University of British Columbia Public Scholars Award 2026

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. 

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineMay 22, 2026
• Value$10,000
• Study LevelPhD
• SponsorUniversity of British Columbia
• City to studyVancouver
• School to studyUniversity of British Columbia
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

Awards of up to $10,000 are 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

• 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 2025
  • Applicants must be registered in a UBC doctoral program as of 1 September 2025
  • 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
• Attendance at and engagement with PSI events and the network of scholars
• Presentation of their work at a Network event PhDs Go Public. 

All students, faculty, and collaborators will be asked to complete a questionnaire at the end of their funding/involvement. Student dissertations and student completion and career outcomes will also be reviewed as part of the assessment of this initiative.

Selection Process

• 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

Check also:
Free Ongoing Fully Funded Scholarships Guide 2026 (Download Now)

Application Deadline

How To Apply

To apply, visit UBC Scholarship webpage