Graduate Student Awards

The Graduate Dean’s Thesis Fellowship (GDTF) is intended to provide financial support while students are engaged in the final writing stages of their graduate program. Students may receive a GDTF only once per degree program.

• ELIGIBILTY: Master’s and PhD students approaching their final term
• AMOUNT: $6,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 31 and September 30 annually

The FHSD Conference Award is intended to support scholarly and professional activities.

• ELIGIBILITY: Master’s (including course-based programs), PhD students and postdoctoral fellows presenting scholarly work at a conference
• AMOUNT: Up to $2,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: Rolling

The family and friends of the late Jody Rud, MSW, have endowed an award for a student in UBC Okanagan’s Master of Social Work program. Consideration is given to students who demonstrate a combination of academic achievement, volunteerism, community involvement, and/or campus leadership. Jody is remembered for his compassionate nature and his dedication to making a difference in the lives of others.

The annual deadline for this award at the end of Winter Term 2 – a notification will be sent out to MSW students from the program. Students may contact ask.socialwork@ubc.ca for more information.

• ELIGIBILITY: Full-time students in the Master of Social Work program; preference given to students who focus on an area related to substance use disorder or homelessness
• AMOUNT: TBD
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: Early April annually

In memory of her husband Bill Tymchuk, the generous support of Leida Tymchuk has established the Bill Tymchuk Cancer Research Award endowment to support cancer research at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

• ELIGIBILITY: Full-time faculty members, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduate students in FHSD
• AMOUNT: $4,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 15 annually

The Bryce Carnine Memorial Prize has been endowed by Grant and Beryl Carnine to honour their son, Bryce Carnine.

• ELIGIBILITY: Undergraduate or graduate students in FHSD who have conducted an oncology-related research project
• AMOUNT: $3,450
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: April annually

The Garry Douglas McCorrie Award in Social Work has been made available annually through an estate gift from Garry Douglas McCorrie (1943-2022) for an outstanding student. This award is based on academic performance in Foundational Year 1, with a particular focus on impactful work done during the Practicum.

• ELIGIBILITY: Graduate students entering their second year in the Master of Social Work program
• AMOUNT: $5,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: October annually

• ELIGIBILITY: Thesis-based, full-time domestic or international Master’s of Science in Nursing and PhD in Nursing students entering the first year of the program
• AMOUNT: Varies
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: N/A – students are automatically considered

• ELIGIBILITY: Thesis-based, full-time domestic Master’s of Science in Nursing and PhD in Nursing students supervised by a faculty member in the School of Nursing at UBCO
• AMOUNT: Varies
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: N/A – students are automatically considered

This award has been endowed by family, friends, and colleagues in memory of Matthew Yip, BASc ‘15. The award is offered to an outstanding graduate student with a combination of academic achievements and excellence in a field placement focused on mental health cases.

• ELIGIBILITY: Full-time students in the MSW program at UBCO; preference given to students who focus on an area related to depression, anxiety and/or suicide
• AMOUNT: $2,200
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: N/A – students are automatically considered

The UBC Okanagan Distinguished Doctoral Scholar Award (DDS) allows UBC to continue to attract and support outstanding domestic and international doctoral students, and provide those students with stable, base-level funding for their doctoral studies and research. FHSD has two DDS awards to distribute in 2025.

• ELIGIBILTY: International doctoral students; if there are insufficient numbers of international PhD applicants, one or both awards may be awarded to domestic PhD students
• AMOUNT: $20,000/year + tuition for up to 4 years
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 31, 2025

The Friedman Award for Scholars in Health supports learning and research opportunities for graduate students or medical residents working in the broad area of health, to bring new perspectives to their education and further their career.

• ELIGIBILTY: Master’s and PhD students
• AMOUNT: Up to $50,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: March annually

The Henderson Award in International Development is offered by the Henderson family through the Shuswap Community Foundation.

