Applying for Funding
We encourage students to start planning their award applications as early as the Summer months. As is expected in interdisciplinary studies, the content and format of the proposals vary tremendously.
Here are some documents to help get you started:
- Information on proposal writing
- Resources for Award Applicants
- Soliciting Great Scholarship Reference Letters
- Tips for Successful Funding Applications
Also check out the Resources for Award Applicants on the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) web site.
The sample proposals below are from successful applications, and can give you some ideas about how to present your research, background, and methodology in your upcoming proposals.
*Please note that information on the specific awards may change and the latest updates can be found on the funding agencies web sites.
Adjudication Process
Almost all awards or scholarships applications are submitted to the ISGP Office for internal program-level adjudication. Applications successful at the program-level competition are then forwarded to the university-level (UBC) adjudication, before reaching the final stage of competition at the funding agency-level adjudication.
The ISGP strives to notify applicants on the results at every stage of the competition.
For eligibility, please read the “Months of Doctoral Studies” carefully here. I encourage you to click on all the links to ensure you are familiar with all the pertinent application information. DEADLINE: 12:00pm (PDT - Vancouver time) on Thursday, September 2, 2021 via ResearchNet The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGS) program is designed to attract and retain world-class doctoral students by supporting 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. Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and international students are eligible to be nominated for a Vanier Scholarship, which is valued at $50,000 per year for up to three years. Note: Important note on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI): The Vanier CGS program encourages equity, diversity and inclusion, as part of the Tri-Agency’s broader commitment to excellence in research and research training in Canada. Resources for applicants, institutions, referees and the selection committees are available here. Applicants are encouraged to review Vanier’s EDI resources to incorporate EDI considerations in their application package. Application To apply, applicants must do the following: Step-by-Step Application Instructions: click here. For more information, including eligibility requirements, application procedures, and nomination procedures, please visit G+PS’ Vanier webpage. Sample Proposal 1 - Vanier
Tri-Agency Canada Graduate Scholarships - Doctoral (CGS-D) (*domestic students only) Applicants applying through UBC will either be: Application will be submitted via each of the agency platforms. The application portals are now open and applicants may begin preparing their applications. For application, nomination, and adjudication procedures that are specific to UBC, please visit the UBC webpage, which includes guidance for applicants on transcripts. Applicants who need official transcripts file (PDF) may email Michelle Zapiola. SSHRC/NSERC/CIHR Applicants: to be considered for the UBC Affiliated Fellowship, you must email this checklist to the Michelle Zapiola. Deadline for SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, and UBC Affiliated Fellowships: Tuesday September 14, 2021 @ 12pm (PDT) Resources for award applicants here. Eligibility CIHR NSERC SSHRC Sample Proposal 1 - CIHR UBC Affiliated Fellowships (*open to int’l students) The UBC Affiliated Fellowships doctoral competition runs in concert with the university-adjudicated Tri-Agency CGS-D competitions. - Check with ISGP that all your non-UBC post-secondary transcripts are in file
***Application deadline: TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021 @ 2:00 PM PST (5:00 EST) on Trudeau Foundation online portal*** Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship Program offers a three-year leadership program designed to train Engaged Leaders, equipping doctoral candidates with the skills to translate their ideas into action, for the betterment of their communities, Canada, and the world. At least 12 doctoral Scholars are selected each year and receive generous funding for their studies. This scholarship program supports doctoral students pursing research in one or more of the Foundation’s Four Themes: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the World, and People and their Natural Environment. Value: Up to $40,000 stipend plus up to $20,000 research and travel allowance per year for three years Information sessions for scholarship candidates: Reminder: As of the 2020 competition, interested applicants apply directly to the Trudeau Foundation to be considered in the national competition; all interested and eligible applicants may apply. The University of British Columbia no longer nominates a subset of applicants to the national competition (there is no department-level or university-level adjudication). For further information, such as detailed eligibility requirements, evaluation criteria, and application procedures, please visit G+PS webpage or the Trudeau Foundation webpage. Eligibility Applications are submitted via the Trudeau Foundation application portal: If you are applying: - Email Enid for “certified true copies” of your transcripts on file.
