The Mitacs Globalink Research Award provides $6,000 for senior undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows in Canada to conduct 12–24-week research projects at universities overseas.

The following opportunities support travel and research from Canada to universities in:

  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • China
  • EU member countries
  • Israel
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Mexico
  • Norway
  • Tunisia
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

*This information above is subject to change. Applicants are responsible for confirming application details, as required. Funding is limited, and applications are processed in the order in which they are received.

Jumpstart your application:

  1. Reach out to the professor(s) about your research and hosting your potential project
  2. Get signatures from your home and host professors and university Office of Research Services (or equivalent), then submit your complete application by the suggested deadline (Mitacs recommends allowing 1–2 weeks to secure university signatures). 

Contact international@mitacs.ca for more information.

Sign up to receive Globalink Research Award updates on partner countries and other changes to the program.

Select awards offered in partnership with: Brazil’s Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Capes), the China Scholarship Council, the European Union's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, France’s Inria and Campus France, India’s Ministry of Human Resource Development, the National Research Foundation of Korea,Tunisia’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Mission Universitaire de Tunisie en Amerique du Nord.

Applications are accepted any time, awarded competitively, and subject to available funding. For participants wanting to travel by a certain date, Mitacs recommends applying at least 16 weeks in advance of their planned start date.

Participants that apply less than 16 weeks in advance may need to delay their start date as the project cannot begin until Mitacs has issued both an outcome and an award letter.

 APPLICATION PACKAGE

All application documents must be submitted in English or French

  • Globalink Research Award application form [zip] (you may require the latest version of Adobe Reader. If you are using a Mac computer, you must open the application form with Adobe Reader. Do not use Preview.)
    • The application form should not be scanned and must be submitted in its original, fillable format.
    • Sections 6&7 may be submitted as a separate, scanned PDF if digital signatures cannot be obtained.
  • Research proposal [doc]
  • CV on Mitacs template [doc]
  • Letters of support from the participating professors. The letters must:
    • Be written on university letterhead and be signed by the professor
    • Provide the supervisor’s title and department
    • Outline supervisory and/or financial support for the participant and project
    • Describe the participant's academic and research qualities, outstanding achievements, and ability to complete the project
  • Host supervisor’s CV in English or French, including funding history, publications, and graduate students supervised
  • For undergraduate applicants only: transcripts for current degree program, including cumulative grade point average (GPA) and GPA for each semester
  • Code of Conduct and Ethics [doc]*
  • International pre-departure form [pdf]*

*These forms can be submitted after the submission of the application; however, funds will not be released until Mitacs receives these forms.


How to apply:

  1. Review all eligibility and award guidelines
  2. Collect all required signatures on sections 6 and 7 of application form: participant, home supervising professor, host supervising professor, and appropriate home university office. Signatures can be electronic or a scanned image. Contact Mitacs at international(at)mitacs.ca if you require clarification.

    • Mitacs recommends allowing 1–2 weeks to secure university signatures and confirm internal deadlines; participants are responsible for confirming any applicable deadlines with their universities.

  3. Submit the completed proposal and supplementary documentation by email to apply(at)mitacs.ca. 

    1. Keep emails to less than 10MB. If necessary, send multiple emails. 

    2. The application form must be submitted in its original fillable format. Only Sections 6 and 7 may be submitted as a scanned PDF if digital signatures cannot be obtained.

    3. Where templates are required, the most recent templates must be used.

    4. Letters of support can be included in the application or sent separately by professors to apply(at)mitacs.ca

    5. Your subject heading must be in the following format: “Participant first and last name_Destination” (e.g., John Doe_France, Jane Doe_Brazil). Do not include any other information in the subject heading.

  4. Consult with your university’s international office to determine any requirements for travel to and research abroad

Travel to the destination is not permitted prior to the approval of the award AND Mitacs’ receipt of the International Pre-departure and Code of Conduct and Ethics forms. Neither Mitacs nor its international partners are responsible for costs incurred before an application is approved.


