Mitacs Globalink Research Award 2026: Up to $12,000 for International Research Internships in Canada and Eligible Countries

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) provides an opportunity for senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows to participate in international research collaborations between Canada and eligible countries and regions. Through the program, successful applicants can undertake a research internship under the joint supervision of a home-country and host-country professor, gaining international research experience while developing academic and professional connections across borders. The program supports research projects lasting between 12 and 24 weeks for one internship unit, while applicants receiving two internship units can undertake a longer research period or complete two separate research projects, subject to the program’s rules.

For students and postdoctoral researchers interested in international academic collaboration, this program can provide access to research environments outside their home institution, international academic networks, and financial support toward eligible project-related costs.

What Is the Mitacs Globalink Research Award?

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award is designed to facilitate international research collaboration and academic mobility. It brings together researchers from eligible Canadian and international institutions so that interns can conduct research in another country under the supervision of academic researchers.

Successful applicants work under the joint supervision of a home supervisor and a host supervisor. This structure allows participants to remain connected to their home institution while gaining experience conducting research in an international academic environment.

The program is particularly relevant to students and postdoctoral fellows who already have a research direction and are able to identify suitable academic supervisors and an appropriate host institution.

Mitacs Globalink Research Award Streams

The program is offered through two principal streams.

1. Allocation Stream

Under the Allocation Stream, participating Canadian universities receive a designated number of internship units each year.

Each Canadian university manages its own allocation, meaning that rules, conditions, and availability may differ between institutions. Applicants are therefore encouraged to contact their local Mitacs Advisor before developing their project so they can determine whether the proposed research fits their institution’s available allocation and requirements.

2. Quantum Stream

The Quantum Stream is open to all Canadian universities.

Unlike the Allocation Stream, there is no limit on the number of projects a Canadian university can submit through the Quantum Stream, and projects submitted under this stream do not count toward the university’s regular internship allocation.

Projects under the Quantum Stream must focus on the quantum sector. Areas mentioned by the program include:

• Quantum computation, including hardware
• Quantum algorithms
• Quantum software
• Quantum communication
• Quantum networks
• Quantum cryptography
• Quantum metrology
• Quantum sensing
• Quantum imaging
• Quantum materials

Applicants whose research falls within the quantum field may therefore want to investigate the Quantum Stream separately when planning their application.

How Much Funding Does the Mitacs Globalink Research Award Provide?

The program provides $6,000 per internship unit. Depending on the number of internship units awarded, participants can receive either $6,000 or $12,000 in research award funding.

One Internship Unit

One internship unit provides:

• $6,000 research award
• One research project lasting 12 to 24 weeks
• Research conducted in the other country

Two Internship Units

Two internship units provide:

• $12,000 research award
• Either one research project lasting 24 to 48 weeks, or
• Two separate research projects, each lasting 12 to 24 weeks

Awards are offered in partnership with Mitacs’s Canadian academic institution partners and remain subject to available funding.

Applicants should also be aware that the award may not necessarily cover every expense associated with international research travel. The program encourages applicants to seek additional sources of financial support and to use prudence when budgeting for travel and accommodation.

What Can the Mitacs Funding Be Used For?

Mitacs funding must be spent according to the budget included in the application and in accordance with eligible Tri-Agency expenses. The program’s funding administration also allows funds to support eligible direct research costs and other approved project-related expenses.

Following approval, Mitacs sends the funds to the Canadian institution’s Office of Research Services or equivalent administrative office. The institution then administers the funding as a research grant in the Canadian supervisor’s name.

Potential applicants should therefore carefully review their university’s policies regarding research expenditures and funding administration before finalizing their project budget.

Additional International Partner Funding

The program information also notes that some international partners may provide additional funding.

However, such funding is outside Mitacs’s purview. Applicants interested in partner-specific funding are expected to contact the relevant partner organization directly.

The supplied program information identifies partner information for countries including India and South Korea.

Who Can Apply for the Mitacs Globalink Research Award?

The program is aimed at researchers at different stages of higher education and early research careers.

Eligible interns include:

• Full-time senior undergraduate students
• Full-time graduate students
• Postdoctoral fellows

Applicants must be registered at an eligible Canadian or eligible international institution and must remain registered in the relevant status throughout their Globalink Research Award.

