Financial Support

The following are options are currently available to support Graduate Students in our Department.

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Graduate Student Awards
Award Number Award Name Details

6753

Anona Thorne and Takao Tanabe Graduate Entrance Scholarship in Mathematics                                                                                                                

Entrance scholarships totaling \($\)2,500 are offered annually to students entering a graduate program in Mathematics. Anona Thorne (B.A. 91 Math; M.Sc. 93 Stats) is a double alumna of UBC and went on to an interesting career with the CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network at Saint Pauls Hospital in Vancouver. Takao Tanabe, her husband, is a well-known Canadian painter. Financial need may be considered. This award is made on the recommendation of the Department of Mathematics in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

04464

Stanley M Grant Scholarship in Mathematics

Scholarships totaling \($\)64,250 have been made available through an endowment established by the Estate of Dr. Stanley M Grant for students enrolled in the Department of Mathematics who have completed their first year. Dr. Grant (1924-2015) was a graduate of UBC (BA Arts 49). He went on to obtain his MD with a specialty in Pathology at McGill. Dr. Grant was the District Coroner in Nanaimo, BC for a number of years. The awards are made on the recommendation of the Department of Mathematics, and in the case of graduate students, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. (First Award Available in the 2016/2017 Winter Session) Some portion of the scholarship is allocated to Graduate Students. In 2018W the amount was \($\)10,000.

Fellowships

Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) supports approximately 16,000 students each year. NSERC scholarships for graduate study and research are available only to Canadian citizens or landed immigrants with very strong records and demonstrated capacity for independent research. The scholarships currently pay \($\)17,300 for one year (for Master's students) and \($\)21,000 per year for up to three years (for Ph.D. students). All eligible students are strongly encouraged to apply. Application should be made through the university you are currently attending or last attended.

The University of British Columbia also has an internal program of Affiliated Fellowships. These awards are decided in a university-wide competition. UBC Graduate School offers more information about financial assistance and awards.

All Ph.D. students are currently supported with a Ph.D. Tuition Fee Award for the first four years of their doctoral program. The funding for this comes directly from the Graduate Support Initiative (GSI) program.
Students do not need to apply for this fellowship: it will automatically be assigned once registration is complete.

Research Assistantships

Research Assistantships of approximately \($\)750 per month during the eight month period from September to April, and \($\)1750 per month during the four month summer period may be granted to students who demonstrate strong academic performance. Research assistantships are funded from individual faculty members' research grants. The exact value of a research assistantship depends on the student's standing and availability of funds.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching Assistantships are open to both Canadian and foreign students, although foreign students must obtain work permits from the immigration authorities before commencing work. Typical TA duties include grading papers, conducting tutorial or problem sessions, or teaching a class. A full TA assignment typically involves 12 hours of work per week.

Teaching Assistants' salaries are paid twice each month from September through April.

Teaching assistants are not exempt from University tuition fees, or the various student fees. Applicants should refer to a current copy of the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar for a detailed outline of the fee structure. All scholarships and teaching assistantship stipends are subject to Canadian income tax.

Most financial support for graduate students is delivered through Teaching Assistantships. These involve duties that require an ability to speak English with sufficient vocabulary and structural accuracy to participate effectively in conversations on practical, social, and professional topics.

Applications for Teaching Assistantships are available from the Math Department.

The Teaching Assistants' Union

All teaching assistants at UBC are represented by local 2278 of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). This union is their bargaining agent in relation to UBC. It is not compulsory that all teaching assistants become union members, nevertheless they are required to pay union dues, which are automatically deducted from their monthly salaries by the Department of Finance. Teaching assistants who choose to become members of the union are also required to pay an initiation fee. Further details, including contact information, can be found on the CUPE 2278 web page.