Graduate Students (Master's & PhD)
Funding, scholarships, and tri-council awards for graduate students in BC.
Who this is for
BC student doing or about to start a Master's or PhD at UBC, SFU, UVic, or another Canadian university. Funding for grad students works completely differently from undergrad — it's TA-ships, RA-ships, supervisor stipends, and tri-council awards rather than entrance scholarships.
Realistic stack
Funded PhDs typically receive $25,000–$35,000/year through stipends + TA work + scholarships. Master's funding is more variable: $0–$25,000/year depending on supervisor and program.
Apply window
Tri-council awards (NSERC PGS-D, SSHRC, CIHR Doctoral) close October–December for the following September. Internal university scholarships close December–February. Apply for StudentAid BC in addition.
Primary funding sources
StudentAid BC
Combined grant + loan packages typically range from $4,000 to $19,000+ per academic year. Grants are forgiven; loans must be repaid.
Canada Student Grant for Full-Time Students
Up to $4,200 per year for full-time students from low-income families ($1,900 for middle-income). Adjusted by family size and income.
The order to apply
- Confirm with your supervisor what guaranteed funding the program offers (some programs guarantee 4 years for PhD, some guarantee nothing).
- Apply for tri-council scholarships in your final undergrad year or early in grad school — these are the largest single-source awards available.
- Apply for university-internal graduate scholarships in parallel.
- Negotiate TA hours and RA work with your supervisor.
- Use StudentAid BC as the gap-filler for living costs not covered by stipends.
Common mistakes we see at this stage
- Accepting an unfunded Master's offer assuming you'll figure it out — most students burn out or drop without funding alignment.
- Missing the NSERC/SSHRC/CIHR deadline in your final undergrad year — you can't apply retroactively.
- Not asking about TA workload before accepting — 10-hours-per-week TA is sustainable, 20+ hours kills your research.
FAQ
- What's the largest grad scholarship in Canada?
- Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships ($50,000/year for 3 years for PhD). Highly competitive — typically 167 awarded across all universities and disciplines per year.
- Can I do a PhD without supervisor funding?
- Possible, not recommended. Self-funding a PhD typically means $30K+/year in tuition + cost-of-living for 4–6 years. Aligning with a funded supervisor is the standard path.
Our take
Graduate funding is supervisor-driven first, scholarship-driven second. The conversation we have most with grad students is 'before you accept the offer, here's what to negotiate.' We help map the funding stack before you commit, so you don't end year 2 broke.
Want a 30-minute review of your specific situation?
Free, independent, no application submission. We map the system to your file.
Start free funding review →Skillucate is independent — not StudentAid BC, not the Government of British Columbia, not the Government of Canada, not a school. We do not make funding decisions and do not guarantee approval, eligibility, amounts, or timelines. Information current as of 2026-05-10; verify with the funding body before applying.