Postdoctoral Eligibility

Postdoctoral fellows may apply when:

• Their PhD graduation date is no more than five years before the proposed research project start date; and
• They hold postdoctoral status at an eligible institution.

Other Important Applicant Requirements

Applicants must also satisfy several additional conditions.

They:

1. Must not undertake their research project at an institution where they previously completed a degree.
2. Cannot conduct the research project in a country where they hold citizenship.
3. Must be at least 18 years old, meeting the legal age of majority requirement in Canada.
4. Must meet travel requirements for their destination, including applicable visa, immigration, and documentation requirements.
5. Cannot hold more than two Globalink Research Awards or Mitacs-JSPS Summer Program Awards during their academic lifetime.
6. Cannot participate in more than one Mitacs internship simultaneously.

There are also specific rules for Canadian citizens and permanent residents enrolled at institutions outside Canada, as well as Canadian-enrolled students who hold citizenship in an eligible country.

Who Can Serve as a Supervisor?

The program also establishes eligibility requirements for supervisors.

A supervisor must:

• Hold a faculty position at an eligible university.
• Be eligible to supervise graduate students.
• For supervisors at Canadian institutions, be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funding.

Applicants should therefore identify appropriate academic supervisors before progressing too far with their application.

An important point is that Mitacs does not connect interested interns with academic supervisors. Participants are responsible for connecting with one another and discussing research interests.

Which Countries Are Eligible?

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award has broad international reach.

According to the supplied program information, research and travel are supported between Canadian academic institutions and institutions in most countries, subject to the program’s country and travel-advisory restrictions.

For outbound mobility from Canada, applicants cannot travel to countries classified by the Government of Canada under the relevant “Avoid all travel” or “Avoid non-essential travel” categories.

For inbound mobility to Canada, the program states that all countries are eligible except Russia and North Korea.

Because travel advisories can change, applicants must verify the status of their intended destination both when submitting their application and before travelling.

Is There a Specific Nationality or Race Requirement?

The program information does not identify a race-based eligibility requirement.

Eligibility is instead structured around factors such as:

• Citizenship and destination
• Enrollment at an eligible institution
• Academic status
• Institution eligibility
• Research project requirements
• Travel eligibility
• Supervisor eligibility

Importantly, applicants generally cannot undertake their research project in a country where they hold citizenship.

Therefore, applicants should assess their eligibility based on their institution, academic status, citizenship, intended research destination, and the specific mobility rules rather than assuming that the program is restricted to one nationality or continent.

How to Apply for the Mitacs Globalink Research Award

The application process can vary depending on the Canadian university and its available internship-unit allocation.

Applicants should first contact their local Mitacs Advisor to determine whether their proposed project meets the funding requirements for their institution and to obtain the appropriate GRA Application Portal link.

The program recommends applying at least 16 weeks before the planned project start date. The formal submission guidance also states that complete applications should be submitted 12–16 weeks before the project start date.

Step 1: Review the Eligibility Requirements

Applicants should carefully review both:

• Mitacs eligibility and award guidelines; and
• The requirements established by their Canadian institution.

University-specific requirements can affect the application process, particularly for projects submitted through the Allocation Stream.

Step 2: Identify and Connect With Supervisors

Potential interns and supervisors need to connect with each other and discuss research interests and potential projects.

Mitacs does not serve as a matchmaking service for interns and academic supervisors, so applicants should take responsibility for establishing the academic collaboration themselves.

Step 3: Obtain Canadian University Endorsement

For supervisors at Canadian institutions, the appropriate institutional endorsement must be obtained before the application is prepared.

Applicants should contact their local Mitacs Advisor to understand the specific rules and internal process applicable at their Canadian university.

Step 4: Prepare the Application

Applicants must complete the required fields in the application portal.

The application also requires:

• A research proposal
• A Mitacs Pre-Departure form
• Personal information from all participants
• Responses to a research security question
• Required participant sign-offs

The research security question is visible only to the relevant participant, and each participant must personally log in and provide their response.

Step 5: Obtain All Required Signatures

Once the application is complete, all participants must log in again and sign off on the project.

The Canadian university signature requirements depend on the stream.

For the Allocation Stream, the project must count toward the university’s internship allocation, and the Vice President Research or designate signature is required.

For the Quantum Stream, projects do not count against the university’s allocation and the Vice President Research or designate signature is not required.

