Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) - inbound
Under the joint supervision of a home and host professor, senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows can apply for a research award to conduct a short co-supervised research project at Concordia and gain valuable international research experience.
2025 call for proposals: September 15 - November 21, 2025
Program objectives
- Develop or strengthen strategic international research partnerships.
- Support Concordia’s strategic directions to “Double our Research” and “Embrace the World.”
- Help students gain international research experience.
New country eligibility
Mitacs has expanded the countries eligible to participate in the GRA program. This is an opportunity to build on the university’s research strengths and forge new global research partnerships with academic institutions in countries with growing strategic importance for Concordia University and Canada. Namely, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
For inbound mobility, all countries are eligible except for Russia and North Korea. Please note that this list is subject to change at any time and participants are required to check the status at the time of application and prior to travel.
Application process
Below are the Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) eligibility requirements and application process.
- Must be registered as a full-time senior undergraduate, graduate student, or postdoctoral fellow at an eligible international institution located in a Mitacs eligible country and remain as such throughout their internship.
- Undergraduate applicants must have completed their second year of studies prior to the start of their internship.
- 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.
- Must be the legal age of majority in Canada (18 years of age or older).
- Must meet travel requirements for Canada, including visa and/or immigration requirements and associated documentation.
- $6,000 research award to conduct one 12- to 24-week research project at Concordia.
- $12,000 research award to conduct one 24- to 48-week research project at Concordia.
- 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 approved.
Step 1 Find a home and host supervisor for your research project
- Students need to have a home academic supervisor (from the academic institution where they are enrolled) as well as one at Concordia for the research project.
- The best place to start is with a professor at your institution, whether your supervisor or another professor in your department or faculty. Professors have broad international networks.
- If you are unfamiliar with Concordia, the following list of academic units and departments at Concordia is a good starting point for identifying Concordia professors whose fields of expertise correspond to yours.
Supervising professors' eligibility
- Must hold a faculty position at an eligible university.
- Must be eligible to supervise graduate students.
Step 2 Complete your application on the Mitacs application portal
- Apply on the Mitacs Globalink Research Award Application Portal
- Important to download a copy of your completed Mitacs application from the Mitacs portal for submission to Concordia for signature.
Step 3 Submit your completed application to Concordia for signature
- Applications must be submitted internally on the Concordia mobility portal for signature by Concordia International and the Office of Research.
- Students upload the completed Mitacs application and register on the Concordia mobility portal. The portal regroups all the application documents for mobility programs.
We recommend reading the Mitacs GRA Program Guide for information on preparing your application.
Complete your application on the Mitacs Globalink Research Award application portal.
- The application must be submitted internally on the Concordia International website for signature by Concordia International and the Office of Research.
- Concordia receives a set number of awards per year from Mitacs. If the applications received exceeds this number, applications will be reviewed internally by an academic panel prior to university signature. Applications will be evaluated according to the Mitacs application review criteria.
- Mitacs reviews and assess individual applications based on 1) quality of the research proposal, 2) level of supervision and mentorship committed by the host supervisor, 3) relevance to society, 4) expected benefit to Canada.
- The signed application will be submitted by the Concordia International Office to ConRAD and to Mitacs.
- Mitacs sends the review results by email (outcome letters are typically issued 10-12 weeks after application submission).
- Participate in your home university's pre-departure session.
- Register online for a Concordia pre-departure session to prepare for your arrival.
- Send your acceptance and pre-departure forms to Mitacs.
- Provide the documentation to your Concordia academic supervisor for Academic Visitor status at Concordia.
- Ensure you meet the immigration requirements for coming to Canada. Concordia's immigration specialist contacts approved students with instructions once the academic visitor form has been completed.
- Obtain appropriate travel/health insurance.
- Once you arrive in Canada, make sure you have all documents needed to open a Canadian bank account. You will need to provide your bank account information to Concordia International on the mobility portal for the payment of the award.
- Arrange for housing.
**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.
| Action | Responsible office/person | Deadline |
| GRA application submission on the Mitacs online application portal. | Applicants (student, host academic supervisor, home academic supervisor) prepare and sign off on their application on the Mitacs online application portal. | November 21, 2025 |
| GRA application submission to Concordia for signature. | Student submits the completed application on the Concordia International website for signature. Signed applications are submitted on ConRad and to Mitacs by Concordia International. |
November 21, 2025 |
| GRA application review results | Mitacs | Winter 2026 |
| Complete Mitacs acceptance form and pre-departure form. | Student | Following Mitacs application approval and before you travel. |
| Request Academic Visitor Status | Concordia faculty member | Upon receiving Mitacs Approval letter. |
Travel *Students are responsible for obtaining the necessary immigration for travel to Canada and following the Concordia academic visitor process. *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. |
Student | 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. |
| 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. |
| Submit a final survey to Mitacs. | Student | After project completion. |
