Are you searching for a high-value doctoral scholarship in Canada? The UBC Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship provides CAD $40,000 to outstanding doctoral students at the University of British Columbia.
The fellowship accepts Canadian citizens, permanent residents and eligible international students. Prospective students can be considered, so you do not necessarily have to be studying at UBC when you begin the process.
However, successful candidates must secure admission and enrol full-time at UBC before holding the award. This makes it an excellent opportunity for international applicants planning to combine a competitive PhD application with substantial doctoral funding.
Quick answer: The Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship is a partially funded doctoral award worth CAD $40,000. International students are eligible, and the current application deadline is September 15, 2026.
UBC Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship Summary
| Scholarship detail | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| University | University of British Columbia |
| Scholarship name | Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship |
| Study level | Doctoral |
| Eligible programs | Eligible UBC doctoral research programs |
| Funding type | Partially funded doctoral fellowship |
| Award amount | CAD $40,000, subject to change |
| International students | Yes |
| Study mode | Full-time |
| Duration | One academic award year |
| Intake | 2027â2028 |
| Application deadline | September 15, 2026, at 12:00 noon PT |
| Scholarship status | Open |
| Application route | UBC Affiliated FellowshipsâDoctoral competition |
| Official information | Check the fellowship on UBCâs website |
Why Apply for the Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship?
The biggest attraction is the CAD $40,000 award. This can substantially reduce the financial pressure associated with doctoral study in Canada.
The fellowship is also worth considering because:
- International students are explicitly eligible.
- Incoming and continuing students can be considered.
- Eligible doctoral disciplines are not limited to one narrow research area.
- The award is administered by a leading Canadian research university.
- Selection provides recognition as a Li Tze Fong Scholar.
- It can strengthen your academic and professional profile.
- The funding may reduce your dependence on personal savings.
This is not an undergraduate or masterâs scholarship. It is designed for applicants pursuing doctoral-level study through the UBC Affiliated FellowshipsâDoctoral competition.
How Much Is the Fellowship Worth?
The current published value is:
CAD $40,000 for the award year
UBC states that this value is subject to change. The funding is provided as a doctoral fellowship rather than a simple tuition discount.
Recipients may use their available funding to manage costs connected to studying and living in Canada, including:
- Tuition and university fees
- Accommodation
- Food and daily living expenses
- Books and academic materials
- Local transportation
- Personal expenses
The precise use and administration of the award will depend on UBCâs fellowship conditions and the recipientâs wider funding arrangement.
Is the Li Tze Fong Fellowship Fully Funded?
The safest and most accurate classification is:
Partially funded
Although CAD $40,000 is a substantial award, UBC does not describe the fellowship as a complete package that separately guarantees full tuition, accommodation, airfare, insurance and visa expenses.
Do not call it fully funded unless a recipientâs official funding offer confirms that other UBC awards cover all remaining costs.
Some students may receive additional support through:
- Departmental funding
- Teaching assistantships
- Research assistantships
- Graduate Support Initiative awards
- UBC Four Year Doctoral Fellowship funding
- Other internal or external scholarships
These are separate sources and should not be presented as automatic benefits of the Li Tze Fong Fellowship.
Expenses That Are Not Clearly Guaranteed
The official fellowship description does not independently guarantee:
- International airfare
- Visa or study-permit fees
- Relocation costs
- Free university accommodation
- A separate living allowance beyond the CAD $40,000
- Health insurance
- Research or conference travel
- Support for spouses or children
- Funding for the entire duration of the doctoral degree
Before accepting an offer, ask UBC for a complete funding breakdown. Compare your tuition, mandatory fees and estimated living expenses against the total value of all confirmed funding.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must satisfy the requirements of the UBC Affiliated FellowshipsâDoctoral competition.
You may be eligible if you:
- Are applying to or enrolled in an eligible UBC doctoral program.
- Intend to study or conduct research full-time.
- Meet the applicable CGRS-D eligibility requirements.
- Have a strong academic record.
- Demonstrate research experience and future potential.
- Submit a clear and feasible research proposal.
- Meet the requirements established by your UBC graduate program.
- Will be registered full-time at UBC during the award year.
- Remain in good academic standing.
Both prospective and continuing students can be considered. However, prospective students must receive admission and complete the required UBC registration before holding the fellowship.
Who should not apply?
This opportunity is unsuitable if you are:
- Seeking undergraduate funding
- Planning to remain in an ordinary masterâs program
- Applying for a course-based qualification that is not eligible
- Unable to enrol full-time at UBC
- Looking for a standalone scholarship that can be held at another university
- Unable to meet the relevant doctoral competition requirements
Can International Students Apply?
Yes. International students are eligible.
