Posted: February 1, 2026
Application Deadline
Closes: February 19, 2026 (departmental/internal deadlines may be earlier; check with your department)
Eligible Applicants
Open to both Canadian domestic students and international applicants from anywhere in the world—no citizenship restrictions apply.
Study Level
Doctoral (PhD) programs
Fields of Study
All disciplines and research areas are eligible—no restrictions on the field of study.
Scholarship Benefits
- Annual stipend of up to $45,000 per year
- Award duration: 2 years (renewable for the second year based on continued outstanding performance)
- Additional coverage for international graduate differential fees (if applicable)
Note: Honorary Killam Scholarships may be granted to top candidates who already hold substantial funding from other major awards.
Program Overview
The Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarships represent the highest honor among graduate awards managed by the University of Alberta. Funded through the prestigious Killam Trusts, these scholarships support exceptional doctoral candidates who have already completed at least one year of graduate-level study (master’s or PhD). The program recognizes academic excellence across every academic field, with no limits on nationality. Recipients receive generous financial support to focus on groundbreaking research during their PhD at one of Canada’s leading research universities.
Eligibility Requirements
To be considered for the 2026 Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship, applicants must meet these key criteria:
- Be registered full-time in a doctoral program at the University of Alberta, or admissible/recommended for admission to one
- Have completed at least 12 months of graduate work (at master’s or doctoral level) by the award start date (May 1, 2026, or September 1, 2026)
- Have no more than 48 months completed in the doctoral program as of December 31, 2025 (time in a prior master’s may count toward this if transferred directly to PhD)
- Plan to remain registered full-time in the doctoral program for at least 18 months following the award start (to align with the 2-year funding period)
- Hold a first-class academic record, equivalent to a GPA of 3.5 or higher (calculated on current graduate coursework at UAlberta or admission GPA if limited grades exist)
- Open to students of any nationality; all fields of study qualify
How to Apply
This is a nomination-based award—students do not apply directly. Instead:
- Contact your academic department or faculty for internal application instructions and deadlines (departments often have earlier cutoffs to prepare nominations)
- Submit required materials through your department (typically includes transcripts, CV, research statement, references, etc.)
- Departments nominate top candidates to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS)
- The Graduate Scholarship Committee reviews and selects recipients
Official Information & Department Details: University of Alberta – Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Scholarship Page
For broader Killam Trust info and the Scholarships & Awards Manual: Killam Trust Scholarships Overview
This prestigious, fully funded doctoral opportunity is ideal for outstanding PhD candidates seeking top-tier research support in Canada—especially appealing for international students from places like Benin or West Africa looking to advance in any academic field. If you’re in a UAlberta PhD program or applying soon, reach out to your department right away before internal deadlines pass!
Have questions? Comment below or visit the official UAlberta links for the most up-to-date guidance.