What happens next

  1. Mitacs will typically contact participants about their proposal outcomes 10–12 weeks after submission. 
  2. The participant provides the completed Mitacs Code of Conduct and Ethics and International Pre-departure forms to Mitacs
  3. Where applicable, Mitacs forwards its portion of the Globalink Research Award funds to the Canadian university’s Office of Research Services. Mitacs will provide details on the disbursement of partner funds, if relevant, in the applicant’s outcome letter. 
  4. The participant departs to the destination and begins the research project  

Students and postdoctoral fellows

  • Must be registered as full-time senior undergraduates, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows at a Canadian university and remain as such throughout their Globalink Research Award. Postdoctoral fellows may apply if their date of graduation from a PhD program is no more than 5 years prior to the proposed start date of the research project
  • Cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree
  • Cannot undertake a research project in a country where they hold citizenship (unless they are a permanent resident or citizen of Canada). 
  • Must be the legal age of majority in Canada (18 years of age or older)
  • Must meet travel requirements for their intended destination, including visa and/or immigration requirements and associated documentation
  • Cannot hold more than one Globalink Research Award per academic lifetime
  • Cannot have previously held a Mitacs-JSPS Summer Program award

Undergraduate eligibility

Undergraduate applicants completing their first post-secondary degree must have completed their second year of studies prior to departure. All applicants enrolled in an undergraduate degree must have maintained a B average in their two most recent semesters prior to application. This average can be cumulative over the two semesters.

Home supervising professors

  • Must hold a faculty position at a Canadian university  
  • Must be eligible to hold Tri-Council funding and to supervise graduate students 

Host supervising professors

  • Must be recognized faculty members at their institutions  
  • Must be eligible to host graduate students

All parties involved with the Mitacs Globalink program must comply with the Canadian home university’s policies regarding the ethical conduct of research and scholarly activities. Any issues or disputes around research or academic misconduct will be subject to the home Canadian university’s processes following their institutional policies.

Student’s or postdoc's responsibilities

  • Make all necessary preparations for travel abroad with the appropriate university office(s)
  • Obtain appropriate visa or work permit for the destination
  • Attend any mandatory sessions as required by the home university
  • Work full-time on the research project (at least 75% abroad, and up to 25% at the home university)
  • Submit a final report and exit survey to Mitacs at the end of the project

Home supervisor’s responsibilities

  • Adhere to institutional policies for research abroad
  • Provide ongoing direction and research support to the participant prior to and during the research project
  • Assume fiduciary responsibility for the Mitacs grant
  • Submit an exit survey and sign the final report prepared by the participant

Host supervisor’s responsibilities

  • Adhere to institutional policies for visiting researchers 
  • Provide ongoing direction and research support to the participant prior to and during the research project
  • Advise the participant on appropriate travel arrangements and accommodation
  • Provide the participant with any necessary documentation to support the visa application
  • Ensure the participant has appropriate lab and/or office space and resources during the research project
  • Submit an exit survey and sign the final report prepared by the participant

Adjudication

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award is competitive with limited awards available. All applications will undergo review by an interdisciplinary team. Proposals will be adjudicated based on the following criteria:
  • Expected benefit to the participant's academic studies and research career
  • Quality of the research proposal
  • Level of supervision and mentorship committed by the host supervisor
  • Strength of recommendation by the home supervisor

Outcome letters are typically issued 10-12 weeks after submission.

Funding

  • Mitacs issues the award letter after the participant has provided their International Pre-Departure and Code of Conduct forms, respectively, and confirmed their project dates. Students cannot travel until Mitacs has issued both an outcome and award letter. Projects must begin within one year of the outcome letter being issued.
  • Approved recipients will receive funds to support participant travel and accommodation expenses, research-related expenses, and stipend. Mitacs funds will be sent to the home university’s Office of Research Services (or equivalent) and administered as a research grant in the home supervisor’s name.
  • Some awards will be sponsored in part by one of Mitacs’ international partners. Where applicable, Mitacs’ outcome letters will provide applicants with instructions for accessing partner funds.
  • Funds must be spent according to the proposal budget and Tri-Council eligible expenses
  • Funding is based on a project duration of 12 weeks, though projects durations of up to 24 weeks are acceptable. Applicants are encouraged to seek support from other funding sources for longer durations and use prudence when allocating funds to travel and accommodations.

