This award is part of the UBC Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) which intends to build connections, community, and capacity for doctoral students who are interested in explicitly linking their doctoral work to an arena of public benefit and integrating broader and more career-relevant forms of scholarship into their doctoral education process. Each year funding is available for up to approximately 30 new students from all faculties at UBC, and approximately 5 scholars from all faculties at UBCO. Scholars selected for the cohort will be eligible for a renewal funding a second year. Just like last year, the 2024-25 applications also features the special 'Health Equity Stream' created in partnership with UBC Health
About University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a global centre for teaching, learning and research, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world and recently recognized as North America’s most international university. Since 1915, our motto, Tuum Est (It is Yours), has been a declaration of our commitment to attracting and supporting those who have the drive to shape a better world. As a result, UBC students, faculty and staff continue to embrace innovation and challenge the status quo, placing us at the forefront of discovery, learning and engagement. UBC encourage... continue reading
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University of British Columbia Public Scholars Award
Aim and Benefits of University of British Columbia Public Scholars Award
Up to $10,000 twice, for a total of $20,000 per student is available to support innovative/collaborative scholarship which the student would otherwise be unable to pursue. Funding can be used for:
- A research allowance (including allowance for professional development or travel relevant to the scholarly work)
- Student stipend, if the student’s current funding source would not allow the alternative project(s)
Requirements for University of British Columbia Public Scholars Award Qualification
- UBC Vancouver doctoral students (PhD, EdD, DMA, including part time PhD students) in years 1-5 and; UBC Okanagan doctoral students in years 1-5
- Applicants must have completed no more than 48 months of doctoral study as of 31 August 2024
- Applicants must be registered in a UBC doctoral program as of 1 September 2024
- Applicants in their 6th year (48 to 60 months of doctoral study) will be accepted only in exceptional circumstances; these applicants should receive approval from the PSI before submitting their applications.
Requirements for all funded students:
- Submission of a report at the end of their first (and if applicable, second) year of funding
- Presentation of their work at a Network event PhDs Go Public.
Interview date, Process and Venue for University of British Columbia Public Scholars Award
- Student’s past accomplishments and future promise. Breadth of interest and accomplishment will be important, as well as an indication of the student’s fit with the proposed project.
- Project’s relationship to PSI goals, which is to encourage and enable a broadened conception of doctoral education, such that:
- Students' work extends beyond the academia and beyond traditional disciplinary boundaries;
- Students gain experience in the environments and types of scholarship they may productively engage in post-graduation;
- Students’ work is evaluated as part of the degree, ensuring it is of the highest quality, and signaling that the university considers these diverse forms of scholarship worthy of recognition;
- Students gain enhanced career opportunities and they foster positive public perception of the value of the doctorate;
- Students can contribute to the public good in diverse ways through rigorous scholarship;
- Quality of proposed scholarship. The following factors will be taken into account:
- The work requires a high level of expertise in a discipline(s) and/or methodology;
- The goals are clearly defined, realistic, and identify important questions;
- Adequate preparation for and understanding of the subject is indicated;
- Appropriate methods are proposed to achieve the goals;
- Plans to document and disseminate the work are appropriate and effective;
- The work has significance and is likely to contribute positively to the public good;
- Need for alternative funding sources
- Consideration will also be given to breadth of the initiative across disciplines
Application Deadline
May 10, 2024
How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to
University of British Columbia on www.grad.ubc.ca to apply
- Download these 2 files: PSI Fellowship Application 2024-2025 and PSI Fellowship Application Instructions 2024-2025. The files can also be found in the "Further Information" Section below.
- Once the form is downloaded you can edit and save the form by renaming it. Name your application: LastName_FirstName_PSI
- Following the guidelines, complete the Application form. Please note that each section ("Outline of Proposed Scholarly Work" and "Relationship of Proposal to PSI Goals") is individually capped at 4000 characters and 1 page.
- Upload the completed PSI Fellowship Application 2024-2025 form and your Canadian Common CV as one pdf file (see instructions for details) to this page. The page is a Qualtrics form that will require 5 minutes to complete once all your documents are ready to be uploaded. Please read the Overview section on that page carefully before proceeding to ensure your application is submitted correctly.
- For the mandatory supervisor letter of support and the optional letter(s) of support from collaborators, your letter writers should go to this page. You can open the page, and share the link with them. The page is a Qualtrics form that will require 2 minutes to complete once the letter of support is ready to be uploaded.
- This will complete your application.
