UBC Indigenous Graduate Fellowship

What you will need

• ✓ Completed Application Form
• ✓ Outline of Proposed Research (for research-based master's and doctoral applicants)
• ✓ Outline of Professional Aspirations (for professional or course-based master's applicants)
• ✓ Academic transcripts
• ✓ Canadian Common CV (CCV) (for research-based master's and doctoral applicants)
• ✓ CV form (for professional or course-based master's applicants)

About this award

You can receive a stipend of $25,000 per year plus tuition if you are a doctoral student, or $17,500 per year plus tuition if you are a master's student. This is a fellowship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. Doctoral funding lasts for four years or until the end of your fifth year of study, whichever comes first. Master's funding lasts until the end of your second year of study. Tuition funding is provided up to the current value of standard degree fees. This is for you if you are an Indigenous student pursuing a graduate degree and want to focus on your research and academic growth. In the 2026 competition, applicants submitted their materials to their graduate program by February 20, 2026, at 4:00 PM PT, and programs sent their nominations to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (the office that manages graduate awards) by March 6, 2026. UBC lists the next deadline as likely in March 2027 — ask your graduate program for its own date. The Faculty tells each graduate program the competition results for its applicants, so your program is where you will hear back. Winners are selected based on academic merit through a competition. Selection depends on your degree type: doctoral students are weighted heavily on research ability (50%), while professional master's students are weighted on academic excellence and professional abilities (50% each). Because this is a competitive process, ask University of British Columbia how many fellowships are typically awarded each year to gauge your odds. Ask University of British Columbia during your application how the money will reach you. Typically, these funds are handled through the university, but you should confirm if the stipend is sent via direct deposit and how the tuition award is applied to your account so you can plan your cash flow. To keep this funding, you must maintain full-time status and make satisfactory academic progress. If you are a master's recipient, you must re-apply to be considered for doctoral funding later. Confirm with University of British Columbia if there are any other specific milestones you need to meet to ensure your funding continues each year.

Who qualifies

You are eligible if you are an Indigenous student (including First Nations, Métis, or Inuit) and are either an incoming or continuing graduate student at the University of British Columbia (UBC) Vancouver campus. Priority is given to Indigenous students whose traditional territory falls, at least in part, within Canada, though students from Alaska and other US states may also apply. You must be in a program administered by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (FGPS); students in MBA, MEng, MEL, MM, or MDS programs are not eligible. For master's students: as of December 31, 2025, you must have completed no more than 12 months of full-time (or full-time equivalent) study. For doctoral students: as of December 31, 2025, you must have completed no more than 48 months of full-time (or full-time equivalent) study. If you transferred to a PhD from a master's without finishing the degree, your eligibility is counted from the transfer date. You cannot receive this stipend if you have external funding (such as from the Tri-Agency — the three federal councils that fund health, natural science, and social science research) that equals or exceeds the fellowship amount. However, if you receive Band funding, you can still receive the tuition portion of this award.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
• ✓ Open to graduate students

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

4. 4

   This round closed on February 20, 2026

   Check the award's official page for the next round before you prepare anything.

Tips for applying

• Proposed ResearchAvoid writing a generic summary of your field. Instead, clearly justify why your specific research is significant and why the University of British Columbia is the right place to do it. Detail the feasibility of your project in your outline.
• ReferencesAvoid choosing referees who only know you casually. Instead, select professors or supervisors who can speak specifically to your research potential and academic excellence. Ensure they have your current CV before they submit their forms.
• StrategyAvoid ignoring the weighting for your specific degree. Instead, emphasize your research ability if you are a PhD applicant, or highlight your professional leadership and communication skills if you are in a professional master's program.
• RealismAvoid counting on this award alone. Instead, treat it as a competition: UBC says not all applicants will be awarded IGF funding. Reach out to graduate.awards@ubc.ca to confirm if you should apply through the main competition or the IGF 5th Year Award route.

Questions students ask

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