What does the UC Berkeley Canadian Studies Program offer?

Updated

The Canadian Studies Program at UC Berkeley is a research center founded in 1982 that promotes knowledge of Canada, its people, and the Canada-US relationship. It is relevant if you are a Berkeley student, faculty member, or Bay Area resident looking for Canadian-focused events, research funding, or courses. The program describes itself as a nationally-ranked research center and the intellectual hub for Canadian studies at Berkeley and across the wider San Francisco Bay Area.

Events and public programming

The program runs an events calendar with upcoming and past events, including a series titled "Canada in an Age of Changes and New Challenges" and past conferences. These are the main way to engage with the program if you are not affiliated with Berkeley or are not applying for funding.

You can stay informed by joining the program's newsletter, which sends notifications about upcoming events and opportunities.

Funding and awards

The program administers several grants and awards, each aimed at a different stage of academic work:

Opportunity Intended audience
E. E. Hildebrand Graduate Research Fellowship Graduate students
Rita Ross Undergraduate Prize Undergraduates
Conference Travel Grants Students presenting at conferences
Canada in the Classroom Classroom-related projects
Faculty Seed Grants Faculty
Undergraduate Research Funding Undergraduates
J. A. Sproul Visiting Scholar Fellowship Visiting scholars

If you are a student or faculty member with a Canada-related project, these are the concrete entry points to check first. Eligibility details and deadlines are not specified in the available page content, so consult the program's Grants and Awards pages directly.

Research, courses, and people

The program lists research activities and courses related to Canadian studies. Its people section covers leadership and staff, a Faculty Advisory Committee, an External Advisory Board, affiliated faculty, current research affiliates, Hildebrand Fellows, Sproul Fellows, external academic affiliates, and past affiliates. If you are looking for a collaborator, supervisor, or speaker with Canadian expertise, the affiliated faculty and research affiliates lists are the place to start.

Recent activity as a signal of scope

The program's news items show the range of work it supports and publicizes:

  • US Supreme Court Cites Program Director Hidetaka Hirota in Landmark Citizenship Decision (July 6, 2026) — the director's research on birthright citizenship was referenced in a Supreme Court decision.
  • Grad Student Thor Larson Presents at Toronto Meeting on the Economics of Climate Change (July 6, 2026) — the program sponsored an economics PhD candidate to present at a University of Toronto conference.
  • New Research by Faculty Affiliate Karen Chapple Finds Even Sharper Drop in Canadian Travel to the US (May 18, 2026) — a study published by the University of Toronto and authored by a faculty affiliate.

These examples indicate the program supports graduate conference travel, faculty research, and public-facing commentary on Canada-US issues.

Practical next steps

  • If you want event updates: join the newsletter from the program homepage.
  • If you need funding: review the Grants and Awards section for the opportunity matching your status (undergraduate, graduate, faculty, or visiting scholar).
  • If you want to study or research Canada at Berkeley: look at the Courses and Research sections, then check the affiliated faculty list for potential advisors or collaborators.
  • If you are outside Berkeley: the events series and news items are the most accessible parts of the program.

The program also maintains a French-language version of its site and lists partner organizations and the Maple Leaf Society under its About section.