Apply For UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program (4YF) 2025-2026

Introduction

Study abroad is a dream that everyone would love to actualize, and such a dream is brought a step nearer to realization by a highly competitive scholarship provided by the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada. The Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program (4YF) provided by the UBC in 2025 is a highly competitive four-year funded PhD scholarship for outstanding international students to pursue their PhD studies in one of the most respected institutions in the world. In this article, we guide you through details of Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program, elaborating on rewards of the scholarship, requirements to be eligible, and step-by-step application process.

The Four Years Doctoral Fellowship of the UBC is to support outstanding PhD scholars with considerable financial support throughout their doctoral studies. The four-year scholarship is provided to enjoy a handsome stipend plus waiver of fees to pursue their studies without a worry in their minds, except that of their studies and work.

About UBC and Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program

The University of British Columbia is one of Canada’s institutions of great prestige, highly respected for high-standard education and excellent work in advancing knowledge in various areas. The university is always in the lead of the world in university rankings, offering a wide range of programs in postgraduate and undergraduate studies. The Four Years Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) program is created to recruit and support a few of the best PhD scholars in the world, offering a secured financial support throughout their doctoral studies in their initial four years.

This program offers international scholars a wonderful opportunity to pursue their studies at UBC, a highly regarded university in its method of learning in a research-based way. The fellowship offers an opportunity to pursue their studies and research work without constantly having to worry about funding their studies. The program not only gives a stipend to recipients but also waives their fees, making it a highly competitive grant to scholars around the world.

Scholarship Summary: Major Features of the UBC 4YF Program

The Four Years Doctoral Fellowship is a highly competitive grant that is established to support home and overseas scholars in their PhD studies at the University of British Columbia. The grant is established to provide financial security and prestige to scholars to pursue their studies and work on their research without distraction. The key features of the grant are outlined below:

• Type of Study: PhD (Doctoral)
• School: University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada
• Duration of the Program: The grant is awarded for four years.
• Monetary Assistance: All of the awarded scholars receive a minimum of $18,200 per year, plus waiver of their fees during the grant period (up to four years).
• Eligibility Requirements: The grant is open to home and overseas scholars that meet the program’s scholarly and research requirements.
• Applicant Deadline: There is no time limit to apply for the grant, but scholars need to check their respective graduates programs’ application deadlines.

Benefits of the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program

The UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program grants a total financial support package to recipients. By providing funding support for living expenses as well as for fees of tuition, the fellowship enables scholars to focus their entire time on their scholarly work and studies. The primary benefits of the program are:

1. Big Stipend: The chosen candidates receive a annual stipend of a minimum of $18,200. The stipend is financial support to allow scholars to cover their living expenses in order to focus their time on their doctoral studies.
2. Tuition Waiver: The fellowship also pays for full fees of tuition, a heavy financial burden for many PhD scholars. The benefit allows scholars to pursue their scholarly work and studies without a financial burden in their minds.
3. Funding for Four Years: The grant is to provide funding support for four years, a usual duration of a PhD program. The four-year funding support allows scholars to pursue their doctoral studies without financial breaks.
4. Supplemental Funding: In a small percentage of cases, scholars receiving funding support from other key scholarships also become eligible to receive continued support from the 4YF program. For example, scholars winning highly competitive scholarships such as the Vanier Scholarships or the Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGSD) receive funding support from the 4YF program after their period of funding support is completed.
5. Predictability and Stability: The four-year financial support provided by the 4YF program allows scholars to feel a sense of predictability and stability, making it easy for them to schedule their scholarly work and studies better.

Eligibility Criteria of the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program

The UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program also has certain requirements that need to be fulfilled in order to be eligible to apply for this competitive award. The principal requirements of this program are explained below:

• Language Requirements: The candidate should be proficient in English, as the program is in English. International students would be required to provide evidence of their English proficiency in terms of standardized tests such as TOEFL or IELTs.
• Eligible Countries: The scholarship is open to students of all nationalities in the entire world, i.e., to home or foreign students. Regardless of nationality, if you meet the educational requirements of the program, you can apply for this fellowship.
• Scholarship Requirements: The candidate should be a doctoral student in a doctoral program in UBC in order to be eligible to receive the fellowship. In a large percentage of cases, the fellowship is awarded to PhD students beginning PhD studies in their first year, but in a small percentage of cases, it is also awarded to continuing PhD students, if they meet the educational requirements and have shown considerable improvement in their work.
• Funding Duration: The fellowship is eligible to provide funding up to four years in duration, depending on the work of the student. In a small percentage of cases, funding is awarded for a shorter duration of time.
• Tri-Agency Scholarship Holders: International students receiving other large external scholarships such as the Vanier Scholarships, Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarships (CGSD), or CIHR Doctoral Research Awards automatically become eligible for the 4YF funding. The students receive a 4YF stipend and a tuition allowance after their period of external funding is over.

