Scholarship Opportunity

UBC Affiliated Fellowships 2027– Doctoral Program: Eligibility, Benefits and Application Guide

The UBC Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral Program is a competitive funding opportunity for outstanding doctoral students at the University of British Columbia.

Every year, UBC awards approximately 50 fellowships to promising researchers across different academic disciplines. Both Canadian and international students can be considered, but applicants must satisfy the program’s academic, registration and research requirements.

The awards are valuable, but applicants should understand one important point: this is not a single scholarship with a fixed amount. It is a competition through which UBC distributes several donor-funded fellowships with different values and eligibility conditions.

UBC Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral Program Snap View

Classification	Details
Country	Canada
University	University of British Columbia
Scholarship name	UBC Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral Program
Program	Eligible doctoral research disciplines
Study level	Doctoral
Degree	PhD and other eligible research-based doctoral degrees
Funding type	Partially funded
Award amount	CAD $175–$40,000; most awards are approximately CAD $16,000
Number of awards	Approximately 50 annually
Eligible nationalities	Canadian citizens, permanent residents and eligible international students
Study mode	Full-time
Funding period	Generally the 2027–2028 academic year, subject to the conditions of the individual award
Application deadline	September 15, 2026, at 12:00 noon Pacific Time
Application link	UBC Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral Program

About the UBC Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral Program

The program is administered by UBC’s Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. It brings together several fellowships supported by donors, foundations and university funding.

Some of the fellowships are unrestricted. This means eligible doctoral candidates from different research areas can be considered. Others are criteria-based and may be reserved for a particular research field, personal background, community or career objective.

Applicants are assessed using the selection criteria for the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship–Doctoral, commonly called CGRS-D. Students applying for CGRS-D through UBC are automatically considered for unrestricted UBC Affiliated Fellowships.

The Killam Doctoral Scholarship—one of UBC’s most prestigious graduate awards—is also awarded through the Affiliated Fellowships competition.

Aim and Objectives of the Program

The main purpose of the program is to support talented doctoral researchers who demonstrate strong academic achievement and research potential.

More specifically, the program aims to:

Reduce the financial pressure associated with doctoral study.
Recognize students with excellent academic and research records.
Attract capable researchers to UBC.
Support research across the sciences, engineering, health, social sciences and humanities.
Connect suitable candidates with donor-funded awards carrying specialised eligibility criteria.
Help doctoral students concentrate on their studies, research and professional development.

This is a merit-based competition. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an award.

What Does the Fellowship Cover?

Individual awards range from CAD $175 to CAD $40,000, although UBC reports that most are worth approximately CAD $16,000.

The money is generally provided as fellowship or stipend support. Depending on the individual award and the student’s UBC funding arrangement, it may help with:

Tuition and mandatory university fees
Accommodation and living expenses
Books, research materials and academic supplies
Transportation and personal expenses
General costs associated with full-time doctoral research

However, applicants should not assume that every fellowship pays full tuition, travel and living expenses. UBC does not promise a complete funding package under every award.

For StudyFinder classification, the safest description is partially funded. A particular affiliated award may be more generous, but the overall competition includes awards with widely different values.

Awards and Other Benefits

Beyond the financial payment, successful applicants receive recognition through a university-wide doctoral funding competition.

Other possible benefits include:

Strengthening the recipient’s academic and professional profile
Greater freedom to focus on research
Reduced reliance on personal funds
Recognition of academic excellence and research potential
Possible consideration for the Killam Doctoral Scholarship
Access to certain specialised donor-funded awards

Students may normally hold research assistantships, teaching assistantships and some department-recommended awards alongside Affiliated funding. Nevertheless, funding combinations are subject to UBC rules.

Priority may be given to candidates who do not already hold significant scholarship funding of CAD $16,000 or more for the 2027–2028 academic year. If a recipient later obtains substantial funding for the same period, UBC may withdraw or replace the Affiliated Fellowship.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must meet the eligibility conditions of the current CGRS-D competition and UBC’s requirements for the Affiliated Fellowships.

