UBC Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF)
Offered by University of British Columbia
About this scholarship
The Four Year Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) is the University of British Columbia's core funding guarantee for doctoral students, available to both domestic and international students. Effective September 2026, the 4YF provides recipients with CAD $24,000 in stipend funding per year plus tuition — delivered as a tuition award equal to the tuition assessment applied against the student's charges (tuition is not separately waived) — for up to four years of doctoral study. There is no separate application from the student: graduate programs identify and offer the 4YF to strong applicants, and recipients respond to the offer as directed in their offer letter. Fellowships are generally offered to students beginning their first year of full-time PhD, DMA, or MD/PhD studies, though continuing students may also receive them. International recipients are not required to enter the annual Affiliated Fellowships competition, but may choose to compete there for awards with higher stipends, such as the Killam Doctoral Fellowship. Because it combines a guaranteed multi-year stipend with tuition support, the 4YF underpins UBC's minimum-funding commitment for PhD students.
Eligibility
- Be admitted to a full-time doctoral programme (PhD, DMA, or MD/PhD) at UBC
- Be identified and offered the 4YF by your graduate program (no separate student application)
- Generally be beginning your first year (continuing students may also be offered it)
- Demonstrate strong academic merit and research potential
- Respond to the graduate program's offer as directed
This opens the official program page — look for the “Apply” button there. Always verify amounts and deadlines on the official site; they change each cycle.
Last verified by us: 2026-06-01.