UBC lists three eligible citizenship categories:
- Canadian
- Permanent resident
- International
This makes the fellowship especially relevant to applicants from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India, Pakistan and other countries seeking doctoral funding in Canada.
International applicants must still:
- Qualify for an eligible UBC doctoral program.
- Secure admission where required.
- Follow the correct fellowship application route.
- Submit acceptable academic documents.
- Meet the programâs English-language requirements.
- Obtain a Canadian study permit before beginning their studies.
- Register full-time at UBC during the award period.
Think of this opportunity as part of a complete UBC PhD admission and funding strategy. It is not a cash award that can be taken to another Canadian university.
English-Language Requirements
The fellowship does not publish a separate IELTS or TOEFL score. You must meet the language requirements of your chosen UBC doctoral program.
UBCâs general graduate minimums may include:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0
- CAEL: 70 overall, with at least 60 in speaking
- PTE Academic: 65 overall, with minimum component scores of 60
- TOEFL: Requirements depend on the test format and scoring system in effect
Individual programs may require higher scores. Always check the exact doctoral program before paying for a test.
Some applicants may qualify for an exemption based on their previous education. Do not assume that nationality alone creates an automatic exemption.
Application Deadline and Scholarship Status
The current deadline is:
September 15, 2026, at 12:00 noon Pacific Time
The fellowship is currently:
Open for the 2027â2028 competition
Your intended graduate program may have an earlier internal deadline. Contact the program immediately and ask when it needs your complete documents.
Do not wait until September 15. References, transcripts and research statements can take several weeks to prepare.
Documents You Should Prepare
Your exact application package will depend on your research field and application route. Common requirements may include:
- Completed doctoral funding application
- Academic transcripts
- Proof of previous degrees
- Academic and research history
- Research proposal or outline
- Contributions and experience statement
- Curriculum vitae
- Details of scholarships and awards
- Proof of current registration, where applicable
- Reference assessments
- English-language results, if required for admission
- Certified translations of non-English documents
- Criteria-based Affiliated Fellowships checklist, where applicable
- Explanation of special circumstances, if relevant
Documents should be complete, readable and correctly formatted. Missing transcripts or references can prevent an otherwise strong application from being considered.
How to Apply for the Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship
There is no simple standalone form that guarantees direct consideration only for the Li Tze Fong award. It is administered through the wider Affiliated FellowshipsâDoctoral competition.
Step 1: Find an eligible UBC doctoral program
Search UBCâs graduate programs and identify one that matches your qualifications, research experience and career plans.
Consider:
- Entry requirements
- Research areas
- Potential supervisors
- English requirements
- Program deadline
- Tuition and fees
- Departmental funding
Step 2: Confirm your admission eligibility
Check whether your previous degree satisfies UBCâs doctoral admission standard. Some programs require a relevant masterâs degree, while others may have different entry routes.
Step 3: Contact the graduate program
Ask the graduate coordinator:
- Whether you can enter the Affiliated FellowshipsâDoctoral competition
- Which application form you should use
- Whether the department has an earlier deadline
- How international applicants should submit documents
- Whether you need the criteria-based awards checklist
Step 4: Prepare your research proposal
Your proposal should explain:
- The research problem
- Why the problem matters
- Your research questions
- Proposed methods
- Expected contribution
- A realistic research plan
Write clearly enough for an academic reviewer outside your narrow speciality to understand the value of the project.
Step 5: Arrange strong references
Select referees who can discuss your research ability, academic preparation, independence and potential for doctoral success.
Contact them early. Give them your CV, proposal summary and the correct submission deadline.
Step 6: Complete the funding application
Follow the CGRS-D or Affiliated Fellowship route specified by UBC. Eligible applicants submitting through the appropriate doctoral competition are considered for Affiliated funding.
Step 7: Submit the criteria-based checklist
If UBC or your graduate program asks you to identify criteria-based awards, complete the checklist before the deadline.
Step 8: Verify your submission
Confirm that:
- Every mandatory field is complete.
- Transcripts are attached.
- References have been submitted.
- Your proposal follows page limits.
- Your program has received the application.
- Your contact details are accurate.
What Happens After You Apply?
Applications move through a competitive review and nomination process.
The process generally includes:
- Eligibility and completeness review
- Assessment by the applicantâs graduate program
- Departmental ranking
- Nomination of leading candidates
- University-wide adjudication
- Final selection and approval
- Issuance of an official award offer
UBC graduate programs must submit their doctoral Affiliated Fellowship nominations to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by October 13, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. PT. This is the departmentâs nomination deadlineânot an additional student deadline.
How Applicants Are Selected
Selection is based mainly on academic and research strength.