Generally, an applicant must:

Be pursuing or preparing to pursue an eligible doctoral degree.
Be registered as a full-time UBC doctoral student during the award period.
Demonstrate academic excellence.
Present a strong and feasible research proposal.
Show evidence of research ability, academic contributions and future potential.
Meet the applicable limits concerning the number of months completed in doctoral study.
Apply through the correct federal funding agency and application portal.
Satisfy any special conditions attached to a criteria-based fellowship.
Remain in good academic standing.

Prospective students may be considered, but they must secure admission and register at UBC before holding the award.

Students expecting to be registered in a master’s program in September 2027 should apply through the separate Affiliated Fellowships – Master’s competition.

International Students’ Requirements

International students are eligible, but their application route needs careful attention.

Under the harmonized CGRS-D rules, an international applicant generally needs to be enrolled in an eligible doctoral program at a Canadian institution at the time of application. Therefore, an overseas student who has not yet begun an eligible Canadian doctoral program should not assume that submitting a future UBC admission application alone will make them eligible.

An international applicant should:

Hold valid full-time doctoral registration at UBC where required.
Meet the CGRS-D conditions for international candidates.
Maintain the immigration documents required to study in Canada.
Meet UBC’s doctoral admission and academic requirements.
Submit transcripts from every undergraduate and graduate institution attended.
Provide certified English or French translations for documents issued in another language.
Demonstrate current registration if it is not clearly shown on the transcript.
Meet any additional conditions attached to a criteria-based award.

International students should confirm their position with their UBC graduate program before preparing the application. The rules used to determine eligibility can depend on registration status, previous doctoral study and the correct funding agency.

Start by accepting readiness to apply for UBC Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral Program using the StudyFinder Documents Vault.

Language Test Requirements

The Affiliated Fellowships competition does not publish a separate IELTS, TOEFL or other English-test score.

However, international candidates must meet the language requirement of their chosen UBC doctoral program. Depending on the program and the applicant’s educational history, accepted tests may include IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT.

Language requirements can differ between departments. Some programs impose scores above UBC’s general graduate minimum, while certain applicants may qualify for an exemption based on their previous education.

The best approach is to check the individual doctoral program page. Do not rely on a general UBC score if the department publishes a higher requirement.

Language test results are mainly connected to admission. They are not normally scored as a separate component of the fellowship competition.

Required Application Documents

The exact package depends on the federal agency responsible for the applicant’s research field. Nevertheless, a CGRS-D application normally includes the following:

1. Online application form

Applicants must complete their personal profile, contact information, academic history, awards, employment or research experience and proposed award location.

2. Research proposal

The proposal should explain:

The research problem
Relevant background
Research objectives or questions
Proposed methods
Importance of the project
Expected contribution to the field
Feasibility of the work

For the current Form 201 instructions, the research outline can be up to two pages. Applicants should follow the rules of the relevant agency because formatting or page limits may differ.

3. Contributions and statements

This section presents the applicant’s research contributions, experience and relevant achievements. Publications are helpful, but applicants can also include presentations, reports, research projects, knowledge-sharing activities and other meaningful contributions.

4. Academic transcripts

Applicants must provide complete and current transcripts covering all undergraduate and graduate studies. Proof of current doctoral registration may also be required.

Where documents are not in English or French, certified translations must accompany them.

5. Reference letters

Applicants normally nominate two referees through the online system. References should know the applicant’s academic work and be able to provide evidence of research ability, independence, communication skills and future potential.

Contact referees early. The final application cannot be submitted if the required references have not completed their part.

6. Thesis or research history

Applicants may need to provide information about previous theses, major research projects or doctoral work already completed.

