Financial Information and Support

FUNDING PACKAGE AND COST OF LIVING

UBC has a minimum funding package for PhD students of $22,000 per year. For the Mechanical Engineering department, both MASc and PhD students typically receive a Research Assistantship of at least that amount, not including tuition.

For a realistic cost-of-living estimate, UBC has a calculator here: https://www.grad.ubc.ca/prospective-students/tuition-fees-cost-living/cost-living

Some important notes about costs of living:

  • The cost of living calculator estimates $900/month for rent in a shared accommodation/room. This is likely an underestimate. If you would like to live on campus at UBC, your rent may likely be $1100+ and you will also have to make it off the long waiting list for campus housing. Many graduate students live off-campus and (1) pay upwards of $1100 per month, (2) live over 45 minutes away by bus, (3) live with more than 2-3 other students, and/or (4) live in basement suites, which are common in Vancouver.
  • Keep in mind that if you are not able to live with roommates, and/or if you do not have savings/other means of financial support, you may find it difficult to live off of your research stipend.
  • Typical example: in the above cost-of-living calculator, if you account for all the most basic and necessary costs (not including textbooks, rent, groceries, and entertainment), as an International student making the UBC minimum stipend of $22,000 per year, you are left with $1063.75 per month to cover rent, food, and anything extra you might need or want to spend money on.

AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND RESEARCH FUNDING

For a comprehensive list of awards and description of funding and cost of living, see the following pages:

http://www.grad.ubc.ca/scholarships-awards-funding

http://mech.ubc.ca/graduate/funding

For a compendium of opportunities for research funding, check the Research Funding page of the UBC Office of Research Services:

http://www.ors.ubc.ca/funding-sources

TRAVEL FUND

G+PS will give graduate students up to $500 for conference-related fees, once per degree. Apply here: http://www.grad.ubc.ca/forms/graduate-travel-fund-application

TUITION FEE DEFERRAL

To apply for tuition fee deferral, you must be a Teaching Assistant or a Research Assistant. The link to apply and deadlines can be found under “Other Payment Options” here: https://students.ubc.ca/enrolment/finances/paying-tuition

AFFORDABLE FOOD ON CAMPUS

AMS Food Bank (basement of Life Building): https://www.ams.ubc.ca/support-services/student-services/food-bank/

Sprouts (student volunteer-run cafe with affordable and free lunches, closed in summer, basement of Life Building): http://www.ubcsprouts.ca/

Agora Cafe (student volunteer-run cafe with affordable lunches, closed in summer, basement of MacMillan Building): https://blogs.ubc.ca/agora/

More information about affordable meals and groceries: https://foodhub.ubc.ca/resources/

UBC STUDENT HEALTHCARE

For help understanding your student health plan and resources available to you, see this guide: https://www.healthfrontiers.ca/services-6