The Rt. Hon. W.L. Mackenzie King (1874–1951), who served as Canada’s prime minister from 1921 to 1926, 1926 to 1930, and 1935 to 1948, established the Mackenzie King Scholarships in his will.
Graduates of Canadian universities may apply for either the Open Scholarship or the Traveling Scholarship under the two categories of the Mackenzie King Scholarship. Each is intended to help fund graduate education.
Graduates from Canadian universities may apply for the Open Scholarship if they want to pursue graduate studies in any field, whether here or abroad. Every year, there is one open scholarship given out. However, it could vary.
The most recent value was $12,000. Graduates from Canadian universities who wish to study international relations or labor relations at the doctoral level in the United States or the United Kingdom are eligible for the Travelling Scholarship. There have been four $13,500 scholarships issued recently, although both the number and the sum are subject to change.
Mackenzie King Memorial Scholarship Notable Infos
- DEADLINE: 1 February 2023 at 4:00 pm PT
- ANNUAL VALUE: $12,000 to $13,500
- CITIZENSHIP: Canadian, Permanent Resident, International.
- DEGREE LEVEL: Masters, Doctoral.
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Eligibility Criteria for the Scholarship
1. One can apply for the Mackenzie King Open Scholarship if they have graduated from a Canadian university and want to get a master’s or doctorate in any field, either in Canada or abroad.
2. Graduates of any Canadian university may apply for the Mackenzie King Traveling Scholarship to pursue master’s or doctoral-level studies in international relations* or labor relations in the United States or the United Kingdom (including international or industrial relations aspects of law, history, politics, and economics).
3. Crucial: In order to be eligible for the scholarship, you must have graduated from a Canadian university (typically in September). You are not eligible to apply if, by September 2023, you won’t have earned a degree from a Canadian institution. Applications being denied are primarily due to this subtlety in the eligibility standards.
- For example, a student who is currently enrolled at UBC and has degrees from universities outside of Canada but is not a graduate of a Canadian university would not be able to apply for the scholarship to pay for their current UBC degree.
Both phrases are used liberally by the Mackenzie King Selection Committee. “International relations” or “industrial relations” are not required to be the program’s names. Studies in the humanities that have a strong emphasis on interstate interactions, such as those in history, law, or development studies, are examples of subjects that fall under the umbrella of international relations.
Other Sources of Support
Without the Board of Scholarship Trustees’ express consent, a candidate is not allowed to hold multiple scholarships at once, including a Mackenzie King Scholarship.
This approval is often granted as long as the candidate’s overall scholarship assistance, which includes the Mackenzie King Scholarship, does not exceed a ceiling set by the Board. The maximum amount could change, but recently it was the candidate’s expected tuition costs plus $16,000 Canadian.
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The Scholarship Assessment Procedure
High academic achievement (usually all A’s or very close to it), character traits, and aptitudes that have been shown will choose the recipients of the prizes. The applicant’s proposed course of study will also be taken into account.
After reviewing all submitted applications, the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies will send a short list of recommended candidates and their applications to the Mackenzie King Board of Scholarship Trustees.
In March, candidates will be informed of the results of this internal competition. By the end of August, decisions in the national competition are usually made public. The Mackenzie King Board of Scholarship Trustees will have sole authority over the award decisions.
The Scholarship Application Procedure
Applications must be submitted to your home university’s Faculty of Graduate Studies. This is the Canadian university where you most recently received a degree or are enrolled right now. If you meet the requirements for both types of scholarships (traveling and open), you may submit a single application for both.
Please take note that the forthcoming academic year (September 2023–August 2024) is the focus of these grants.
Students from UBC Okanagan should send a complete application to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies on the Vancouver campus. To do this, they should follow the steps below.
By 4:00 p.m. PT on February 1, 2023, a complete application package (including references) must be delivered. Applications that are incomplete won’t be accepted.
The following elements make up a comprehensive application:
The Applicant’s Application: Submit your application Here.
1. The application form in its entirety. At the bottom of the page, the application form needs to be signed.
2. In particular, it says on Sheet A (“Supplemental Information on Academic Achievements and Experience”) of the application.
3. Sheet B (the “personal statement”), as specified on the application form.
4. Current and official transcripts from all post-secondary education.
Transcript from UBC
Your UBC graduate program should provide you with the “Academic History” document. It is also possible to order official UBC transcripts from Enrollment Services. Your SSC account’s grade summary page is not acceptable.
The UBC transcript must have course registration for Winter Term 2 (i.e., January 2023) on it.
Various Transcripts
There is only official documentation that is acceptable.
If a transcript doesn’t have the registrar’s stamp and/or watermark, it isn’t an official copy and won’t be accepted.
Transcripts for exchange programs or study abroad periods are included under the phrase “all post-secondary studies.” These institutions’ transcripts must be supplied.
Foreign Transcripts
Applicants who send in foreign transcripts must also send a certified translation if the transcripts are not in English or French, Canada’s two official languages. If the transcripts are not in English or French, they must also send a certified translation in the applicant’s native language.
Some of your transcripts may already be on file with your UBC graduate program. If this is the case, you must check with your UBC graduate program well in advance of the application deadline to determine which transcripts you still need to order from your previous universities.
The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies does not give transcripts to people who want to apply for grants.
Transcripts that are current are those that were published after the previous term had ended or that were dated in the spring 2023 session (if the student is currently registered) or are not currently registered.
One copy of the transcript key or legend is required for each transcript (typically found on the back of each paper transcript page).
Submitted by the References the Applicant has Selected, Submit Here.
Referees should only use this link; applicants should not provide references on the referee’s behalf.
1. Three letters of recommendation: The letters should come from people who are well-versed in your background and qualifications and who can critically assess your aspirations for graduate studies.
At least two of these references must come from professors or senior colleagues with whom you have worked on academic projects or research.
Note: Reference letters must be signed by the person who wrote them and, if possible, printed on business letterhead.
2. References must be sent in by the application deadline. To make sure that your references are provided on time, follow up with your referees as necessary.
It is the applicant’s duty to make sure that all application papers, such as transcripts and recommendation letters, reach the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies by the deadline.
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For more information about the scholarship, click here.