Student Awards and Funding
Current Students can find more resources and scholarship opportunities in the SPPH Grad Student Site on the Financial Wellness page and Events page.
Students are encouraged to explore the information from UBC and G+PS about funding your graduate studies. Below you can find a selected list of funding programs and awards, many of which are available to thesis students only (MSc or PhD students). Please check with your program manager, faculty advisor, or supervisor for advice before applying for any awards. You may also wish to consult the G+PS Awards listing.
External Awards for Students
| Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) Funding overview | Current Opportunities | |
| Description | Graduate Scholarships $35,000 |
| Eligibility | PhD |
| Deadline | September annually – please read the requirements for submission and signature pages. |
| Description | IHSPR Rising Star Award $1,000 award, travel support and publication. |
| Eligibility | Graduate students and/or post-doctoral fellows studying in all fields and disciplines related to health services and policy research |
| Deadline | February, annually |
| Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships administered by CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC | |
| Description | Vanier Scholars $50,000 |
| Eligibility | PhD students |
| Deadline | September |
| International Development Research Centre (IDRC) | |
| Description | IDRC Research Awards One year salary and travel expenses up to $15,000 |
| Eligibility | Canadians, permanent residents of Canada, and citizens of developing countries pursuing or completed a master’s or a doctoral degree at a recognized university. |
| Deadline | September |
| Description | IDRC Doctoral Research Awards. $20,000 |
| Eligibility | Canadians, permanent residents of Canada, and citizens of developing countries pursuing doctoral studies at a Canadian university. |
| Deadline | May |
| Trudeau Foundation | |
| Description | Doctoral scholarships $40,000 plus $20,000 travel allowance |
| Eligibility | First year of a PhD at UBC, or be registered in the first or second year of a PhD at UBC |
| Deadline | SPPH deadline: October |
| Killam Scholarship and Prize Programmes | |
| Description | Killam Doctoral Scholarship – part of the Affiliated Fellowships Doctoral Competition. $30,000 per annum for two years and a $2,000 allowance for research-related travel during the 24 months of the scholarship. |
| Eligibility | PhD |
| Deadline | As per the UBC Affiliated award deadline. |
| Fraser Basin Council | |
| Description | Robert Caton Scholarship is for graduate students with demonstrated interest in atmospheric sciences, air quality and health or policy. Amount: $2000 |
| Eligibility | All students |
| Deadline | Competition announced in fall term |
| Description | David Bates Scholarship is for graduate students with demonstrated interest in atmospheric sciences, air quality and health or policy. Amount: $2000 |
| Eligibility | All students |
| Deadline | Competition announced in fall term |
| Canadian Cancer Society | |
| Description | Travel Allowance Amount: Up to $2,000 CAD |
| Eligibility | Master’s, PhD and post-doctoral fellows |
| Deadline | January, May and September |
| UNESCO-L’Oréal For Women in Science Canadian National Fellowships | |
| Description | The UNESCO-L’Oréal for Women in Science Canadian National Fellowships are granted annually to promising young women scientists at the doctorate or post-doctorate level in the Life Sciences. $20,000 CAD for postdoc and $5,000 CAD for other applicants. |
| Eligibility | PhD |
| Deadline | March |
| WorkSafe BC | |
| Description | WorkSafeBC Research Training Awards. $20,000 stipend and a $2,500 research and travel allowance |
| Eligibility | Master’s, PhD |
| Deadline | March |
| Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research | |
| Description | MSFHR Research Trainee Program Awards support highly qualified Master’s, PhD and Post Doctoral trainees to prepare for careers as independent health researchers. |
| Eligibility | Master’s, PhD and Post Doctoral trainees |
| Deadline | March |
| Canada-US Fulbright Program | |
| Description | The Canada-US Fulbright Program is a bi-national program of educational exchange, with a mandate to enhance mutual understanding between the people of Canada and the people of the United States of America. Amount varies according to particular competition within the program |
| Eligibility | Master’s, PhD students who are Canadian citizens |
| Deadline | November |
| WAGS/UMI Master’s Thesis and Technology Awards | |
| Description | Nominations for the WAGS/UMI Distinguished Master’s Thesis Award will be accepted from any graduate program or department that offers a master’s degree. Amount: $1,000 |
| Eligibility | Master’s |
| Deadline | September |
| Globalink Graduate Fellowship | |
| Description | The Globalink Graduate Fellowship provides financial support to former Globalink Research Interns to return to Canada for graduate studies at select Mitacs university partners. Amount: $15,000 |
| Eligibility | Master’s and PhD |
