Study in Canada: Get science PhD scholarships with CAD 160,000 funding

Scholarship benefits and funding details

The University of British Columbia (UBC) offers a minimum annual funding package of CAD 40,000 to eligible full-time students enrolled in its Atmospheric Science PhD programme at the Vancouver campus. Over four years, the guaranteed minimum funding totals CAD 160,000, provided students meet the university’s conditions and maintain satisfactory academic progress.

The funding may come from university fellowships, external scholarships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships and graduate academic assistantships. The exact combination depends on each student’s research work, available positions and departmental funding arrangements.

UBC introduced the CAD 40,000 annual minimum funding policy in September 2026. Both Canadian and international students, including applicants from Pakistan, may qualify after securing admission and meeting the eligibility requirements.

Tuition fees and extra financial support

UBC charges tuition fees for the Atmospheric Science PhD programme, with annual fees listed at approximately CAD 10,081.65 for international students and CAD 5,738.52 for Canadian students. These amounts may change under future fee adjustments.

Eligible international students may also receive an International Tuition Award worth up to CAD 3,200 per year. This award is separate from the CAD 40,000 minimum funding package, and students should check their admission offers to understand their remaining costs.

Eligibility criteria for Pakistani students

Applicants must meet UBC’s doctoral admission requirements and have a strong academic background suitable for advanced scientific research. The university normally expects an average in the B+ range, equivalent to about 76% under its grading system.

Students with master’s degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) can apply, and a previous degree specifically in meteorology or atmospheric science is not compulsory. Applicants with backgrounds in physics, mathematics, physical geography, engineering, chemistry and computer science may also qualify, particularly if they have strong mathematical and computational skills.

Pakistani applicants can apply with relevant master’s, M.Phil. or master’s honours qualifications, subject to UBC’s country-specific academic requirements. Applicants with a bachelor’s degree may also explore the university’s master’s programme as a possible route towards doctoral studies, depending on academic performance and supervisory approval.

Application deadline and English requirements

Applications are open for the September 2027 intake, and the deadline for Canadian and international applicants is January 15, 2027. Applicants should review the programme’s admission requirements and funding conditions before submitting their applications.

International applicants whose previous universities did not primarily teach in English must provide an accepted English-language test result taken within 24 months of applying. UBC accepts IELTS Academic with an overall score of 6.5 and at least 6.0 in each component, while the stated Duolingo English Test requirement is at least 125 overall, subject to individual component requirements.

For TOEFL iBT tests taken before January 21, 2026, the stated minimum is 100 overall, with at least 22 in Reading, Writing and Listening and 23 in Speaking. For tests taken from January 21, 2026, UBC uses a revised six-point scoring system, with a required overall score of 4.5 and prescribed component scores.

This scholarship could help international students manage the cost of doctoral study in Canada while gaining research experience in atmospheric science. Pakistani applicants from several scientific and technical fields may be eligible, even without a previous degree specifically in meteorology.

However, CAD 40,000 is a funding package, not necessarily a cash scholarship paid entirely to each student. Applicants should check tuition costs, funding conditions, admission requirements and the January 15, 2027 deadline before applying.

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