In December, the Graduate Council voted to raise minimum funding for PhD students in the first four years of their training from $18,000 to $22,000 as of September 2021. While average funding to PhD students is much higher, this is an important step to ensure that some basic level of funding is provided to all entering PhD students as a guarantee. It is on the basis of such guarantees and our commitment to providing training and research opportunities that some of the best aspiring researchers choose to attend UBC for their graduate training.
Wide consultations across campus showed that the original adoption of the $18,000 minimum funding guarantee in 2018 went more smoothly than had been expected and that a further increase in the minimum is possible without major adjustment in the number of students admitted.
While we are delighted to announce this increase in the minimum, we also recognize that such a level of funding is not sufficient for many circumstances of students moving to and living in Vancouver. We continue to advocate for increases to minimum funding levels as well as fellowship amounts to continue to support graduate students.