clear description of the proposed methodology
- significance and expected contributions to research
- Relevant training, such as academic training, lived experience and traditional teachings.
- Research experience and achievements relative to the applicant’s stage of study, lived experience and knowledge systems.
- Quality of contributions and extent to which they advance the field of research. Contributions may include: publications, patents, reports, posters, abstracts, monographs, presentations, creative outputs, knowledge translation outputs, community products, etc.
- Demonstration of sound judgment and ability to think critically.
- Demonstration of responsible and ethical research conduct, including honest and thoughtful inquiry, rigorous analysis, commitment to safety and to the dissemination of research results and adherence to the use of professional standards.
- Enthusiasm for research, originality, initiative, autonomy, relevant community involvement and outreach.
- The ability or potential to communicate theoretical, technical and/or scientific concepts clearly and logically in written and oral formats.
Relevant experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia – 50%
- Scholarships, awards and distinctions (amount, duration and prestige)
- Academic record:
- Transcripts
- Duration of previous studies
- Program requirements and courses pursued
- Course load
- Relative standing in program (if available)
- Professional, academic and extracurricular activities as well as collaborations with supervisors, colleagues, peers, students and members of the community, such as:
- teaching, mentoring, supervising and/or coaching
- managing projects
- participating in science and/or research promotion
- community outreach, volunteer work and/or civic engagement
- chairing committees and/or organizing conferences and meetings
- participating in departmental or institutional organizations, associations, societies and/or clubs
Rewards For 2025 UBC Killam Scholarship in Canada (University of British Columbia)
- Killam Doctoral Scholarships are the most prestigious awards available to graduate students at UBC.
- At present, the Killam Doctoral Scholarship provides an annual stipend valued at $40,000 for two years.
How To Apply For 2025 UBC Killam Scholarship in Canada (University of British Columbia)
To apply for the 2025 UBC Doctoral Scholarship, interested and qualified candidates should;
- Click on the button below to visit the scholarship webpage
- Download and fill out the application form
- The College of Graduate Studies Scholarship and Awards Committee will convene an adjudication committee composed of UBC faculty members to review applications and select the top-ranked applicants.
- Results are released to applicants in Spring 2025.
- Deadline is September 13, 2024