Killam Doctoral Scholarships are the most prestigious awards available to graduate students at UBC. The Killam Scholarship and Prize Programmes were established in memory of Izaak Walton Killam through the Will of his wife, Dorothy Johnston 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 University of British Columbia (UBC) in association with Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Fund for Advanced Studies is offering the Killam Doctoral Scholarship to top doctoral candidates.
The UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarships are among the most prestigious awards offered by the University of British Columbia (UBC) to support exceptional doctoral students. Established through the Killam Trusts, these scholarships aim to provide financial assistance to students who demonstrate outstanding research potential and academic excellence. The Killam Scholarships are intended to help doctoral candidates focus fully on their studies and research by alleviating financial pressures, allowing them to make significant contributions to their respective fields.
Awarded to both Canadian and international students, the UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarships offer recipients up to $30,000 annually for up to two years, with an additional $2,000 allowance for research-related travel. The scholarships are open to PhD candidates in any discipline at UBC, making them highly competitive and sought after. Selection is based on academic achievements, research accomplishments, and demonstrated potential to advance knowledge in their field through innovative and impactful research.
In addition to financial support, the UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarships come with the prestige of being part of the Killam family of scholars, which includes recipients from top institutions across Canada. This recognition not only boosts the recipients’ academic profile but also connects them with a network of talented researchers, enhancing collaboration and professional opportunities.
The Killam Doctoral Scholarships reflect UBC’s commitment to fostering the next generation of scholars and researchers who will contribute to academic excellence and address global challenges through their research. The program is an essential part of supporting advanced studies at UBC, providing scholars with the resources they need to excel in their academic journeys.
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. A Killam scholar should not be a one-sided person…Special distinction of intellect should be founded upon sound character.”
Benefits
At present, the Killam Doctoral Scholarship provides an annual stipend valued at $40,000 for two years.
Requirements
To be eligible to apply for Killam Doctoral Scholarship funding, applicants 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.
Selection Process
Selection 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
- Quality of research proposal
- Significance and expected contributions to research, including relevant training such as academic training, lived experience, and traditional teachings. Assessment of research experience and achievements in relation to the applicant’s stage of study, lived experience, and knowledge systems, with emphasis on the quality of contributions and how they advance the field. Contributions may include publications, patents, reports, posters, abstracts, monographs, presentations, creative outputs, knowledge translation outputs, and community products.
- Demonstration of sound judgment and critical thinking abilities, alongside responsible and ethical research conduct, characterized by honest and thoughtful inquiry, rigorous analysis, a commitment to safety, the dissemination of research findings, and adherence to professional standards.
- Evaluation of enthusiasm for research, originality, initiative, autonomy, and relevant community involvement and outreach efforts. Consideration of the ability or potential to clearly and logically communicate theoretical, technical, and/or scientific concepts in both written and oral formats.
- Lastly, recognition of relevant experience and achievements obtained both within and beyond academic settings will contribute 50% to the overall assessment.
- 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
Application Documents
Provide the following:
- Bibliography for your proposed research
- Bibliographic details for all citations included in your research proposal
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