7. Optional supporting explanations

Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, the application may include:

An explanation of special circumstances
A bibliography
Justification showing that the research falls within the selected agency’s mandate
Proof of registration or an institutional letter
Explanation of interruptions or delays in academic progress

8. Criteria-based fellowship checklist

Applicants who want to be considered for specialised Affiliated Fellowships must review the criteria-based awards list.

They should identify the awards for which they qualify and submit the completed checklist to their UBC graduate program by the applicable deadline.

Application Deadline

The application deadline for UBC Affiliated Fellowships 2027– Doctoral Program: Eligibility, Benefits and Application Guide is September 15, 2026.

Applicants should submit all required materials before this date and verify any last-minute changes through the official scholarship source.

Deadline verification: Check the official scholarship source for the latest country-, program-, university- or round-specific deadline.

How to Apply

The application process can be completed in the following stages:

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility

Check the Affiliated Fellowships page and the current CGRS-D eligibility conditions. International students should confirm that their Canadian doctoral registration meets the applicable rule.

Step 2: Select the appropriate funding agency

The correct agency depends on the proposed research:

CIHR generally covers health research.
NSERC generally covers natural sciences and engineering.
SSHRC generally covers social sciences and humanities.

Interdisciplinary applicants should examine the agency mandates carefully.

Step 3: Ask your UBC program about its internal process

Your department may set an earlier internal deadline for checking documents or arranging nominations. Follow the department’s instructions even if the university-wide deadline appears later.

Step 4: Prepare the CGRS-D application

Complete the correct online form and upload the research proposal, contributions, transcripts and other required attachments.

Step 5: Arrange your references

Choose referees who can discuss your abilities using specific examples. Give them enough time to submit their assessments before the deadline.

Step 6: Complete the criteria-based checklist

Review every specialised fellowship carefully. Only select awards whose requirements you genuinely meet.

Step 7: Review and submit

Check that every document is readable, complete and correctly formatted. Preview the final application before submitting it.

All CGRS-D applicants applying through UBC are automatically considered for unrestricted Affiliated Fellowship funding, so a second general application is not usually required.

Application Deadline

The published UBC deadline is:

September 15, 2026, at 12:00 noon Pacific Time.

This deadline relates to funding for the 2027–2028 academic year.

Graduate departments may establish earlier internal deadlines. Applicants should contact their program and avoid waiting until the final day, particularly because reference letters must be completed before submission.

Tips for Preparing a Competitive Application

A good academic record is important, but reviewers also need to understand why the proposed research matters.

Applicants should:

Explain the research in language that a broad academic reviewer can follow.
State a clear problem, objective and research method.
Support claims of excellence with evidence.
Show personal contributions instead of relying on a supervisor’s reputation.
Make sure the proposal is realistic within the planned period.
Select referees familiar with the applicant’s recent work.
Follow every page limit and formatting instruction.
Proofread transcripts and uploaded PDFs for clarity.
Confirm that the correct federal agency has been selected.

A focused application usually performs better than one filled with vague claims. Reviewers should be able to see what you have achieved, what you plan to investigate and why you are capable of completing the work.

Is the UBC Affiliated Fellowship Fully Funded?

The program should generally be classified as partially funded.

Award values range from CAD $175 to CAD $40,000, with most worth approximately CAD $16,000. UBC does not guarantee that every recipient will receive full tuition, living expenses, travel and other doctoral costs.

Candidates seeking complete doctoral funding should also investigate departmental funding, research or teaching assistantships, the UBC Four Year Doctoral Fellowship and other external scholarships.

Final Advice

The UBC Affiliated Fellowships – Doctoral Program is worth considering if you are an academically strong doctoral researcher at UBC. It offers international eligibility, broad disciplinary coverage and access to several donor-funded awards through one competition.

Start by confirming your CGRS-D eligibility and registration status. Then concentrate on the research proposal, academic evidence and references. International students should be especially careful not to confuse eligibility to study at UBC with eligibility for the fellowship competition—the two requirements are related but not identical.

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