Indo-Pacific Scholarships and Fellowships for Canadians

There are 6 scholarships and 14 Fellowships to be completed by March 2028. For all applications, the minimum in-region requirement must be met by March 2028 (120 days for scholarships and 90 days for fellowships) and all deliverables completed. No extensions.

First round competition deadline:

• 24 April 2026 (now closed) results announced 22 May

Next round deadlines will be

• 24 June 2026
• 24 August 2026 - ONLY if there is remaining funding to be awarded

Interest in first round has been very strong and a third round of applications is increasingly unlikely. Once all the scholarships and fellowships have been awarded, the application portal will be closed. We encourage all interested candidates to apply in the second round to avoid disappointment.

Eligible Indo-Pacific Economies 

This funding supports research in the following regions:

Northeast Asia: Japan, Mongolia, Republic of Korea, Taiwan. (China is NOT eligible.)
Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam. 
South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka. 
Oceania: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. 

General Eligibility Requirements (All Applicants): 

• Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident 
• Must hold a position or be registered in a program at UVic
• Must propose research aligned with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy 

Graduate Student Scholarship: 

Open to UVic Master’s and Doctoral students who: 

• Meet the general eligibility requirements 
• Are currently registered in a program at UVic
• Are conducting research or interested in conducting research related to Indo-Pacific strategic priorities
• Have an established Indo-Pacific partner (CAPI may be able to support partner matching - see 'How to Apply')

Academic Research Fellowships:  

Open to UVic’s faculty members, researchers and postdoctoral fellows who: 

• Meet the general eligibility requirements 
• Are affiliated with UVic 
• Are conducting, or intending to conduct, research related to Indo-Pacific strategic priorities.  
• Must include a research partner in an eligible Indo-Pacific economy

Priority will be given to applicants who have established collaborations with Indo-Pacific universities or research institutions.  

Graduate Student Scholarship (Up to 16 scholarships to be completed by March 2028) 

• Value: Up to CAD$15,000 per award 
• In-Region Requirement: Minimum 120 days in-region over the course of the project by March 2028. This requirement can be fulfilled across multiple trips. Applicants must clearly outline in their proposal how the minimum duration will be met, including a detailed timeline and rationale where applicable.  

• Airfare-roundtrip economy-class airfare from Canada. 
• Insurance 
• Accommodation 
• Direct research expenses (e.g., local transportation, research materials, data collection costs, organising workshops or roundtables etc., as applicable and justified) 

Academic Research Fellowships (Up to 8 Fellowships to be completed by March 2028) 

• Scholarship Value: Up to CAD $25,250 per award 
• In-Region Requirement: Minimum 90 days in-region over the course of the project by March 2028. This requirement can be fulfilled across multiple trips. Applicants must clearly outline in their proposal how the minimum duration will be met, including a detailed timeline and rationale where applicable. 

Eligible Expenses:  

• Airfare-roundtrip economy-class airfare from Canada. 
• Insurance 
• Accommodation 
• Direct research expenses (e.g., local transportation, research materials, data collection costs, organising workshops or roundtables etc., as applicable and justified) 

All expenses must comply with University of Victoria financial policies and the IPSFC funding agreement. 

Disbursement Schedule

• 50% of total award will be disbursed upon completion of pre-placement training and the submission of a signed funding agreement. 
• 35% of total award will be disbursed following submission of the midterm report and research log, and successful completion of the mid-placement check-in. 
• 15% of total award will be disbursed upon completions of all deliverables, including final narrative report and knowledge mobilization activities.  

Disbursements are contingent upon compliance with reporting requirements. 

Application Information 

Applications must be submitted via the online portal

Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the selection committee.  

How to apply: 

1. Complete the online application form
2. Upload required supporting documents: 

Required Documents: 

• Statement of Intent (approx. 300-500 words) outlining research goals, current or planned Indo-Pacific partners, and relevance to Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) 
• Current Curriculum Vitae 
• Self-location Statement (approx. 300-500 words) explaining how your background, experience, and academic or professional trajectory shapes your research interest and approach 
• Letter of support/reference from an academic supervisor, addressing your research potential and outlining the supervision and support that will be provided during the placement;   
• Academic transcripts 
• Research proposal (2-3 pages) including: research objectives, methodology, minimum in-region duration and timeline, knowledge mobilization plan and research outputs (e.g., workshops, presentations, publications, policy briefs, etc.), and risk assessment. 
• Proposed budget 
• A letter of support from an Indo-Pacific partner institution*

* Graduate student applicants who do not yet have a confirmed host organization are encouraged to submit an pre-application outlining their research interests and potential collaboration needs. CAPI can assist with partner matching only when the research interests align with our partner institutions. CAPI will support the partner-matching process based on these proposals. Final confirmation of a host organization is required prior to award disbursement.

Application Information 

Applications must be submitted via the online portal

Incomplete application will not be forwarded to the selection committee. 

How to apply: 

1. Complete the online application form 
2. Upload required supporting documents: 

Required Documents: 

• Statement of Intent (approx. 300-500 words) outlining research goals, current or planned Indo-Pacific partners, and relevance to Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) 
• Current Curriculum Vitae 
• Self-location Statement (approx. 300-500 words) explaining how your background, experience, and academic or professional trajectory shapes your research interest and approach 
• Research proposal (3-5 pages), co-developed with, or endorsed by, an Indo-Pacific partner institution including: research objectives, methodology, minimum in-region duration and timeline, knowledge mobilization plan and research outputs (e.g., workshops, presentations, publications, policy briefs, etc.), and risk assessment. 
• Proposed budget
• A letter of support from Dean or Chair of your department 
• A letter of support from your Indo-Pacific partner or institution 

Applications will be reviewed by a CAPI-appointed selection committee. First-round applicants will be notified of results in May 2026. Thereafter, applicants will be notified of results on a bi-montly basis as applications are reviewed.

Selection Criteria (100-Point Scale) 

• Alignment and Strategic Relevance (20 points) 
  Demonstrated alignment with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and priority areas.

• Research Quality and Academic Merit (15 points) 
  Strength of the research design and scholarly contribution, including the potential for interdisciplinary, critical, and reflexive inquiry. 

• Feasibility and Work Plan (15 points) 
  Clarity, realism, and coherence of the proposed timeline, activities, and anticipated outcomes.  

• Partnership and Institutional Collaboration Potential (15 points) 
  Evidence of meaningful partnership and reciprocal institutional engagement with Indo-Pacific collaborators. 

• Knowledge Mobilization and Research Outputs (15 points) 
  Potential to disseminate findings effectively and contribute to broader knowledge exchange. 

• Budget Justification (10 points) 
  A clear, reasonable, and well-justified budget aligned with project activities. 

• Integration of GBA+ and EDI (10 points) 
  Clear and thoughtful integration of Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) principles into the research design and analysis. 

Participation Requirements

• Attend a pre-departure session: partner coordination and preparation, ethical research practices, health and safety guidance, intercultural relationship building, support networks and mentorship for grad students. 

• In-region engagement: Virtual or in-person knowledge exchange and sharing with other award recipients

• Participation in a post-program and knowledge sharing forum: research dissemination (presentations, policy briefs, publications), and opportunities for sustained collaboration. (February or March 2028)

Reporting Requirements

• Pre-Placement 
  Complete a pre-placement survey
  
• Mid-Placement:
  Submission of a research log and mid-term report outlining progress to date, key activities undertaken, and any support required. 
• Post-Placement: 
  1. Submission of a comprehensive final narrative report summarizing research outcomes and impacts.
  2. Complete a post-placement survey