Process of Application for the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program

The application procedure of Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program is simple yet is more than one step in nature. Here is a step-by-step procedure to apply:

1. Apply for Admission: One needs to apply for admission in one of the graduate programs in UBC to be eligible for the fellowship. Make sure you apply for a PhD program of interest to you in conjunction with areas of studies and areas of interest in research.
2. Automatic Consideration: Upon receiving a graduate program offer of admission, you automatically become a candidate for the 4YF fellowship. There is no separate application required for the fellowship, as all PhD applications are screened for funding automatically.
3. Program-Specific Deadlines: All programs of UBC have a unique application deadline for applications to be shortlisted for Four Years Doctoral Fellowship. Make sure you check for program-specific deadlines to apply in time.
4. Review and Selection: Graduate programs of UBC review their incoming and continuing students and select the most eligible candidates for the fellowship. The incoming students receive a better preference, yet continuing students of high merit also receive a chance to be selected.
5. Faculty of Graduate Studies Notification: Upon completion of shortlisting of to-be-awarded students for the fellowship, their respective programs inform the Faculty of Graduate Studies by submitting a signed University Award Recommendation Form containing details of the student and number of the fellowship award.

Key Considerations

1. Are there application deadlines to apply for the 4YF Fellowship? There is no application deadline to apply for the fellowship, yet you need to check for program-specific deadlines to apply to desired graduate program. All programs have different deadlines for admission as well as for fellowship consideration.
2. Can I apply for the 4YF fellowship if I am already a PhD continuing student? PhD continuing students can also be considered for the fellowship, depending on their scholarly advancement and accomplishments in their research work.
3. What happens if I already hold an external scholarship? If you’ve already been awarded an external scholarship such as the Vanier or CGSD, you can be eligible for funding of fees plus a stipend after you’ve exhausted your external funding.
4. How big a stipend am I to receive in the 4YF fellowship? The fellowship is a minimum of a $18,200 per year stipend that is to cater to living expenses as you continue pursuing your PhD studies.
5. Are there other scholarships that I am eligible to hold in conjunction with the 4YF fellowship? Yes, externally funded students can also be considered for funding after their external funding is depleted.

What I Like About the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program (4YF)

One of the most attractive aspects of the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) is that it has a total support package. The fact that it also encompasses funding of fees plus a high stipend of $18,200 per year for four years minimizes a great burden of money that is associated with undertaking a PhD. This means that students can be immersed in their studies without a worry of how to foot their studies expenses. The university’s willingness to support a high calibre of student with a means to undertake their PhD studies is apparent, and it is apparent that it also highly values scholarly merit and innovativeness in their research work.

The fact that this scholarship is also open to local and foreign students is a reflection of globalization of UBC as well as of its open nature. The overseas scholars find it a challenge to obtain funding support to pursue PhD studies, more so for those that would pursue studies in such high-cost of living areas such as Canada, with high fees to pay in addition to it. The UBC 4YF program is a wonderful and irreplaceable opportunity for scholars of various backgrounds to be offered world-standard studies without financial burden.

How We Came to Know of the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program (4YF)

The UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship (4YF) came to our knowledge as one of Canada’s prominent scholarships for postgraduate studies. After a keen perusal of funding support for PhD studies, one of the most elaborate support systems for overseas and local postgraduate studies is that of UBC through this fellowship program. The prestige of the university in offering high-standard studies coupled with support in funding scholars is a winning formula that places the UBC 4YF fellowship as a promising option for a PhD.

The university came to our knowledge of this fellowship in our perusal of various scholarships’ directories and articles reporting postgraduate studies in Canada. Some existing scholars and scholars-in-residence also shared their experiences of the 4YF program, reporting that it facilitated their studies in a great way by eliminating financial burden and enabling them to focus their time to their studies.

What We Expect You to Gain from the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program (4YF)

The goal of this article is to provide you with a better understanding of the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program (4YF) and how it can help you pursue your doctoral studies in one of Canada’s highly-ranked institutions. By reading this article, we expect that you will be notified of the details of the fellowship, such as its benefits, qualification requirements, application process, and key deadlines.

Furthermore, we expect that after reading this guide, you will be in a position to know if or not this fellowship is in line with your learning objectives and if you meet the requirements to apply for it. We want to provide you with everything you need to apply for this grant and take advantage of the support it offers in pursuing your doctoral studies.

Lastly, we would be delighted to have you gain a better perception of how the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship is unique compared to other grant options, and why it would be the best option for you in pursuing a PhD in a highly-ranked institution in Canada.

