Concordia-Mitacs outbound Globalink Research Award (GRA)
Under the joint supervision of a home and host professor, senior undergraduate students, graduate students, as well as postdoctoral fellows can apply for a $6,000 research award to conduct a short co-supervised research project and gain valuable international research experience while you expand your networks.
2024 Call for proposals: September 12 - November 12, 2024
2025 call information coming soon.
Program objectives
- Develop or strengthen strategic international research partnerships.
- Support Concordia’s strategic directions to “Double our Research” and “Embrace the World”.
- Build institutional bridges between Concordia University and key international institutions in eligible countries.
- Help students to gain international research experience, fostering cultural awareness, and develop their international networks.
- Enrich Concordia's research activities and drive innovation by bringing different perspectives and ideas.
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, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya and Morocco.
Mitacs now supports collaboration between Canada and all countries except those classified as “Avoid all travel” or “Avoid non-essential travel” by the Government of Canada. 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.
To participate in this competition, Concordia candidates need to meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Must be registered as full-time senior undergraduates, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows at Concordia and remain as such throughout their Globalink Research Award.
- 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 Concordia.
- 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.
- 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.
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 approved.
Value
- Six thousand Canadian dollars C$6,000 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, C$6,000, independently of the project's duration).
- The 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 a home and host supervisor
- Students need to have a home (Concordia) academic supervisor as well as one at your host university in a Mitacs eligible country.
- The best place to start looking for a host supervisor may be with a Concordia professor (your supervisor or another professor in your department or faculty). Professors have broad international networks and may have colleagues in your country of interest.
- You can also do your own research by exploring universities in your preferred destination, and identifying professors working in your areas of interest.
- Concordia University has an extended network of partners across the world, you can take advantage of these relationships to identify and approach a professor at these institutions.
Supervising professors' eligibility
- Must hold a faculty position at an eligible university.
- Must be eligible to supervise graduate students.
- Supervisors at Canadian institutions: Must be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funding.
Step 2 Complete your application on the Mitacs application portal
- Apply on the Mitacs Globalink Research Award Application Portal
- Important to note: download a copy of your completed online Mitacs application for internal submission to Concordia International.
- Applications must be submitted internally on the Concordia International website for signature by Concordia International and the Office of Research.
- For internal submission to Concordia interns must upload the completed Mitacs application and register on the Concordia International Mobility portal. The portal regroups all the application documents for mobility programs. Click on the application link below.
We recommend reading the Mitcas 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)
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.
- The signed application will be submitted by the Concordia International Office to ConRAD and to Mitacs.
- Mitacs will review and assess individual applications based on 1) quality of the research proposal, 2) quality of the intern supervision and training opportunity, 3) benefits to industry, society and Canada.
- Mitacs sends the review results to indicate if the project will be funded by email (outcome letters are typically issued 10-12 weeks after application submission).
If your application is successful, following the receipt of your outcome letter from Mitacs.
- Participate in a pre-departure session provided by Concordia International and get the appropriate signature for your Mitacs Pre-departure form. For more information please visit: Completing a Mitacs Pre-departure form.
- Obtain appropriate travel documents (i.e. passport, visa, work permit).
- Obtain appropriate travel health insurance.
- Make sure you provide your Canadian bank account to Concordia International through the online Concordia International mobility portal.
- Arrange for housing
Interns will receive their award once Concordia receives the award letter from Mitacs and interns have submitted the online form with their Canadian bank account to Concordia International.
**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 prepare their application on the Mitacs online application portal. |
2025 deadline to be announced. |
| GRA application submission to Concordia for signature | Intern submits the completed application on the Concordia International website for signature. Signed applications are submitted on ConRad and to Mitacs by Concordia International |
2025 deadline to be announced. |
| GRA application review results | Mitacs | Winter |
| Student Code of Conduct and Ethics and International Pre-departure form submission | Intern | 2 weeks after receiving Mitacs award letter |
| Request Academic Visitor Status, and if needed, apply for a IRCC Offer of Employment for the intern | Concordia faculty member | Upon receiving Mitacs Approval letter |
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 |
| 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 report | Intern | After project completion |
