University of British Columbia Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) 2026

If you're a distinguished doctoral candidate eyeing world-class research at a top-tier institution, the University of British Columbia (UBC) Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) could be your ticket. UBC offers this prestigious four-year funding package—covering full tuition plus an annual stipend—to secure exceptional PhD, DMA, and MDPhD talent from around the globe. Read on for details.

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🎓 Fellowship Summary

• Location: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

• Host Institution: University of British Columbia (UBC) Graduate School

• Level: Doctoral (PhD, DMA, MDPhD)

• Target Group: Domestic (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) and international students

• Fields of Focus: All disciplines within eligible doctoral programs at UBC

• Value & Coverage:

  • Annual stipend of at least $18,200 CAD

  • Full coverage of tuition fees for up to four years

• Award Duration: Up to four years, or until the end of the fifth year of doctoral study—whichever comes first

• Application Deadline: Likely in December 2025 (exact date varies by department)

• Start Date: Determined by each graduate program—typically May, September, or January

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📚 Fellowship Overview

UBC’s 4YF provides a stable financial foundation for doctoral candidates, allowing them to focus fully on their research.

Paths to receiving the 4YF:

• Graduate Program Nomination (4YF-G): Awarded at program level to top incoming or continuing students

• Tri-Agency Scholarship Designate (4YF-T): Students with awards like Vanier, CGS-D, NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR automatically gain 4YF access once their external funding ends

• Other Major Scholarships (4YF-U): Winners of internal competitive scholarships such as Killam or Li Tze Fong may also receive 4YF support

💰 Funding Duration Details:

• Total coverage spans the length of any external awards plus 4YF, limited to four years or until the end of the fifth doctoral year

• Examples include combinations of 4YF with affiliated fellowships, or transitions from external scholarships to 4YF support

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🎁 Fellowship Benefits

• Tuition: Fully covered for up to four years.

• Stipend: Minimum of $18,200 CAD annually to support living expenses.

• Stability: Ensures financial security throughout doctoral studies.

• Flexibility:

  • Leave or interruptions (e.g., internships) may be accommodated through official interruption forms, potentially extending funding period

  • Transfers between closely related UBC doctoral programs retain funding

  • Employment: Students earning over $17,500/year from awards can work more than 12 hours/week, but must maintain full-time academic commitment

• Tax Information: Funding is reported via T4A; recipients are responsible for tax declarations

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✅ Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality: Open to both domestic (Canadian citizens and permanent residents) and international doctoral candidates

• Program Enrollment: Must be admitted to or continuing in a full-time PhD, DMA, or MDPhD program at UBC

• Academic Progress: Funding is contingent on maintaining satisfactory academic performance

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📝 Application Procedure

• Submit a doctoral program application via UBC’s Graduate School. Admission automatically triggers consideration for 4YF funding—no separate fellowship application required for most programs

🔍 Nomination & Selection:

• Programs evaluate candidates and nominate top students, submitting a University Award Recommendation Form with award number 6456 to Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies at least eight weeks before the intended 4YF start date

• Successful nominees will receive official online award notifications via the Student Service Centre, which must be accepted by the student

ℹ️ Additional Information

• Funding transitions: If a 4YF recipient subsequently earns a more generous internal scholarship, they may forfeit the 4YF stipend for that period—or receive only the difference, depending on scholarship value

• Interruption policy: Forms are available for non-academic interruptions that don’t require official academic leave, potentially extending eligibility within the fifth doctoral year limit

• Flexibility across programs: Students may transfer between related doctoral programs without losing funding, as approved by Graduate Studies

• Work limitations: Post-2018 policy allows more flexible part-time work for award holders exceeding $17,500/year, but full-time academic commitment remains expected

  
  

🔗 Official Link

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