Funding

Make the most of the financial resources available to you as a UBC graduate student.

We recognize the importance of financial support to academic success and are committed to funding all of our graduate students. We typically offer MA students 20 months of funding and a minimum of five years of funding to PhD students. UBC automatically considers domestic and international applicants for funding as part of the application process.

Funding packages consist of scholarships and employment, usually in the form of teaching assistantships and, when available, research assistantships.

Scholarships

Approximately one-half to two-thirds of a funding package offered on admission will consist of scholarships. Scholarship funding comes either from the department’s internal funding or external awards won by application or departmental nomination.

All eligible international students receive an international tuition award for the duration of their program that reduces the amount of their tuition to approximately the domestic rate.

Beyond the first year of their programs, our students have successfully obtained major financial awards. In addition, students are eligible for funding from the graduate travel fund, and the department is typically able to fund at least one research trip per graduate career.


Student employment

Approximately one-third to one-quarter of a funding package offered on admission will consist of income as a teaching assistant for one or more of the department's undergraduate courses. Teaching assistantships are an integral part of the graduate student experience. Students have the opportunity to hone their expertise in an area or learn about new topics and develop strong organizational, communication, and instructional skills.

We regularly run a TA training program, through which students gain valuable skills that apply to teaching, academic success, and professional development within and beyond the academy. We have also offered free registration in UBC's Instructional Skills Workshop to two or three students each year.

At UBC, we pay teaching assistants according to the rates set by CUPE 2278, the labour union representing TAs at UBC. Visit their website for salary information.

Many of our faculty hold grants which allow them to hire qualified graduate students as research assistants.

We hire graduate students to provide administrative assistance in some years, such as in the TA Training Program and the Graduate Reading Room.

We understand the importance of teaching experience for our doctoral students. In addition to gaining experience as a TA, we encourage you to take advantage of the many instructional development opportunities offered through the Centre for Teaching and Learning Technology.

Total funding is always taken into consideration when hiring graduate students. PhD students in their fifth year who are making good progress on their dissertations are often the first to be considered for employment.


Funding opportunities

Graduate fellowships

Amounts vary

Open to domestic and international students. No separate application is required; all students are automatically considered.

Four-year doctoral fellowships

$18,200 per year for up to 4 years plus a tuition waiver

Open to domestic and international students. The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies automatically considers all PhD applicants for the four-year fellowship. No separate application is required.

UBC affiliated fellowships

Up to $30,000 a year

Open to domestic and international doctoral and master's students. Domestic students who apply for Tri-Council funding are automatically considered. International students must apply directly to the department by mid-September (doctoral) or December 1 (master's).

Killam doctoral fellowships

$30,000 a year for up to 2 years plus tuition waiver

Open to domestic and international students. Students who apply for a Tri-Council doctoral scholarships (SSHRC Doctoral and SSHRC CGS) or UBC affiliated fellowships are automatically considered for the Killam. At AMNE, we currently have two Killam award holders.

David and Blanche Gwynne-Vaughan memorial scholarship

Amounts vary

Open to domestic and international students. For students studying topics in religion. The department administers the scholarship. No separate application is required.

Diversity fund

Amounts vary

At AMNE, we have committed funding to support MA and PhD students from underrepresented backgrounds in our fields. Prospective graduate students who identify as Indigenous, Black, or a person of colour may apply for this fund as part of their admissions application. Depending on available funding, admitted students may receive up to $5,000 per year as a top-up to their funding packages.

Malcolm F. McGregor memorial scholarship

Amounts vary

For students studying Classics or Classical Archaeology. No application is required. The department administers the scholarship.

Vanier scholarship

$50,000 a year for up to 3 years

Open to domestic and international doctoral students. Applications are due to the department in early September.

Canada graduate scholarships: master's

$17,500 for one year

Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Applications are due December 1 for the following academic year. Applications are made directly through the Tri-Council Research Portal. The department nominates the best applications for consideration in the next round of adjudication.

SSHRC graduate scholarships: doctoral

$20,000 per year for up to 4 years plus tuition waiver or $35,000 per year for up to 3 years

Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. A single application for both the Doctoral Fellowship and the Canada Graduate Scholarship awards is due directly to the department in mid-September for the following academic year. The department nominates the best applications for consideration in the next round of adjudication.

Mackenzie King memorial scholarships

$8,500 to $10,500

Open to graduates of Canadian universities. Applications are due in early February for the following academic year.

The Department of Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Studies is committed to funding graduate student travel to conduct research, fieldwork, and/or attend conferences. Typically, we can fund at least one research trip or conference per graduate career.

  • Dennis Molnar Graduate Student Travel Scholarship: By application to the department in February.
  • Homer Armstrong Thompson Travel Scholarship: By application to the department in February.
  • Departmental Travel Fund: By application to the department in February. We will reimburse the funds after you have completed your travels.
  • Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Graduate Student Travel Fund: By application to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.


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