• ELIGIBILITY: Undergraduate or graduate student at UBCO who is participating in an international health initiative; preference given to international students
• AMOUNT: $3,600
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: April annually

The Amal Alhuwayshil Award in Campus Engagement and Leadership recognizes a student who has engaged in one or more campus-based activities involving diversity, and inclusion, and demonstrated leadership in these areas by encouraging others to engage in these issues in the campus community.

• ELIGIBILITY: Undergraduate or graduate student
• AMOUNT: $2,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: End of April annually

The UBCO Students’ Union Service Award recognizes one or more students who have demonstrated commendable efforts to enhance on- and off-campus engagement and well-being.

• ELIGIBILITY: Full-time undergraduate or graduate student
• AMOUNT: $2,800
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: End of April annually

Ken and Jean Finch are pleased to offer the Finch Family Graduate Award to students who are engaged in a research-based graduate degree program at UBCO. Preference is given to students whose studies may lead to entrepreneurship, innovation, community involvement or local economic development.

• ELIGIBILTY: Domestic (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) master’s and PhD students
• AMOUNT: $10,000 (PhD), $5,000 (masters)
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: October annually

The Lashley and Mary Haggman Memorial Research Award has been made available through an endowment established by the Estate of Lashley and Mary Haggman to support scholars at UBCO.

• ELIGIBILTY: Master’s and PhD students conducting research on memory or memory-related issues
• AMOUNT: $6,500
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: October annually

ImpactBC Scholarships in Health Care Research and Development have been made available through an endowment established by ImpactBC for outstanding students enrolled in a health program at UBCO.

• ELIGIBILITY: Undergraduate and graduate students focusing on patient/client involvement in health care decision-making or in health professional education
• AMOUNT: At least $1,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: November annually

The John H.V. Gilbert Interprofessional Scholarship has been endowed by friends and colleagues in honour of Dr. John H. V. Gilbert for an outstanding student at UBCO or UBC who, having completed the penultimate year of any health or human services degree program, combines academic excellence and demonstrated student leadership in interprofessional education for collaborative patient-centered practice.

• ELIGIBILITY: Undergraduate or graduate student
• AMOUNT: $2,450
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: November annually

Move UBC Grants are now available for UBCO students planning projects or initiatives that support the wellbeing of our community by moving more.

• ELIGIBILITY: Undergraduate or graduate students
• AMOUNT: Up to $1,500
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: November annually

The Professor Jessie Gordon MacCarthy Memorial Scholarship has been endowed by family, friends and colleagues of the late Jessie Gordon MacCarthy, for a student who, having completed the penultimate year of any health program at UBCO or UBC, best combines academic excellence, demonstrated interest, and leadership in the field of community and/or population health.

• ELIGIBILITY: Undergraduate or graduate student
• AMOUNT: $1,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: November annually

The UBC Okanagan Distinguished Dissertation Award has been made available annually by UBCO for students whose doctoral dissertations are of exceptional quality and originality and make a significant contribution to their academic field.

• ELIGIBILTY: Doctoral graduates who completed their dissertations within one calendar year and have applied for the CAGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award
• AMOUNT: $1,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: N/A – applicants for CAGS/ProQuest are automatically considered

The UBC Okanagan Indigenous Graduate Fellowship is a merit-based fellowship that is awarded to Indigenous students entering or continuing in a full-time research-based graduate program.

• ELIGIBILTY: Incoming Canadian First Nations, Inuit or Métis master’s and PhD students
• AMOUNT: $10,000/year (2 years for master’s and 4 years for PhD students)
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: N/A – Indigenous incoming students are automatically considered

The International Four-Year Doctoral Partial Tuition Award provides funding for up to a total of four years (48 months) per awardee, intended to offer support to international students.

• ELIGIBILTY: International PhD students
• AMOUNT: Difference between international and domestic tuition (approximately $3,933/year)
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: N/A – all eligible international PhD students automatically receive this award

UBC Okanagan Graduate Research Scholarships are administered by the College of Graduate Studies through funding made available from the University Budget.

• ELIGIBILTY: Master’s and PhD students
• AMOUNT: Varies
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: N/A – students are automatically considered

The CAGS-ProQuest Distinguished Dissertation Award recognizes Canadian doctoral dissertations that make unusually significant and original contributions to their academic field.