| Deadline | After submitting applications to graduate schools. |
| North Pacific Research Board | |
| Description | North Pacific Research Board will award up to six Graduate Student Research Awards (GSRAs) to three qualified master’s students and three doctoral students for the opportunity to address scientific, technological, and socio-economic issues relating to the research themes identified in the 2005 NPRB Science Plan. Amount: $25,000 |
| Eligibility | Master’s and PhD |
| Deadline | February |
UBC Awards
| Doctoral Fellowships | |
| Description | Four Year Doctoral Fellowships: $18,200 (plus tuition) per year |
| Eligibility | PhD |
| Deadline | Application to graduate program is application for fellowship |
| Aboriginal Graduate Fellowships | |
| Description | The University of British Columbia offers multi-year fellowships to Master’s and doctoral Aboriginal students. All Aboriginal students are eligible to apply, but priority is given to Aboriginal graduate students whose traditional territory falls, at least in part, within Canada. This includes Canadian First Nations, Métis or Inuit students and may include Aboriginal students from Alaska and the northern states of the USA. The University may request further information to confirm Aboriginal eligibility. Applicants may or may not be UBC graduate students at the time of application – the competition is open to both incoming and continuing graduate students. However, awardees must be enrolled as full-time graduate students at the UBC-Vancouver campus for the most recent academic year in order to receive an Aboriginal Graduate Fellowship through this competition. Students in the following programs are not eligible: MEng, MM, MBA, and PharmD. To be eligible to receive Aboriginal Graduate Fellowship funding, students are required to limit their number of hours of paid employment to an average of 12 hours per week during the funding period. Nomination Procedures / Materialscompleted Aboriginal Graduate Fellowship Application Formcopy of your Canadian Common CV (use the CGS Master’s form, save as a pdf)copies of all university-level transcripts (print-out of Academic History from SISC is acceptable for UBC transcript).For more detailed information about this competition, please see the Graduate Awards website Amount: $16,000 – $18,000 stipend plus tuition each year for up to two years (Master’s) or four years (doctoral) |
| Eligibility | The competition is open to both incoming and continuing aboriginal graduate students. |
| Deadline | SPPH Deadline: February. Submit relevant documents to your Academic Program Manager. |
| Graduate Student Travel Fund | |
| Description | The Graduate Student Travel Fund is for travel to conferences to present research results. |
| Eligibility | Must be used prior to graduation. |
| Deadline | See your Academic Program Manager. |
| UBC International Partial Tuition Scholarship | |
| Description | The UBC International Partial Tuition Scholarship:Students do not need to apply for this award since the School coordinates this process with the Faculty of Graduate Studies.Students should receive an Award Acceptance Letter with a Notice of Fellowship, which needs to be signed and returned to the Department. |
| Roman M. Babicki Fellowship In Medical Research | |
| Description | Two fellowships have been endowed by Roman M. Babicki to support doctoral candidates undertaking cancer research in any academic department, provided that their supervisor has a primary appointment in the Faculty of Medicine. Preference will be given to Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents. The awards are made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Medicine in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. $25,000 for one year. Holders of the award may re-apply for a second year. |
| Eligibility | PhD |
| Deadline | July |
| Joel Bert Award | |
| Description | In memory of Professor Joel Bert, a prize is offered to a UBC undergraduate or graduate student who incorporates engineering design and/or principles in the solution of an occupational or environmental health or safety problem. Amount: $1000 |
| Eligibility | All students |
| Deadline | Competition announced in Winter term |
External Awards for SPPH Students
| All Students | |||
| Award | Amount | Eligibility | Deadlines |
| John Snow Prize Awarded to the student with the highest standing in SPPH 502 course: Epidemiological Methods 1. Funded by SPPH faculty members. | $100 | All students | n/a – no application necessary |
| Hy and Lee Schechter Scholarship Awarded to students in their final year at SPPH who combine academic excellence with contributions to the University and to improvements in health in communities. Faculty members nominate eligible students and the Awards & Prizes committee ranks the nominations. Awarded on recommendation from SPPH. | Up to $2,200 | SPPH students in their final year | |
| MHA students | |||
| Award | Amount | Eligibility | Deadlines |
