Concordia Mitacs special call for inbound GRAs
Senior undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows from academic institutions in Mitacs eligible countries are welcome to apply to the Concordia-Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) call for proposals.
Available to undergraduate and graduate students from Mitacs eligible countries, this program may give you the opportunity to conduct short co-supervised research projects at Concordia and gain valuable international research experience while you expand your networks.
Application deadline: January 31, 2022
Program objectives
- Develop or strengthen strategic partnerships overseas.
- Support Concordia’s strategic directions: 1, “Double our Research” and 7, “Embrace the World.”
- Build institutional bridges between Concordia University and key international institutions in Mitacs eligible countries.
- Help students to gain international research experience, fostering cultural awareness, and develop their international networks.
- Support the development of partnerships by faculty members.
- Enrich Concordia's research activities and drive innovation by bringing different perspectives and ideas.
Key deliverables
Deliverables include:
- 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.
- A brief report on how the project helped to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (to be shared with Concordia International).
- Mitacs exit survey.
Application process
Please read carefully the details of the Mitacs GRA program and application process.
To participate in this competition candidates will need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Must be registered as full-time senior undergraduates, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows at an eligible international institution located in Mitacs eligible countries and remain as such throughout their Globalink Research Award.
- 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.
- Postdoctoral fellows may apply if their date of graduation from a Ph.D. program is no more than five years prior to the proposed start date of the research project and they have postdoctoral status at an eligible institution.
- Cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree.
- Permanent residents or citizens of Canada who are enrolled in an eligible country other than Canada and who wish to do a project in Canada are eligible to apply;
- 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.
- Must meet travel requirements for Canada, including visa and/or immigration requirements and associated documentation.
**Please see more details on GRA eligibility below.
Duration
12-24 weeks. 25% of your research project may be completed at your home institution, upon Mitacs approval.
Projects must start no later than 12 months from the date the award is granted.
Value
Six thousand Canadian dollars ($6,000 CAD) for a period of 12 to 24 weeks.
Approved recipients will receive funds in stipend.
Funding is based on a project duration of 12 weeks, though projects durations of up to 24 weeks are acceptable (funding will remain the same, $6,000 CAD, independently of the project's duration);
Host and Home supervisors are not eligible to receive funding under this competition. Funding must be used to support Mitacs GRA interns.
Step #1 Find home and host supervisor
- Students will need to secure a home supervisor as well as one at Concordia;
- The best place to start is a professor at your institution, whether your supervisor or another professor in your department or faculty. Professors have broad international networks and may have colleagues in your country of interest.
- Explore Concordia can help you to find Concordia faculty members by research inerests and areas of expertise;
- For more ideas on how to find a supervisor please visit Three ways to find a professor for a Globalink Research Award collaboration.
Supervising professors' eligibility
- Must hold a faculty position at an eligible university.
- Must be eligible to supervise graduate students.
Step #2 Complete and submit your application
- All forms and instructions to apply can be found in the Application Package (see below).
- The application needs to be completed and signed by both home and host supervisors, as well as the participant intern.
- The full application package will be submitted by the Concordia supervisor through ConRAD for pre-selection. The Office of Research (OOR) will obtain the missing signatures.
- After obtained institutional signature, OOR will submit pre-selected applications to Mitacs on behalf of candidates. Please see Project Selection Process and Criteria at the bottom of this page.
- The Student Code of Conduct and Ethics and International Pre-departure forms must be completed by the intern after the award is approved.
- Please note that GRA interns are responsible to obtain any travel documents required by their host country (including work permits and visas).
- For inbound students, the host supervisors at Concordia must request the Academic Visitor status for their visitor interns immediately after the Mitacs GRA inbound grant is awarded. Instructions to complete this step will be sent to the Concordia supervisor once the award is granted. For more information see How to come to Concordia as an academic visitor.
- Please note that GRA interns entering Canada must hold a pre-approval letter for work permit issued by a visa office abroad.
We recommend reading the GRA Program Guide to make sure all the information and support material is included in your application.
