University of British Columbia Four Year Doctoral Fellowship Awards

UBC’s Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) program provides recipients with a $24,000 stipend plus tuition per year, for up to four years of their doctoral studies. UBC states the program supports domestic and international doctoral students with stable, base-level funding for doctoral studies and research.

4YF fellowships may be held by domestic and international students. They are offered in general to students beginning their first year of full time PhD, DMA, or MDPhD studies, but may also be offered to continuing students. 4YF funding may be less than four years in some circumstances, subject to the 4YF Guidelines.

Selection is based on academic excellence, upon the recommendation of the graduate program. For admission, all PhD, DMA, and MDPhD applicants offered admission are automatically considered for 4YF funding. UBC graduate programs are allocated a number of fellowships each year and review incoming and continuing students, prioritizing incoming students.

Funding may be held for up to four years, but may be less in some circumstances and always depends on satisfactory academic progress. 4YF holders are required to apply for other funding to maintain eligibility: Canadian citizens and permanent residents must apply each year for Tri-Agency funding or forfeit remaining 4YF funding; international students are not required to apply to the annual Affiliated Fellowship competition but may.

• Eligible holders: domestic and international students.
• Degree level: Doctoral.
• Programs: full time PhD, DMA, or MDPhD studies.
• Timing: in general offered to students beginning their first year of full time PhD, DMA, or MDPhD studies; may also be offered to continuing students.
• Funding duration: may be offered for up to four years; duration may be less in some circumstances (per 4YF Guidelines).
• Academic requirement: funding is subject to satisfactory academic progress.
• Automatic 4YF designate holders (Tri-Agency awards): Vanier Scholarships; Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGSD); CIHR Doctoral Research Awards; NSERC Doctoral Postgraduate Scholarships (PGSD); SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships.
• Tri-Agency scholarship transition rule: students who obtain Tri-Agency scholarships may be eligible for 4YF tuition coverage and will receive 4YF stipend and tuition support once external scholarship funding ends, until four years after the external award start date or until the end of their 5th year in Doctoral program, whichever comes first.
• Other external scholarship rule: other major external scholarship winners selected as 4YF designates may be eligible for 4YF tuition coverage and will receive 4YF stipend and tuition support once external scholarship funding ends, until four years after the 4YF start date or until the end of their 5th year in Doctoral program, whichever comes first.

• $24,000 stipend.
• Full tuition coverage (tuition per year).
• Duration: up to four years of doctoral studies (subject to satisfactory academic progress; may be less in some circumstances).

1. Submit an application for admission to the appropriate graduate program at UBC to be considered for Four Year Fellowship funding.
2. PhD, DMA, and MDPhD applicants offered admission are automatically considered for 4YF funding.

• University Award Recommendation Form (submitted by the graduate program) listing award number 6456.