FUNDING
Students in the Landscape Architecture program can access financial assistance and support from a variety of sources.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
Scholarships and awards are merit-based and may include:
• Entrance Scholarships
• Graduate Support Initiative Awards
• Graduate Awards and Scholarships
• Department Awards and Scholarships
• External Awards
Entrance Scholarships
Students who have been offered admission to the MLA program will be automatically considered for a Graduate Entrance Scholarship. These scholarships are awarded at the recommendation of the Admissions Committee. There are four Landscape Architecture Program entrance scholarships [Henry Syd Skinner Scholarships] available to students. These scholarships have been endowed to the program by Syd Skinner, an Honourary member of the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architect and landscape enthusiast who was actively involved in community and environmental issues.
University entrance scholarships are also available to MASLA students for full-time graduate study and/or research at UBC. These scholarships are offered to the highest ranked incoming MASLA student.
Graduate Support Initiative [GSI] Awards
The Graduate Support Initiative [GSI] is a system of funding graduate students through entrance scholarships, tuition awards and scholarship top-ups. These awards are made on the recommendation of the program and are awarded to domestic and international students in research-based programs with priority going to incoming PhD and MASLA students. No application is required as all incoming students will be automatically considered for GSI funding.
Graduate Awards and Scholarships
The Faculty of Graduate Studies administers several awards competitions for merit-based awards. For a complete list of these awards please refer to their website directly. External awards and upcoming award competitions are also listed on their website. Awards that are eligible to students in either the MLA or MASLA programs include the following:
• Graduate Affiliated Fellowships
Eligibility: Domestic and international students
Approximately 200 fellowships are available to graduate students for full-time and/or research leading to a graduate degree. Award recommendations are made on behalf of the department to Graduate Studies and are awarded to students with strong academic excellence. The application deadline is usually at the end of September.
• Rick Hansen “Man in Motion” Fellowship
Eligibility: Incoming and continuing students with a physical disability.
The Rick Hansen “Man in Motion” Fellowships are made available by UBC to honour the incredible determination and many personal achievements of Rick Hansen. Two fellowships of $16,000 are awarded each year to students with a physical disability while enrolled in a full-time graduate program. Awards are based on academic merit.
• Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarships
The Scholarship is available to graduates of Canadian universities to pursue graduate study in any discipline, in Canada or elsewhere. The value of the scholarship has been at $10,000 but it is subject to change.
• Aboriginal Graduate Fellowships
For First Nations graduate students, both incoming and continuing. Awards are based on academic merit and range in value from $5,000 to $10,000.
• Pacific Century Graduate Scholarship
The Pacific Century Graduate Scholarships are funded by the Province of British Columbia. These merit-based graduate scholarships are to reward scholarly and research excellence and are available to students in research-intensive graduate programs at both the Master’s and PhD levels. Winners of these scholarships will receive $10,000 from the Pacific Century Graduate Scholarship together with additional funding from other University scholarship sources for a combined total scholarship value of $17,000 per year. Application for the scholarship will be through the Affiliated Fellowships competition.
• Pacific Institue for Climate Solutions Gradute Fellowships
Eligibility: MASLA students and PhD students
Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions [PICS] Graduate Fellowships are available on an annual basis to outstanding Masters and PhD students conducting research in an area related to climate change impact and adaptation. Applications should be submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Graduate students are eligible for reimbursement from the Graduate Student Travel Fund once per degree program. The Travel Fund provides travel support to a maximum of $400 per graduate student who presents a paper or poster at an official conference or symposium.
• International Partial Tuition Scholarship
Eligibility: International students in the MASLA program
International students are eligible for an International Partial Tuition Scholarship of up to $3,338.08 [subject to change] which is applied to assist with their tuition fees if they are registered in a full-time master’s program that assess tuition fees of $7,200 per year.
Department Awards and Scholarships
The Landscape Architecture department offers several continuing and graduating awards and scholarships in recognition of outstanding student achievement. These awards are decided upon by the faculty at the end of the academic year and all students are considered for these awards.
External Awards
• Sciences and Humanities Research Council [SSHRC]
Eligibility: Canadian citizens or permanent residents
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident pursuing your first graduate degree with a first-class standing in your undergraduate studies you are eligible to apply for the J. Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship. Applications are submitted to the program office and deadlines are usually at the end of September.
