The University of British Columbia (UBC) Public Scholars Award offers up to $20,000 to support doctoral students in integrating public scholarship into their research. Apply Below:
When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is Friday, May 16, 2025. Results will be announced in late July/early August.
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Tell me about the UBC Public Scholars Award:
The UBC Public Scholars Award is part of the Public Scholars Initiative (PSI), which supports doctoral students in integrating public scholarship into their research. This initiative aims to expand the scope of doctoral education by encouraging students to engage in scholarship that benefits the public and extends beyond traditional academic boundaries. It also provides career-relevant experiences and fosters connections among scholars. The award offers funding to support innovative and collaborative research projects that students would otherwise be unable to pursue.
Which fields of study are eligible?
All Fields
What type of opportunity is this?
PhD Scholarship
Who can apply for the UBC Public Scholars Award?
Also, the award is open to the following set of scholars:
- 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.
How are applicants selected?
Applications are evaluated based on:
- Student’s past accomplishments and future promise, including their fit with the proposed project.
- Alignment with PSI goals, particularly projects that:
- Extend beyond academia and traditional disciplinary boundaries.
- Provide students with experience in relevant career environments.
- Ensure diverse forms of scholarship are recognized and evaluated within the degree.
- Foster positive public perception of the value of a doctorate.
- Contribute to the public good through rigorous scholarship.
- Quality of proposed scholarship, considering:
- Expertise is required for the work.
- Clearly defined, realistic goals addressing significant questions.
- Appropriate methods for achieving goals.
- Effective documentation and dissemination plans.
- Impact on the public good.
- Need for alternative funding sources.
- Consideration of disciplinary diversity in the selection process.
Which countries can apply?
All countries
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Where will this opportunity take place?
University of British Columbia, Canada.
How many spots are available?
Each year, up to 30 new students from UBC Vancouver and 5 new students from UBC Okanagan are selected.
What are the benefits of the UBC Public Scholars Award in?
The benefits include:
- Up to $10,000 per year, renewable for a second year (total of up to $20,000 per student).
Funding can be used for:
- Research allowances (including professional development and travel).
- Student stipends if the student’s current funding source does not cover alternative projects.
- Scholars gain access to a network of public scholars and PSI events.
How long does this opportunity last?
One year but is renewable
How can you apply?
- Download these 2 files: PSI Fellowship Application 2025-2026 and PSI Fellowship Application Instructions 2025-2026. They can be found at the bottom of 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 2025-2026 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.
Visit the official application webpage.
