Public Scholars Initiative Information Session

UBC Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies is holding an upcoming information session on its flagship program which offers up to $20,000 in funding to PhD students.

Are you curious about the Public Scholars Initiative and want to apply for the upcoming 2025 year? Come to this information session to learn more about the program and how to apply.

The UBC Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) builds connections, community, and capacity for doctoral students who are interested in explicitly linking their doctoral work to an arena of public benefit and integrating broader and more career-relevant forms of scholarship into their doctoral education process.

PhD students are eligible to receive up to $10,000 twice, for a total of up to $20,000 per student. This award is to support innovative/collaborative scholarship which the student would otherwise be unable to pursue. Funding can be used for:

• A research allowance (including allowance for professional development or travel relevant to the scholarly work)
• Student stipend, if the student’s current funding source would not allow the alternative project(s)

Each year funding is available for up to approximately 30 new students from all faculties at UBC, and approximately 5 scholars from all faculties at UBCO. Scholars selected for the cohort will be eligible for a renewal funding a second year. Just like the last two years, the 2025-26 applications also features the special ‘Health Equity Stream‘ created in partnership with UBC Health. The Health Equity Stream is a dedicated funding source to further increase the number of PSI scholars from all faculties and departments whose work address health issues and seek to impact health equity within local, national, and global health systems.

For more information on the award information and how to apply, visit the PSI website.