• ELIGIBILTY: Doctoral graduates who completed their dissertations within 1 calendar year
• AMOUNT: $1,500 plus travel expenses to CAGS conference
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: Early February annually

The Health Systems Impact Fellowship provides an embedded research opportunity for highly qualified students studying health services and policy research, or related fields.

• ELIGIBILITY: PhD or postdoctoral students
• AMOUNT: $50,000 (PhD students) or $70,000 (postdocs)
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: February annually

The China Scholarship Council Doctoral Scholarships are intended to support students studying abroad. These scholarships will be awarded to students across a wide range of disciplines. UBC has developed an agreement with the China Scholarship Council to be a preferred host institution for scholarship holders. 

• ELIGIBILITY: Chinese citizens under 35 years of age in a master’s program, recently graduated from a master’s program, or a self-funded first-year PhD student who has graduated (within the past 12 months) with a master’s degree
• AMOUNT: Approximately $26,400 plus tuition
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: End of March annually

The Governor General’s Gold Medal is awarded to the student who has achieved the most outstanding academic record as a PhD or master’s student completing a dissertation or thesis. This is an opportunity to honour the best in the graduating class within the College of Graduate Studies.

• ELIGIBILTY: Master’s and PhD students who have completed their programs in the previous year
• AMOUNT: Non-monetary
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: Early April annually

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship is designed to support world-class doctoral students who demonstrate both leadership skills and a high standard of scholarly achievement in graduate studies in the social sciences and humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and health-related fields.

• ELIGIBILTY: PhD students
• AMOUNT: $50,000/year for up to 3 years
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: September 1 annually

The objective of the Canada Graduate Scholarships -Doctoral Program is to promote continued excellence in Canadian research by rewarding and retaining high-caliber doctoral students at Canadian institutions.

• ELIGIBILTY: Domestic PhD students (Canadian citizens and permanent residents)
• AMOUNT: $35,000 annually for up to 3 years
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: Mid-September annually

The Killam Doctoral Scholarships were established in memory of Izaak Walton Killam through the will of his wife, Dorothy J. Killam. The primary purpose is to support advanced education and research at Canadian universities.

• ELIGIBILTY: PhD students
• AMOUNT: $40,000/year for up to 2 years, plus $2,000 travel fund
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: Mid-September annually

The IODE War Memorial Scholarships support PhD scholars whose research makes important contributions to Canada and the world. Applicants are judged on academic attainments and promise as well as personal character and career goals.

• ELIGIBILITY: Canadian citizens who hold a degree from a Canadian university enrolled in at least the second year of a PhD program
• AMOUNT: $15,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: Letter of intent due October 1 annually; application due November 1 annually

The Laurel Clarke Sea to Space Physiology Research Grant will go to support graduate research in extreme environment human physiology (diving, altitude, and/or space).

• ELIGIBILITY: Master’s or PhD students
• AMOUNT: $5,000
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 31 annually

The WorkSafe Research Training Award enables students to undertake research training with a focus on workplace health and safety.

• ELIGIBILITY: Master’s and PhD students enrolled full-time at a B.C. university researching workplace health and safety
• AMOUNT: $20,000 stipend/year (1 year for master’s, 2 years for PhD); $2,500 research and travel allowance
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: Competition opens in November 2024

The Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s Program provides financial support to high-caliber scholars who are engaged in eligible master’s programs in Canada. This support allows these students to fully concentrate on their studies in their chosen fields.

• ELIGIBILITY: Domestic master’s students (Canadian citizens and permanent residents)
• AMOUNT: $17,500 for 12 months
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 1 annually

The British Columbia Graduate Scholarship (BCGS) is available to exceptional students entering a research-based graduate program on the UBC Okanagan campus.

• ELIGIBILTY: Domestic master’s and doctoral students with first-class admission GPA
• AMOUNT: $17,500
• APPLICATION DEADLINE: N/A – students are automatically considered