Merit-Based Prizes

Prizes and Scholarships

Winners are selected on the basis of nomination through an annual competition. The specific deadline date will be announced in the call for applications each year.

*Please note that prize and scholarship amounts vary each year.


Graduate prizes and scholarships

The Department of Language and Literacy Education has several graduate prizes and scholarships for Masters’ and Doctoral students and are open to all graduate students within the Department. Funding for this series of prizes and scholarships was donated by members of the Department of Language and Literacy Education who were involved in teaching and/or coordinating the External Programs and Learning Technologies cohorts.

This prize is broken down into the categories below:

• Best M.Ed Graduating Paper. Submit the following materials: cover letter showing the significance of your work, one nomination letter, and a one page summary (12pt. font, Times New Roman, 1” margins, single space) of your graduating paper.

• Best MA Thesis. Submit the following materials: cover letter showing the significance of your work, one nomination letter, and a one page summary (12pt. font, Times New Roman, 1” margins, single space) of your thesis.

• Outstanding Service in the Department (1 Doctoral, 1 Masters). Submit the following materials: cover letter highlighting your service work, one nomination letter, and a curriculum vitae detailing your service work.

Selection Criteria

Winners for the M.Ed Graduating Paper and MA Thesis are selected on the basis of nomination (from faculty members) and academic merit. Winners of the Service Awards are selected on the basis of nomination (from faculty members and students) and the strength of the record of service. Students do not apply for this prize unless nominated. Nominees must be full-time students to receive these awards.

Prizes total $2,100* (divided among four winners).


• Best M.Ed Graduating Paper (part-time students): Submit the following materials: cover letter showing the significance of your work, one nomination letter, and a one page summary (12pt. font, Times New Roman, 1” margins, single space) of your graduating paper. Prize of $300*.

Winners for the M.Ed Graduating Paper (part-time students) are selected on the basis of nomination (from faculty members) and academic merit. Nominees must be part-time students to receive this prize. Students do not apply for this prize unless nominated by faculty.

A $5,500* scholarship has been endowed by the the Language and Literacy Education alumni, and the family and friends of Dr. Mary Ashworth, Professor Emerita of Language Education, and founder of the TESL undergraduate and graduate programs at UBC, who passed away on January 20, 2009. The scholarship is offered to an outstanding master’s or doctoral student in the Faculty of Education who is focusing on teaching English as a Second Language. The award is made on the recommendation of the Department of Language and Literacy Education in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

A $450* prize has been endowed by friends and family in memory of Dr. Ann Hawson (Ph.D.-LLED, 1997), who passed away in 1998, for a graduate student who has achieved a high standing in Language Education. The award is made on the recommendation of the Faculty of Education.

To commemorate Dr. Hawson’s research, which was interdisciplinary and innovative, the prize acknowledges the best PhD/MA thesis in MLED and TESL that demonstrates an interdisciplinary or innovative approach to research in second language education/learning in the previous calendar year (Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.).

Since Dr. Hawson was a Ph.D. student in MLED, preference will be given to Ph.D. and MLED students.


Undergraduate prizes and scholarships

The Department of Language and Literacy Education offers several undergraduate prizes and one scholarship.

A $300* prize endowed as a memorial to Stella Shopland by her friends and associates, serves to mark the esteem and affection in which she was held by her colleagues and students. In tribute to her special interest in children’s literature, this prize is awarded to an undergraduate in the Faculty of Education who achieves distinction and who uses children’s literature in an effective and imaginative manner during the practicum.

A $1,600* prize has been endowed by Barbara Mikulec, B.Ed. (Elementary), ’69, for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Education. This prize is offered to students whose teaching practicum demonstrates success in teaching English as an additional language

A $500* prize has been endowed by friends, family and colleagues in memory of Bill Davison (1943-2004) for an outstanding Bachelor of Education (Secondary) student in Language and Literacy Education. As an English instructor at UBC, Bill left a profound legacy through his commitment to inspiring student teachers to bring language and literature into their classrooms.

A book prize valued at $110* has been endowed in memory of George Brooks White by his family in recognition of his dedication to the teaching of English. This award is for the highest ranking student in the field of Secondary English (Methods and Practice Teaching).

A $4,100* scholarship was endowed by Marie Josephine Kendall in honour of her sister. This scholarship is offered to BEDE/BEDM or BEDS students excelling in English or Language Arts Education.


Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

The UBC Killam Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are provided annually from the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Fund for Advanced Studies and are available for most fields of research.

The number of awards offered presently varies between three and five per year.

Value: Annual stipend of $50,000 for a maximum of two years plus a travel and research allowance of $4,000 over two years.

Application Deadline:

Applicants: October 4, 2023 at 4:00 pm PT
(This is the department’s internal deadline. Applicants must send their application form to lled.gradassistant@ubc.ca by this date.)

Department nomination deadline: November 9, 2023 at 4:00 pm PT
(Each department or unit at the Vancouver campus may forward one nominee to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by this date.)

For complete application and nomination details, as well as detailed eligibility requirements, refer to the award’s page: https://www.postdocs.ubc.ca/award/killam-postdoctoral-research-fellowship