However, the Office of Research Services or its designate must provide a signature on completed applications from either stream.

Applicants should allow approximately one to three weeks to obtain the appropriate university signatures.

Step 6: Submit the Complete Application

The complete application should be submitted 12–16 weeks before the intended project start date.

Only certain participants are authorized to submit the application through the portal, including:

• Local Mitacs Advisors
• Academic supervisors at Canadian institutions
• The intern who created the application

Once the application has been submitted, participants receive a confirmation email.

Learn more HERE

What Happens After You Apply?

Applicants should understand that approval is not the only requirement before travelling.

The program explicitly states that interns cannot travel until Mitacs has issued both an outcome and an award letter.

If the application is approved:

• Funding is provided to support eligible travel and accommodation expenses, research-related expenses, and stipend.
• Funds are transferred to the Canadian institution’s research administration office.
• The Canadian supervisor administers the funding as a research grant.
• The project must begin within one year of the outcome letter being issued.
• If a second internship unit is awarded, the project must end within two years of the start date of the first unit.
• Interns are generally expected not to leave the host country during an internship unit.
• All participants must complete an exit survey at the end of the project.

FAQS HERE

Mitacs Globalink Research Award Deadline

The supplied program information does not provide a single fixed calendar deadline for the Globalink Research Award.

Instead, applications are tied to the proposed research project start date. Applicants are advised to submit their complete application 12–16 weeks before the project begins, and the program recommends applying at least 16 weeks before the planned start date.

This means applicants should not wait for a single annual deadline. Instead, they should plan backward from their intended project start date and allow sufficient time for:

• Finding a research supervisor
• Developing the project
• Preparing the research proposal
• Completing the application
• Obtaining institutional endorsement
• Securing university signatures
• Completing the submission process
• Receiving the Mitacs outcome and award letter
• Completing necessary travel and immigration arrangements

Because institutional allocation and funding availability can affect the process, prospective applicants should contact their local Mitacs Advisor as early as possible.

Important Things Applicants Should Know

Before applying, prospective participants should pay attention to several important program conditions.

Funding Is Subject to Availability

The award is offered in partnership with Mitacs’s Canadian academic institution partners and is subject to available funding.

Applicants Need to Find Their Own Academic Collaboration

Mitacs does not connect interns and supervisors. Applicants need to establish the appropriate academic relationship themselves.

University Requirements Can Differ

The application process can vary depending on the Canadian university and whether the project is being submitted through the Allocation or Quantum Stream.

Travel Restrictions Matter

Applicants must meet the travel, visa, immigration, and documentation requirements of their intended destination.

They must also check current travel advisories because country eligibility can change.

Do Not Travel Before Receiving the Required Approval

An intern must wait until Mitacs has issued both an outcome and award letter before travelling for the project.

Why This Opportunity Can Be Valuable for Researchers

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award combines international mobility with academic research collaboration.

For eligible students and postdoctoral fellows, the program can provide an opportunity to:

• Conduct research in another country
• Work under joint academic supervision
• Build international research relationships
• Gain experience in a different academic environment
• Develop a structured international research project
• Access up to $12,000 in award funding, depending on the number of internship units
• Participate in research collaborations involving Canadian and international institutions
• Develop experience that can strengthen an academic or research career

The program is particularly relevant for applicants who already have a defined research interest and can identify appropriate home and host supervisors.

Final Takeaway

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award is an international research mobility opportunity connecting Canadian and international academic institutions. It supports eligible senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows who want to undertake collaborative research abroad under the joint supervision of academic researchers.

Funding can reach $12,000, depending on whether an applicant receives one or two internship units, while research projects can range from 12 to 48 weeks depending on the structure of the award.

There is no single fixed annual deadline stated in the supplied information. Instead, applicants should plan to submit their complete applications 12–16 weeks before the intended project start date, with Mitacs recommending that applicants begin the process at least 16 weeks ahead. Because university allocation, institutional procedures, funding availability, supervisor eligibility, and international travel rules can affect an application, prospective applicants should begin early and consult their local Mitacs Advisor before developing and submitting their project. For eligible researchers seeking international academic experience and collaborative research opportunities, the Mitacs Globalink Research Award can serve as a pathway to develop research projects across borders while building connections between Canadian and international academic communities.

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