The University of British Columbia (UBC) Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) is a major doctoral funding opportunity designed to support outstanding students undertaking advanced research at one of Canada's leading universities. The fellowship provides substantial financial support to eligible doctoral students, including international students, Canadian citizens, and permanent residents.
Effective September 2026 onward, recipients of the UBC Four Year Doctoral Fellowship can receive a $24,000 annual stipend plus full tuition coverage per year for up to four years of their doctoral studies.
The Four Year Doctoral Fellowship program is intended to help UBC attract and retain exceptional doctoral researchers while giving recipients stable base-level financial support for their studies and research.
Why You Should Apply
Benefit
Description
Substantial Funding
$24,000 annual stipend
Tuition Coverage
Full tuition covered
Long-Term Support
Up to 4 years of funding
International Eligibility
Open to students worldwide
No Separate Application
Automatic consideration with admission
Prestigious University
Top Canadian research university
Broad Research Areas
Across multiple disciplines
UBC Four Year Doctoral Fellowship Value
Component
Amount/Details
Annual Stipend
$24,000 per year
Tuition Coverage
Full tuition coverage
Maximum Duration
Up to 4 years
Total Stipend (4 Years)
Up to $96,000 + tuition coverage
Who Can Apply?
Criteria
Details
Citizenship
Canadian citizens, permanent residents, international students
Degree Programs
PhD, DMA, MDPhD
Status
Incoming students (priority) and continuing students
Academic Excellence
Strong academic record
Eligible Degree Programs
Program
Description
PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
DMA
Doctor of Musical Arts
MDPhD
Combined MD/PhD
Selection and Evaluation Criteria
Criteria
Description
Academic Excellence
Primary selection factor
Graduate Program Recommendation
Programs select strongest candidates
Limited Allocations
Each program has limited fellowship allocations
Priority
Incoming students receive priority
How to Apply
Step
Action
1
Identify an appropriate UBC graduate program (PhD, DMA, or MDPhD)
2
Review the graduate program's admission requirements
3
Check the program-specific application deadline
4
Apply for admission to UBC
5
Automatic consideration for 4YF funding (no separate application)
6
Graduate programs select their strongest candidates
Important Funding Requirements
For Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents
Requirement
Description
Tri-Agency Applications
Must apply for Tri-Agency funding every year when eligible
Consequence
Failure to apply will result in forfeiting remaining 4YF funding
For International Students
Requirement
Description
Affiliated Fellowship Competition
Not required to apply
Optional Participation
Eligible to enter if they choose
Opportunity
May compete for higher stipend amounts (e.g., Killam Doctoral Fellowship)
Tri-Agency Award Holders and the 4YF
Students holding certain Tri-Agency awards automatically become 4YF designates:
Award
Description
Vanier Scholarships
Canada's top doctoral scholarships
CGSD
Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarships
CIHR Doctoral Research Awards
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
NSERC PGSD
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
SSHRC Doctoral Fellowships
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
4YF Interruption
UBC provides a mechanism through which 4YF payments can be interrupted for certain non-academic reasons:
Reason
Description
Relevant Work Experience
Paid work experience
Paid Internships
Paid internship opportunities
Research Areas Represented
Area
Description
Microbiology and Immunology
Microbiological research
Interdisciplinary Studies
Cross-disciplinary research
Zoology
Animal biology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Molecular research
Oceanography
Marine and ocean science
Population and Public Health
Public health research
Gender, Race, Sexuality and Social Justice
Social justice research
School and Applied Child Psychology
Child psychology
Resources, Environment and Sustainability
Environmental sustainability
Cell and Developmental Biology
Cellular and developmental research
Important Points to Remember
Point
Description
Apply for Admission First
No separate 4YF application for incoming applicants
No Universal Deadline
Deadline set by each graduate program
Admission ≠ Fellowship
Admission does not guarantee fellowship
Academic Excellence
Central to selection
Incoming Priority
Incoming students receive priority
International Eligible
Open to international students
Up to 4 Years
Funding can last up to 4 years
Academic Progress
Continued funding subject to satisfactory academic progress
Other Funding Obligations
Canadian citizens/PR must apply for Tri-Agency funding
Yes, open to international students, Canadian citizens, and permanent residents.
Q2. How much is the 4YF worth?
$24,000 annual stipend + full tuition coverage.
Q3. Does it cover tuition?
Yes, full tuition coverage is included.
Q4. How long does the fellowship last?
Up to 4 years.
Q5. Do applicants need a separate 4YF application?
No, automatic consideration with admission.
Q6. What is the deadline?
Set by each UBC graduate program.
Q7. Are continuing doctoral students eligible?
Yes, but priority is given to incoming students.
Q8. What degrees qualify?
PhD, DMA, and MDPhD programs.
Q9. Is the fellowship guaranteed with admission?
No, programs select their strongest candidates.
Q10. Do 4YF holders need to apply for other funding?
Canadian citizens/PR must apply for Tri-Agency funding annually.
CareerFlora Expert Insight
The UBC Four Year Doctoral Fellowship represents one of Canada's most significant doctoral funding opportunities. With a $24,000 annual stipend and full tuition coverage for up to four years, the fellowship provides substantial financial support for outstanding doctoral researchers.
The automatic consideration process for incoming applicants eliminates the need for a separate fellowship application, making the process straightforward. However, competition is strong – each graduate program has limited allocations and selects its strongest candidates based on academic excellence.
International students are fully eligible, making this a valuable opportunity for doctoral candidates worldwide.
Best Opportunity For
Category
Suitable
Canadian Citizens
Yes
Permanent Residents
Yes
International Students
Yes
PhD Applicants
Yes
DMA Applicants
Yes
MDPhD Applicants
Yes
Strong Academic Records
Yes
All Research Disciplines
Yes
Competition Level
Category
Level
Overall Competition
Very High
Selection Difficulty
Highly Competitive
Application Complexity
Low
CareerFlora Recommendation
Area
Details
Fellowship Value
Excellent
Career Growth
Very High
Application Difficulty
Low
Apply Early
Strongly Recommended
Final Call-to-Action
Apply for UBC Four Year Doctoral Fellowship 2026.
Identify an appropriate UBC graduate program (PhD, DMA, or MDPhD)
Review admission requirements and program-specific deadlines
Prepare a strong application for admission
Submit your admission application before the program deadline
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