• Saskatchewan Association of Landscape Architects Academic Award
Eligibility: Students from Saskatchewan
This is an annual award provided to assist Saskatchewan students registered in an accredited or recognized bachelor or master of landscape architecture program anywhere in the world. The application is submitted to the Saskatchewan Association of Landscape Architects.
• American Society of Landscape Architect [ASLA] Awards
Each year the ASLA hosts an awards competition for professional and student awards. A number of student awards are made possible through the ASLA Fund in the categories of research, community service and student collaboration. Full details on eligibility requirements are available on the ASLA website.
• Commonwealth Scholarships
Eligibility: International Students
The Government of Canada offers scholarships as part of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan [CSFP]. These scholarships are tenable at Canadian universities only. The Canadian Commonwealth Program is design to provide opportunities for students of other Commonwealth countries to pursue advanced programs in Canada. The Scholarships are intended for men and women of high intellectual promise who may be expected to make a significant contribution to their own countries on their return from
study in Canada.
• Fulbright Scholar Program
Eligibility: Students holding a PhD or equivalent professional/terminal degree, including a Master’s degree depending on the field
Fulbright grants are made to US citizens and non-US citizens to lecture, research and study in the United States and Canada.
• Canadian Federation of University Women
Eligibility: Canadian Women
The CFUW administers the Graduate Fellowships and Awards Program for Canadian women pursuing graduate study. For a criteria list of fellowships and awards please refer to http://www.cfuw.org/fellowships-and-awards.aspx
• Grants for Canadian Women Graduate Students
Grants are awarded by the Soroptimist Foundation of Canada to female graduate students in Canada pursuing university studies. For full details go to http://www.soroptimistfoundation.ca/index.html
• Rotary Foundation Scholarships
The Ambassadorial Scholarships program through the Rotary Foundation sponsors several undergraduate and graduate scholarships as well as scholarships for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies.
The program also encourages you to actively search for external scholarships and awards by using websites such as:
• Scholarship Canada
• Student Awards
NEEDS BASED FUNDING [LOANS]
Student Loans
Government assistance is available to students in the form student loans. Students apply for a loan through their province of residence. To determine your province of residency please refer to http://www.students.ubc.ca/finance/loans.cfm
• If you are a student from British Columbia you can apply to the British Columbia Student Assistance Program [BCSAP] through the BC Ministry of Advanced Education.
• If you are a student from another province or territory in Canada you can apply for a student loan from the government assistance provider in your home province. For a list of programs by province please refer to http://www.students.ubc.ca/finance/student-loans/other-provinces/
• If you are a student from the United States you can apply for assistance through the Federal Family Education Loan Program. For further details see http://www.students.ubc.ca/finance/student-loans/us-students/
• If you are an international student it is expected that you will have sufficient resources to support yourself, so there are no loans or bursaries available.
Bursaries
Bursaries are non-repayable awards that are awarded to students on the basis of financial need. To be eligible for a bursary you must have a student loan and is a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident. For eligibility and application details please refer to http://www.students.ubc.ca/finance/awards.cfm?page=bursaries
EMPLOYMENT
Teaching Assistantships [TA]
Each year the department hires graduate students to help teach our undergraduate and graduate courses. Postings are advertised through email to incoming and continuing students during the summer for the following academic year. Students apply to the postings directly and decisions are made based on qualifications and experience. A limited number of Teaching Assistantships are available and priority is given to second and third year Landscape Architecture Students.
Research Assistantships [RA]
Faculty may hire student researchers for projects for which they have research funding. Positions are made available to students through out the year.
Internships
The Internship Program is an avenue for a student to earn academic credit for relevant work experience outside of UBC. It is a three-way partnership between the student, the agency/firm and the Landscape Architecture Program. It is the student’s responsibility to secure an internship placement. The agency/firm that the student is working for is encouraged to provide remuneration to the student for work performed at fair market rates. To download a copy of the internship document please go to http://www.sala.ubc.ca/programs/landscape-architecture/mla/student-resou...
Work Study Program
The Work Study program is an employment program through UBC Career Services that funds on-campus jobs for students. To be eligible for the program you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and paying full-time fees as a graduate student.