Killam Doctoral Scholarships

Deadline:

TBA: Consistent with CGS-D, likely September 2024


Eligibility of Citizenship: Canadian, Permanent Residence, and International
Degree Level: PhD
Award Status: Closed
Applicant Status: Incoming Students and Continuing Students

Description

Quick Facts

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. A Killam scholar should not be a one-sided person… Special distinction of intellect should be founded upon sound character.”

Killam Doctoral Scholarships are the most prestigious awards available to graduate students at UBC. At present, the Killam Doctoral Scholarship provides an annual stipend valued at $40,000 for two years.

Annual Value: $40,000
Duration: 2 years

Eligibility

Months of Study

  • To be eligible to apply for Killam Doctoral Scholarship funding, applicants must 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.

Evaluation Criteria

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.

Relevant experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia – 50%

  • Scholarships, awards and distinctions (amount, duration and prestige)
  • Academic record:
    • Transcripts
    • Duration of previous studies
    • Program requirements and courses pursued
    • Course load
    • Relative standing in program (if available)
  • Professional, academic and extracurricular activities as well as collaborations with supervisors, colleagues, peers, students and members of the community, such as:
    • teaching, mentoring, supervising and/or coaching
    • managing projects
    • participating in science and/or research promotion
    • community outreach, volunteer work and/or civic engagement
    • chairing committees and/or organizing conferences and meetings
    • participating in departmental or institutional organizations, associations, societies and/or clubs

Application Procedures

Students who are eligible for the Canada Graduate Scholarships-Doctoral (CGS-D) (such as Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada) are required to apply for CGS-D. Students who submit an NSERC, SSHRC or CIHR doctoral award application to UBC Okanagan are also eligible for Killam Scholarship funding, and do not need to submit a separate application.

Application Form:

The application form is required, and is comprised of the following sections:

  • Basic Information
  • Research Project Title
  • Lay Title
  • Lay Abstract
  • Sex, Gender, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Considerations

Outline of Proposed Research (max 2 pages):

The outline of proposed research is a free-form document that describes your proposed doctoral research project. You should include the research question(s), context, objectives, methodology, significance, and expected contribution to the advancement of knowledge.

Write your proposal in clear, plain language. Avoid discipline-specific jargon, acronyms, and highly technical terms when writing your research proposal. Your application will be reviewed by members of a multidisciplinary selection committee, not all of whom will be familiar with your area of research. Please ensure you follow the presentation standards listed below.

Bibliography (max 5 pages):

Provide the following:

  • bibliography for your proposed research
  • bibliographic details for all citations included in your research proposal

Please ensure you follow the presentation standards listed below.

Transcripts:

  • UBC transcripts: Students can order official transcripts from student services here: https://students.ok.ubc.ca/courses-money-enrolment/transcripts/. Note that we no longer provide academic histories, and students must order official transcripts from student services.
    • Your UBC transcript must include the 2024W1 (Fall 2024) registration and must be ordered after September 1st.
  • Other transcripts:
    • Must be official and up to date (include degree conferral, if applicable) as of August 31, 2024.
    • Required even from institutions in cases of transfer credit or exchange terms.
    • Foreign transcripts: if the transcripts are not presented in one of Canada’s two official languages (English or French), a certified translation must be provided, in addition to the official transcripts in its original language.
    • The transcript key/legend for each institution must be included.
    • Note that UBCO no longer provides transcripts that are on file to students. Students must ensure that they have copies of all of their official transcripts well before the deadline so they can be uploaded to the application by the deadline.
  • It remains the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all required transcripts have been provided to the College of Graduate Studies by the internal deadline indicated above.

References:

Two references are required and must be submitted via the reference form. Please note:

  • Referees should have had sufficient opportunity to assess your research ability and potential and the relevance of your experience and achievements obtained within and beyond academia, as described in the selection criteria.
  • One referee should be familiar with your research and abilities (i.e. current or previous research supervisor) and the other should be sufficiently familiar with your research and abilities to provide a meaningful commentary.
  • Only reference forms submitted by the person providing the reference is acceptable.
  • Emails or any other reference submission, other than the reference form provided here, are not acceptable under any circumstances.
  • Reference forms are confidential, and the contents of the reference forms are not to be viewed by the applicant.
  • Reference forms MUST be received by our office by the application deadline, late references will not be accepted.

Presentation Standards:

Please ensure your attachments are presented according to these specifications:

  • Explain any acronyms and abbreviations fully;
  • Pages must be 8 ½” x 11″ (216mm x 279mm);
  • Pages must be single-spaced, with no more than six lines of type per inch;
  • All text must be in 12 pt Times New Roman font*;
  • Condensed fonts will not be accepted;
  • All text should be black, and no colour images should be used;
  • Margins must be set at a minimum of ¾” (1.87 cm)

Adjudication Procedures

  • The College of Graduate Studies Scholarship and Awards Committee will convene an adjudication committee composed of UBC faculty members to review applications and select the top-ranked applicants.
  • Results are released to applicants in Spring 2025.

Additional Resources

Further Information

The Killam Laureates website provides information about Killam programs across Canada and information about the original donors, Izaak Walton and Dorothy J. Killam.

Questions about this award? Email graduateawards.ok@ubc.ca