Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program

Eligibility

To be eligible, candidates must be citizens of an eligible country/territory:

Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos;

Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama;

North America: Mexico;

South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.

• Enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an eligible country/territory;
• Paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of their mobility in Canada;
• Able to complete all project activities no later than September 30, 2027.

Scholarships may not be awarded to individuals who:

• Hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency.
• Are already holding another grant or source of funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), through its legal name, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), or from a Canadian federal granting agency (e.g. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) or Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). All additional sources of funding must be declared.
• Are already enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.

Scholarship value & duration

• $8,600 for 4 months or one academic term for study or research at the undergraduate level
• $8,600 for 4 months or one academic term for study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD)

• $12,400 for 5 to 6 months for study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD)
• Scholarship recipients must begin their studies or research between August 1, 2026 and February 1, 2027.

Eligible expenses

Scholarship funds should be used towards:

• visa and/or study/work permit fees;
• airfare for the scholarship recipient only via the most direct and economical route;
• health insurance;
• living expenses, such as accommodation, utilities and food;
• ground transportation, including a public transportation pass; and
• books and supplies required for the recipient’s study or research, excluding computers and other equipment.

Selection criteria

For study (course based) exchange

Applications are evaluated based on the requirements for the Concordia Student Exchange program. 

For research exchange

Applications are evaluated based on: 

• The linkage of the proposed research, that the student will undertake in Canada, to one of the leading themes driving research at Concordia:
  • Advancing inclusion and social justice
  • Decarbonizing future
  • Enhancing health
  • Reimagining digital arts and technologies
  • Evolving artificial intelligence
• Merit of the research to be undertaken in Canada.

• Benefit to the home institution and peers.

• Benefit to the Canadian institution, supervisor and peers.

Supporting documents

Documents are uploaded in the online application form. Documents in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by a translation.

Proof of citizenship

• A copy of the candidate's passport or national identity card with a photo and valid dates
• Documents not accepted as proof of citizenship are: driver’s license, permanent residence card, work permit, student card, health card, birth certificate or baptismal certificate
• Proof of citizenship selected must be from the same country/territory as the citizenship selected in the online application form
  

Signed Privacy Notice Statement

• A copy of the Privacy Notice Statement for non-Canadian participants signed by the candidate and dated within the last six months.

Letter of intent from the candidate (maximum one page)

• Explains the nature of studies or research to be undertaken.
• Provides rationale for study in Canada and for the choice of institution, program and supervisor and how the proposed program of study or research will relate to their future career.
• The linkage of the proposed research, that the student will undertake in Canada, to one of the leading themes driving research at Concordia.

Letter of proof of full-time enrolment from the home institution

• On official letterhead
• Dated within the last six months
• Confirms that the candidate is currently enrolled in a full-time program (letters that do not confirm full-time student status will be deemed incomplete and not eligible)
• Copies of transcripts, a student card or a letter of admission are not acceptable

Letter of support from the home institution (maximum one page)

• On official letterhead
• Dated within the last six months
• From the candidate's instructor, professor or international director
• Explains the nature of study or research to be undertaken in Canada and how the candidate and the home institution will benefit from this scholarship program

For research exchange: Letter of invitation from the Canadian supervisor (maximum one page)

• On institutional letterhead
• Dated within the last six months
• Signed by the Canadian supervisor
• Describes the nature and scope of the research collaboration with the student’s home institution
• Confirms their willingness to support and mentor the candidate during the exchange period
• Explains how the Canadian institution, supervisor and peers will benefit from the exchange