Reviewers may consider:
- Academic performance
- Research experience
- Quality and feasibility of the proposal
- Originality of the proposed work
- Research achievements
- Critical-thinking ability
- Communication skills
- Leadership and professional experience
- Potential contribution to the academic field
- Strength of reference assessments
A high GPA alone may not be enough. Your application should connect your previous experience, proposed research and future academic contribution.
How to Strengthen Your Application
Choose a strong research fit
Apply to a program where your education and research experience genuinely match the departmentâs expertise.
Explain your personal contribution
Do not describe only what your research group or supervisor achieved. Show the decisions, analysis and work you personally completed.
Use specific evidence
Support claims of excellence with evidence such as:
- Strong grades
- Research projects
- Publications
- Conference presentations
- Academic awards
- Technical skills
- Leadership activities
- Community or professional contributions
Make your proposal easy to understand
Avoid unnecessary jargon. Reviewers should quickly understand the problem, approach and expected contribution.
Give referees enough time
A detailed reference from someone who knows your work is more valuable than a generic letter from a prominent academic who barely knows you.
Important Restrictions
Applicants should remember:
- This is a doctoral-level opportunity.
- The award must be held at UBC.
- Full-time registration is required.
- Admission and fellowship selection are separate decisions.
- The CAD $40,000 amount is subject to change.
- The fellowship is not automatically renewable.
- Other substantial scholarship funding may affect the award.
- Programs may impose requirements above UBCâs general minimums.
- Late and incomplete applications may be rejected.
- International applicants are responsible for admission and immigration requirements.
Priority in the wider Affiliated Fellowships competition may be given to candidates who do not already hold significant scholarship funding of CAD $16,000 or more for the same award year. Exceptions can apply to certain assistantships and departmental awards.
Check Your Eligibility Before Applying
You are a stronger potential candidate if you can answer âyesâ to the following:
- Are you applying for an eligible UBC doctoral degree?
- Can you study full-time?
- Do you have a strong academic record?
- Can you present evidence of research potential?
- Do you meet the relevant CGRS-D or Affiliated Fellowship rules?
- Can you complete admission and funding documents before the deadline?
- Are you prepared to enrol at UBC if selected?
If you answered ânoâ to the first two questions, this particular fellowship is unlikely to be suitable.
Official Application Information
Use these primary sources:
- Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship
- UBC Affiliated FellowshipsâDoctoral Program
- UBC Graduate Application and Admission
Avoid paying an agent who claims to have guaranteed access to the scholarship. UBC and the relevant graduate program control admission, nomination and selection.
Final Applicant Guidance
The Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship is a valuable opportunity for international students seeking substantial PhD funding in Canada. The CAD $40,000 award can make doctoral study considerably more affordable, but competition is demanding.
Use this application order:
Choose a suitable UBC PhD â verify eligibility â identify the correct application route â prepare your research proposal â arrange references â submit before the departmental deadline.
Do not begin with the money alone. Begin with academic fit. A persuasive application must show that you are prepared for doctoral research and that your proposed work can make a meaningful contribution.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for UBC Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship open to international students?
Yes. UBC explicitly lists international students as eligible.
How much is the fellowship worth?
The published value is CAD $40,000, subject to change.
Is the fellowship fully funded?
It is more accurately classified as partially funded because UBC does not separately guarantee every tuition, travel and living expense.
Can masterâs students apply?
This particular fellowship is classified as doctoral. Students planning to remain in a masterâs program should review UBCâs separate Affiliated FellowshipsâMasterâs competition.
Must I already be studying at UBC?
No. Incoming and continuing students can be considered. Successful recipients must enrol full-time at UBC during the award year.
Can I apply from outside Canada?
Yes. International applicants can begin the admission and fellowship process from outside Canada.
Do I apply directly for this fellowship?
The award is administered through the UBC Affiliated FellowshipsâDoctoral competition. Follow the application instructions provided by your graduate program.
What is the application deadline?
The published deadline is September 15, 2026, at 12:00 noon PT. Your department may impose an earlier deadline.
Does the fellowship pay for airfare and visa costs?
The official award page does not separately guarantee airfare, study-permit fees or relocation expenses.
Is IELTS compulsory?
Not necessarily. You must meet the language conditions of your chosen UBC doctoral program. An accepted test or exemption may apply.
Can I work in Canada after graduation?
Eligible UBC graduates may apply for a Canadian Post-Graduation Work Permit under the immigration rules in effect at the time. The fellowship itself does not guarantee a work permit.
StudyFinder Scholarship Details
UBC Li Tze Fong Memorial Fellowship
Review the key scholarship information below, including eligibility-related requirements, funding, study details, deadline, and application information.
| Currency | CAD |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Availability | Domestic & International Students |
| Application Deadline | September 15, 2026 |
| Scholarship Status | Open |
Use the official application link to check the provider's latest requirements and submit your application.