Deliverables

The following deliverables must be submitted to Mitacs no later than one month after the project concludes:
  • A  final report  that summarizes the project.
  • The participant is responsible for drafting the final report and securing approval and signatures from the participating supervisors.
  • Exit survey from the student
  • Exit survey from the home academic supervisor
  • Exit survey from the host academic supervisor

I applied for the Globalink Research Award. When will I receive my results?
Outcome letters are typically issued 10-12 weeks after submission. Mitacs issues the award letter after the participant has provided their International Pre-Departure and Code of Conduct forms, respectively, and confirmed their project dates. Participants cannot travel until Mitacs has issued both an outcome and award letter. Projects must begin within one year of the outcome letter being issued.*

Which disciplines are eligible for the Mitacs Globalink Research Award?
All academic disciplines are eligible.

Are undergraduate students eligible for a Mitacs Globalink Research Award?
Yes. Undergraduate students are eligible provided they:

  • Have finished their second year of studies prior to departure
  • Remain enrolled full-time during the award
  • Have maintained a B average during the previous two semesters

Are postdoctoral fellows eligible for a Mitacs Globalink Research Award?
Yes, if they received their PhD within five years of the project start date.

Are alumni of the RISE-Globalink Research Internship eligible for a Mitacs Globalink Research Award?
Yes.

Can Mitacs help me find a host professor?
No. Participants are responsible for identifying a host academic supervisor abroad — read our blog post on the topic. We suggest asking your home supervisor to assist you in this search.

I will be working with two supervisors at my host institution. What should I include in my application?
You will need to identify a primary supervisor, with whom you will work more closely, and a secondary supervisor.  

If your secondary supervisor is taking on any of the host supervisor responsibilities as outlined on our website (see Award Guidelines), then your application should include the following: 

  • The secondary supervisor’s contact details in Section 2 of the application form
  • The secondary supervisor’s signature in Section 6 of the application form
  • A letter of support from the secondary supervisor
  • The secondary supervisor’s CV

If professors other than your primary supervisor are acting as collaborators on the project, but are not taking on any significant supervisory roles, they are not required to be listed on the application form. 

What should my supervisors include in their letters of support?
Each letter of support must:

  • Be written on university letterhead in English or French and signed by the supervisor
  • Include the supervisor’s contact details, title, department affiliation
  • Outline the supervisor’s support for the participant and project 
  • Describe the participant's academic and research qualities and ability to complete the project

Should my supervisors send their letters of support directly to Mitacs?
The supervisor or participant can send a letters of support to apply(at)mitacs.ca. Emails should include the participant's full name and award name in the subject line: “Participant first and last name_destination” (e.g., John Doe_France, Jane Doe_Brazil).

Can I hold both a Mitacs Globalink Research Award and a studentship or fellowship?
Mitacs does not restrict participants from holding multiple awards, scholarships, or fellowships; however, they must list all funding sources in their proposal. Each participant is responsible for complying with rules and regulations of their current funding.

Can I hold a Mitacs Globalink Research Award at the same time as another Mitacs award?
No, participants cannot simultaneously hold a Globalink Research Award and another Mitacs award. Participants who hold another Mitacs award must complete it prior to receiving a Globalink Research Award.

When will my Globalink Research Award funds be available?
Mitacs will provide its portion of the research grant to the home university once all necessary documentation has been received at Mitacs. Please note that policies regarding the distribution of the research grant can vary according to the home university. Please allow approximately two weeks for Mitacs to process funding. Where applicable, Mitacs’ outcome letters will provide instructions for accessing partner funds. 

Can a home and/or host supervisor support concurrent Mitacs Globalink Research Awards?
Yes, both supervisors can support multiple awards.

Does Mitacs provide funding for the host academic supervisor?
No. The Globalink Research Award only supports participant travel and accommodation expenses, research-related expenses, and stipend.

What status will I have at my home university while I am in my host country?
Participants must maintain full-time student or postdoctoral status at their home university in Canada during their time abroad.

Who owns any intellectual property generated during a research project?
Intellectual property is shared between the university and their researchers, in accordance with the relevant policies of the home university, unless a separate agreement is negotiated.