| Lloyd F. Detwiller Prize in Health Administration Awarded to an MHA student based on academic excellence and demonstrated interest in the field of hospital administration. Awarded on recommendation from SPPH in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate Studies. | MHA | ||
| Robert Wood Johnson Award Awarded to the MHA student deemed most likely to make a substantial contribution in the field of health care. Given to the graduating student for either November or May graduation with highest overall grade average attained while completing the program. Funded by Johnson & Johnson. Awarded on recommendation from SPPH. | MHA | November or May Graduation | |
| W.J. Lyle Memorial Scholarship Organized by the BC Health Association and BC Ministry of Health employees, and supplemented by the Mr. & Mrs. PA Woodward Foundation and the Government of BC. Awarded to an MHA student who has demonstrated academic ability and is deemed likely to contribute to improve planning, organization, management or governance in the health care fields. Eligible if completed all first year course requirements and achieving a first class (80%) average in the first year “core” courses. | MHA | ||
| MHSc students | |||
| Award | Amount | Eligibility | Deadlines |
| George. R.F. Elliot Fellowship in Community Health Awarded to the student with the best proposal for a project or thesis within the broad rubric of community health, as adjudicated by the SPPH Awards and Prizes Committee and one designated faculty member from the Occupational & Environmental Health Theme. Given to a full-time graduate student in the PhD or MHSc program who has satisfactorily completed all coursework and has or will have completed the comprehensive examination before the end of the calendar year, or a full-time MSc graduate student who has satisfactorily completed all coursework. Students have to apply for this award – application forms are circulated in the fall term annually. Funded by the B.C. Medical Services Foundation. | $2400 | MHSc, MSc, PhD | |
| S. Stewart Murray Prize Awarded to an MHSc student for meritorious scholarship in the field of public health, preventive medicine or epidemiology based on submission of a completed project or writing deemed most likely to lead to a publication of high quality. Awarded on recommendation from SPPH. Funded by the Health Officers of B.C. | $300 | MHSc | Fall and Spring terms |
| MSc and MSc OEH students | |||
| Award | Amount | Eligibility | Deadlines |
| George. R.F. Elliot Fellowship in Community Health Awarded to the student with the best proposal for a project or thesis within the broad rubric of community health, as adjudicated by the SPPH Awards and Prizes Committee and one designated faculty member from the Occupational & Environmental Health Theme. Given to a full-time graduate student in the PhD or MHSc program who has satisfactorily completed all coursework and has or will have completed the comprehensive examination before the end of the calendar year, or a full-time MSc graduate student who has satisfactorily completed all coursework. Students have to apply for this award – application forms are circulated in the fall term annually. Funded by the B.C. Medical Services Foundation. | $2400 | MHSc, MSc, PhD | |
| AL Riegert Award Given to the full-time student with the highest average in 15 credits of a minimum of 18 core course credits taken in the first year of the MSc program in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. | ~$1000 | MSc-OEH | Awardee determined end of Winter term |
| Donna Gibson Memorial Prize Awarded to the MSc graduating student with the highest grade after completion of all required courses. Funded by family, friends, and colleagues of Donna Gibson. Awarded on recommendation from SPPH. | $400 | MSc | November or May Graduation |
| Murray Stratton Memorial Prize Awarded to the MSc student for the highest overall standing among full-time or part-time students who have completed at least 18 credits of coursework within the past 12 months. Funded by friends and associates of Murray Stratton. Awarded on recommendation from SPPH. | $200 | MSc | |
| PhD students | |||
| Award | Amount | Eligibility | Deadlines |
| George. R.F. Elliot Fellowship in Community Health Awarded to the student with the best proposal for a project or thesis within the broad rubric of community health, as adjudicated by the SPPH Awards and Prizes Committee and one designated faculty member from the Occupational & Environmental Health Theme. Given to a full-time graduate student in the PhD or MHSc program who has satisfactorily completed all coursework and has or will have completed the comprehensive examination before the end of the calendar year, or a full-time MSc graduate student who has satisfactorily completed all coursework. Students have to apply for this award – application forms are circulated in the fall term annually. Funded by the B.C. Medical Services Foundation. | $2400 | MHSc, MSc, PhD | |
| Anne Crichton Prize Awarded by the School by recommendation from the Thesis Screening Panel for the best thesis proposal. Funded by friends, colleagues and former students of Anne Chrichton. Awarded on recommendation from SPPH. | $280 | PhD | September to June annually |