*for Master’s students only Application Deadline (both CGS-M and Affiliated Fellowships): TUESDAY December 1, 2021 @ 5:00pm PST IMPORTANT NOTE: CGS-M applications cannot be submitted or edited after the application deadline. Late applications will be ruled ineligible. The CGS-M application deadline is set nationally by the CGS-M funding agency and is not flexible. CGS-M UBC Affiliated Fellowships (Master’s) What you need to do now: 1) Outline of Proposed Research (1 pg. max) + bibliography/citation (1 pg. max) 2) Have the transcript scan ready (from ISGP) 3) Create/update your Canadian Common CV (CCV) and have the confirmation # ready. A complete CCV must be linked to the application by following the instructions provided in the Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master’s program: Instructions for completing a Canadian Common CV page.
Full details here. Deadline ISGP Internal Deadline: FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2021 at 4:00pm (email application to Enid) Eligibility Students must be registered, full-time graduate students during the period of the award (Sep 2021-Aug 2022). Additional eligibility criteria differ between awards, and students might be eligible for multiple awards. The list of awards is available in the Application Form - PART 2. In the Application Form - PART 2, students must clearly address their eligibility as specifically to the award description as possible. To be eligible to receive funding, applicants must meet all the criteria for each award they apply for. In addition to eligibility requirements specified by each available award, the following criteria apply: Please note that all previous studies at the graduate level, regardless of institution and discipline, will be included in determining eligibility. For example, a previous Master's degree at UBC or another institution would count towards your total Master's months of study. Selection While award recipients will be selected based on academic merits (“Evaluation Criteria”), priority will be given to eligible candidates who do not hold significant scholarship funding (i.e., $16,000 or higher) for the 2021/22 academic year (September 2021 to August 2022). If a student is offered Spring Awards funding, and later receives other scholarship funding of $16,000 or higher for the same period, the Spring Awards funding offer would normally be rescinded. *Exception: The #6507 Montalbano Scholars Fellowship, which is part of the Spring Graduate Awards Competition, is specifically awarded to applicants who already hold significant scholarship funding. Procedure Applicants must submit (via email) the following materials to the ISGP: IMPORTANT NOTE: *Applications must include official, up-to-date transcripts for all current and previous post-secondary studies the applicant has undertaken. Many universities, including UBC, are not able to provide official paper transcripts at this time. However, the vast majority of institutions will provide their students/graduates with official transcripts via email or secure digital services (eg. Parchment), either of which will meet the requirement for official transcripts. Please check with the ISGP for your transcripts on file.
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
- Confirm ISGP has all your official non-UBC transcripts on file (i.e. scanned copies of official transcripts sent/mailed to Grad Studies and uploaded to your UBC admission file as “official”)
- Your UBC transcripts will be downloaded by the ISGP to be appended to your application. Your UBC record must show 2021 Winter registration. No need to order UBC official transcripts.
- two letters from referees assessing the applicant's academic excellence, research potential and demonstrated and potential leadership ability are submitted electronically through ResearchNet by the referee
- two Leadership Reference Letters (in PDF) are provided to the applicant, who uploads the letters to their electronic application file
- applicants should provide potential referees with the Vanier selection criteria guidelines.
Sample Proposal 2 - Vanier
Sample Proposal 3 - Vanier
Sample Proposal 2 - CIHR
Sample Proposal 1 - SSHRC
Sample Proposal 2 - SSHRC
SSHRC Doctoral Award Application - With annotations & Notes - SAMPLE (may look different this year)
NSERC Postgraduate (Doctoral) Scholarships Application (Form 201) - SAMPLE (may look different this year)
NOTE: Students who submit a CIHR, NSERC or SSHRC application to the ISGP are eligible for “unrestricted” Affiliated Fellowships and do not need to submit a separate Affiliated Fellowships application: to be considered for “criteria-based” affiliated fellowship(s), students must submit this checklist to Michelle Zapiola by Tuesday September 14, 2021.
- No need to order official UBC transcripts
- Application form must be submitted electronically
- 2 references (must be on Affiliated Fellowships Reference Forms) emailed directly from referees to ISGP
- MUST provide your own signature (e-signature OK) (pg. 1)
- MUST list both months of Master’s study and doctoral study (pg. 2)
- MUST include current PhD degree in ISGP (pg. 3)Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship
- No need to order UBC official transcript.
- ISGP will email you a PDF file of all your transcripts.
- Reference letters (in PDF) must be signed (digital signature OK!) and either on letterhead or have referees’ names and contacts within letter.CGS-M / UBC Affiliated Fellowships (Master's)
UBC Spring Graduate Awards Competition
Master's students
Doctoral students