- Globalink Research Award Program Guide
- Bourses de recherche Mitacs Globalink (BRG) guide du programme (Fr)
Required Mitacs application documents
- Globalink Research Award Application
- GRA Research Proposal
- Student CV
- Your application should be accompanied by:
- Letters of support from both participating professors
- Host supervisor’s CV in English or French, including funding history, publications, and graduate interns supervised
- Code of Conduct and Ethics Form (after the GRA inbound grant is awarded)
- Pre-departure Form (after the GRA inbound grant is awarded)
Required Mitacs application documents (French)
- In a first stage (pre-selection), an internal Concordia Committee will be responsible for assessing and selecting project proposals. These will be judged based on: 1) quality of the application 2) eligibility and curriculum of nominated students and 3) feasibility.
- In a second stage, Mitacs will assess individual applications bases on 1) expected benefit to the intern’s academic studies and research career 2) benefit to Canada 3) quality of the research proposal 4) level of supervision and mentorship committed by the host supervisor 5) strength of recommendation by the home supervisor.
- If successful, Mitacs will send a “Review Result” email to indicate that the project will be funded (outcome letters are typically issued 10-12 weeks after application submission).
- Participate in a pre-departure session provided by your university and get the appropriate signature for your Mitacs Pre-departure form. You should contact your international offices to obtain your universities’ signature for their Mitacs Pre-departure form.
- You will have to send your Pre-departure and Code of Conduct and Ethics forms to Mitacs directly.
- Obtain appropriate travel documents (i.e. passport, visa, work permit). For more information about applying for the Academic Visitor status at Concordia please visit Policy on Academic Visitors.
- Obtain appropriate travel/health insurance.
- Make sure you have all documents needed to open a Canadian bank account once you arrive in Canada. You will need to provide this account to Concordia International (joaquin.navas@concordia.ca).
- Arrange for housing.
- Make sure that you review and follow the directives provided by applicable institutional, municipal, provincial/territorial, and federal bodies in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- **Interns will receive their award once they arrive to their host country and they have provided a Canadian bank account to Concordia International. You will need to be prepared to make arrangements to travel to your host country.
- For more information about preparing for your visit please visit Mitacs Globalink Research Award at Concordia.
**It is important to inform Mitacs and Concordia International of any changes affecting your research project, including change of dates, major changes to the project, eligibility of both supervisor and/or intern, etc.
| N | Action | Responsible Office/Person | Deadlne |
| 1 | Individual GRA application submission | Concordia Faculty Member **proposals to be submitted through ConRad** |
January 31, 2022 |
| 2 | Results of projects’ pre-selection | Concordia Internal Committee |
February 14, 2022 |
| 3 | Result of individual GRA applications |
Mitacs | End of March (10–12 weeks after submission) |
| 4 | Student Code of Conduct and Ethics and International Pre-departure form submission | Intern | 2 weeks after receiving Mitacs award letter |
| 5 | Request Academic Visitor Status and -if needed- apply for a IRCC Offer of Employment for the intern | Concordia faculty member | Upon receiving Mitacs Award letter |
| 6 | Travel *Interns are responsible to obtain their visa and/or other travel documents. * Travel is not permitted prior to the approval of the award. *Projects must begin no later than 12 months from the date the letter of award is received. |
Intern | Once visa/work permit have been confirmed and all documents have been submitted to Mitacs Once you have received the Academic Visitor status at Concordia Within 12 months after receiving the Mitacs award letter |
| 7 | Research project | All | 12 to 24 weeks * 25% of your 12-24 week-long research project may be completed at your home institution upon Mitacs approval |
| 8 | Research project | Intern | After project completion |
Useful resources
Mitacs Globalink Research Award
Globalink Research Award Program Guide
Completing a Mitacs GRA application
Frequently asked questions for Mitacs students
How to Invite an Academic Visitor
Mitacs Globalink Research Award at Concordia
Explore Concordia (to help you find a Concordia supervisor)
Three ways to find a professor for a Globalink Research Award collaboration.
