Scholarship at a glance
Value: Up to $42,000 for up to three years
Degree level: Doctoral (PhD)
Available to: Canadian or international students
Deadlines for non-Tri-agency applicants:
Round one – October 16, 2026 at midnight AT
Round two – opens January 5, 2027 – submissions due February 28, 2027 at midnight AT
Description
Killam Predoctoral Scholarships are awarded competitively to outstanding doctoral students across all disciplines, including the sciences, engineering, humanities, and social sciences. Supported by the Killam Trusts, these scholarships are intended to advance Canada's future by fostering excellence in graduate education and research. Through this support, the Killam Trusts seek to:
- Enhance the scholarly, research, and creative achievements of Canadians;
- Strengthen and expand the contributions of Canadian universities to research, innovation, and knowledge advancement; and
- Foster international understanding and collaboration between Canadians and people around the world.
Killam Scholars are recognized for their exceptional academic achievement, research potential, and capacity to contribute meaningfully to their disciplines and to society.
The base value of this scholarship is $42,000 per year ($14,000 per term) for up to three years, provided the award holder maintains eligibility. Killam award holders are expected to apply for a Tri-agency CGRS-D within the first two years of holding this award. Successful CGRS-D applicants will receive the following additional benefits:
- The CGRS-D award value of $40,000 per year ($13333.33 per term) will be topped up to $48,000 per year ($16,000 per term) while Killam and Tri-agency awards are held concurrently.
- If the CGRS-D expires prior to the end of an award-holder’s fourth year enrolled in their PhD program, Killam funding will be extended into the remaining terms of the fourth year at a value of $14,000 per term.
The Killam Scholarship will become partially or fully honorary in terms where a recipient also holds other FGS-managed scholarships and awards. This includes Tri-agency Graduate Research Scholarships (CGRS-D) scholarships, Dalhousie Research Excellence Scholarships (DRES), and Abdul Majid Bader Graduate Scholarships.
Killam funding is not directly impacted by additional research stipends offered by a supervisor or department-level scholarships. However, department-level funding adjustments may be made at the discretion of the graduate department when a student receives a Killam Scholarship. Award-holders are therefore encouraged to discuss potential impacts to overall funding packages with their supervisor and/or graduate coordinator.
It is the award-holder’s responsibility to comply with the terms of any additional awards they may hold, including reporting other sources of funding.
Reporting requirements
Killam Scholars will be required to complete an annual report and submit it to fgs.slo@dal.ca by July 31 of each year the award is held. More details on these requirements will be shared in the official offer letter sent to successful recipients of this award.
Relocation allowance
New Killam Scholars relocating to Nova Scotia to start their graduate program will be assisted with the cost of travel. Reimbursement of expenses, not to exceed the lowest cost airfare available by the most direct route, will be made for you upon completion of travel and submission of a travel expense claim form with all original receipts and boarding passes (if applicable). Expenses must be submitted for reimbursement no later than the end of your first term at Dalhousie. Unfortunately, no reimbursements are provided for the transportation of family members or personal effects.
Non-paid interruption of award
Non-paid interruptions of awards for up to 12 months will be permitted for an approved leave of absence from the graduate program for which funding was received. You may not interrupt an award in order to take up another award or to pursue studies other than those for which you have received funding.
Leaves of Absence
Award holders on an approved leave of absence (LOA) will have their scholarship funding suspended while on leave and reinstated upon their return. The end date of the award will be extended by the duration of the LOA.
Predoctoral Killam scholars can apply for paid parental leave benefits. These benefits are intended to support those students who do not have access to other paid parental leave supports through tri-agency research or scholarship funding.
Eligibility criteria
- This scholarship is open to both Canadian and international students pursuing a full time doctoral (PhD) degree at Dalhousie University.
- Scholarships granted to international student may only be used for study and research in Canada. Scholarships granted to Canadians may be used for study or research both in and outside Canada.
- To be successful in receiving a Killam scholarship, applicants must demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, strong research potential, and a clear likelihood of contributing to the advancement of learning in their field. Considerations beyond academic excellence include character, ethical conduct, and contributions to a respectful and inclusive community.
- This scholarship must be taken up no later than the 7th term in the PhD program. You must have spent less than six terms (24 months) in your PhD as of May 1st of the award year to be eligible to apply. Note: If you have transferred or intend to transfer from a Master’s to a PhD without completing your Master’s, your time-in-program begins as of the transfer date.
- Killam scholarship recipients are expected to participate in Killam scholar initiatives and events whenever possible to help build the research community at Dalhousie University.
Application overview
If you have submitted or intend to submit a Tri-agency CGRS-D application through Dalhousie in the current cycle, your application will automatically be considered for Killam funding.
If you are not eligible to apply for a CGRS-D through Dalhousie in this competition but still wish to apply for Killam funding, please create an application in the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ online Scholarship Management Platform by selecting Major Scholarship Competitions 2026/2027 and the category Major Scholarship Application for Non-Tri-Agency Applicants. Note: If you are a Dalhousie student with a NetID and password, please access the platform by clicking “Use Dalhousie NetID”
Applications and all accompanying materials must be submitted by the deadline noted above, after which the application will close.