What to Do Next After Reading the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program (4YF)

After going through this article, we invite you to do the following:

1. Check the Eligibility Criteria: Confirm that you meet the qualification requirements of the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program. This means ensuring that you have been accepted to a PhD program in UBC or preparing to apply.
2. Prepare Admission Application: In case you haven’t already applied, apply for one of UBC’s programs. Remember that applying for a doctoral program in UBC automatically puts you in contention for the 4YF fellowship, hence it is important to undertake the application process in detail.
3. Check Deadlines: Be sure to check PhD program deadlines in addition to that of the 4YF fellowship. All PhD programs in UBC vary in their timeline, and you need to check that you apply in time.
4. Gather Necessary Documents: Have all your educational documents, references, and other required documents in hand to be included in your PhD application. The documents would be screened during application for the fellowship.
5. Explore Other Scholarships: As wonderful a support as that of the 4YF program is, it is also a wonderful idea to check for other scholarships that you would be eligible for. Consider other funding options to be better positioned to finance the expenses of a doctoral program.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is in the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program (4YF)?

The 4YF program provides recipients a minimum of $18,200 per year in a stipend, plus waiver of fees of tuition for up to four years of PhD studies in UBC.

2. Does the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship accommodate both domestic and international students?

The fellowship is open to both domestic and international students eligible to meet requirements and be accepted to a PhD program in UBC.

3. How do I apply for the UBC Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program?

In order to be eligible for a 4YF fellowship, you need to apply to a PhD program in UBC. If you get a place in a PhD program, you automatically get to be considered for a fellowship.

4. Must I apply separately for the 4YF fellowship?

No, there is no separate application for the 4YF fellowship. All PhD applicants automatically become eligible to receive the fellowship after being accepted to a graduate program in UBC.

5. May I apply to the 4YF fellowship if I am already a PhD student?

Yes, continuing PhD students may apply to the fellowship if they meet their PhD program requirements in their studies and in their research.

6. How much is the stipend of the 4YF fellowship?

The stipend provided by the fellowship is a minimum of $18,200 per annum, to support their living allowance in pursuing their studies and their research.

7. Is there a closing date to apply to the 4YF fellowship?

There is no application closing date to apply to the fellowship per se, though each of the graduate programs in UBC has a PhD application closing date of their own. Make sure to check the closing date of your desired program.

8. How many years is the duration of the 4YF fellowship?

The fellowship is given for four years, same as is usual in most PhD programs. In a few cases, though, the fellowship is given for a shorter duration, depending on the student’s progression.

9. May I receive the 4YF fellowship in conjunction with a different external scholarship?

Yes, students receiving external scholarships, such as the Vanier or Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarships, may be eligible to receive the 4YF fellowship after their external funding is completed.

10. What is required to be eligible to receive the 4YF fellowship?

For one to be eligible to receive the fellowship, one needs to be accepted to a PhD program in UBC and meet their PhD program requirements in their studies and in their research. Proficiency in English is also a requirement.

11. How is a student awarded a 4YF fellowship?

The student is awarded a fellowship based on his or her academic and research work. Graduate programs of UBC review applications and grant a fellowship to promising applicants.

12. What if I am not making enough academic progress?

The 4YF fellowship is contingent on making satisfactory academic progress. In case you fail to meet the program’s standards of academic work, you can be deprived of eligibility to receive continued funding.

13. May I be funded beyond four years?

The 4YF fellowship is typically four years in duration only. However, a student can be eligible to receive other funding if required after completion of the 4YF program.

14. Are there any specific areas of research that get a higher priority for a 4YF fellowship?

The fellowship is accessible to all disciplines, and there is no specific area of research that is given a higher priority. However, there is specific criteria in a graduate program’s process of selection in terms of research excellence.

15. Does a quota of a maximum number of students receive a 4YF fellowship every year?

Yes, each of the graduate programs of UBC has a quota of a specific number of 4YF fellowships to provide each year. The fellowships are given on a merit basis, and incoming students get a higher priority.

16. How would I know that I am awarded a 4YF fellowship?

In case you are awarded a fellowship, a notification is sent to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of UBC, and you would be notified of the grant.

17. May I use my 4YF stipend to cover other expenses of a research nature?

The stipend is meant to cover living expenses, though it can be used to cover other expenses related to studies, though it is not awarded for expenses related to research. The students typically apply for funding for expenses related to research.

18. Will my 4YF fellowship be impacted in case of a change in my enrollment status?

Any considerable change in your status of enrollment, such as a leave of absence or a decrease in study load, can affect you in receiving a 4YF fellowship. Always approach the graduate program for advice on such a matter.

19. How am I eligible to receive a 4YF fellowship?

Excel in studies and research work. Submit a strong application with all required documentation, such as your academic transcript, letters of recommendation, and a good research proposal.

20. What to do in case I am not awarded a 4YF fellowship?

In case you fail to receive a 4YF fellowship, you can apply for other funding sources, such as extraneous scholarships or departmental grants. Most of the graduate programs also have other funding options.

Conclusion

The Four Years Doctoral Fellowship Program (4YF) of UBC is a great chance for overseas scholars to get financial support to pursue a PhD in one of Canada’s most highly regarded institutions of learning. With a great stipend and waiver of entire fees, the program allows the students to enjoy financial security to pursue studies and research work without any financial constraint. By going through a mere application process, potential PhD scholars can take advantage of this great scholarship to take their career in studies to a higher level and carry out path-breaking studies in their respective areas of interest.