2026 UBC Killam Scholarship in Canada

About the scholarship

The Killam Scholarship and Prize Programmes were established in memory of Izaak Walton Killam through the Will of his wife, Dorothy J. Killam, and through gifts made during her lifetime. Their primary purpose is to support advanced education and research at five Canadian universities and the Canada Council for the Arts. The UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarships are provided annually from the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Fund for Advanced Studies. It was Mrs. Killam’s desire that those selected to receive scholarships: “Be likely to contribute to the advancement of learning or to win distinction in a profession.”

Eligibility

To be considered for the UBC Killam Doctoral Scholarship, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Have completed no more than 24 months of doctoral study as of the start date of the scholarship. Therefore, applicants to the 2024-2025 competition must have completed no more than 24 months of doctoral study as of 1 September 2025.
• Research ability and potential – 50%: Quality of research proposal, specific, focused and feasible research question(s) and objective(s), clear description of the proposed methodology, significance and expected contributions to research.
• Relevant training, such as academic training, lived experience and traditional teachings.
• Research experience and achievements relative to the applicant’s stage of study, lived experience and knowledge systems.
• Quality of contributions and extent to which they advance the field of research. Contributions may include: publications, patents, reports, posters, abstracts, monographs, presentations, creative outputs, knowledge translation outputs, community products, etc.
• Demonstration of sound judgment and ability to think critically.
• Demonstration of responsible and ethical research conduct, including honest and thoughtful inquiry, rigorous analysis, commitment to safety and to the dissemination of research results and adherence to the use of professional standards.
• Enthusiasm for research, originality, initiative, autonomy, relevant community involvement and outreach.
• The ability or potential to communicate theoretical, technical and/or scientific concepts clearly and logically in written and oral formats.