Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) Program 2026

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) program supports international research collaborations by offering internships to senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows. These awards enable talented researchers to undertake one or two research projects, each lasting between 12 and 48 weeks, under the joint supervision of a home and host professor. The program facilitates international mobility, allowing students to conduct research either inbound to Canada or outbound from Canada to eligible countries.

Each intern receives a research award: $6,000 for one 12- to 24-week research project (one internship unit) or $12,000 for one 24- to 48-week project or two 12- to 24-week projects (two internship units). This funding is specifically for the research project. Applicants are encouraged to seek additional funding from other sources to cover all expenses, including travel and accommodation, as Mitacs funds must adhere to Tri-Agency eligible expenses.

Interns must be registered as full-time senior undergraduates, graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows at an eligible Canadian or international institution and maintain this status throughout their Globalink Research Award. Postdoctoral fellows are eligible if their PhD graduation date is no more than five years prior to the proposed project start date and they hold postdoctoral status at an eligible institution. For inbound mobility to Canada, students from all countries are eligible, with the exceptions of Russia and North Korea. For outbound mobility from Canada, all countries are eligible except those classified as “Avoid all travel” or “Avoid non-essential travel” by the Government of Canada. Interns cannot undertake a research project at an institution where they have previously completed a degree, nor can they undertake a project in a country where they hold citizenship (with specific exceptions for Canadian permanent residents or citizens). Applicants must be at least 18 years old and meet all travel, visa, and immigration requirements for their intended destination. Interns cannot hold more than two Globalink Research Awards or Mitacs-JSPS Summer Program Awards in their academic lifetime and may not participate in more than one Mitacs internship simultaneously. Supervisors must hold a faculty position at an eligible university and be qualified to supervise graduate students. Canadian supervisors must also be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funding.

Applicants must be registered full-time at an eligible institution and meet all travel, visa, and immigration requirements for their destination. The proposed project must align with the funding requirements of their institution. Supervisors must meet the specified academic and eligibility criteria.

The application process may vary depending on the Canadian university. Interested applicants should contact their local Mitacs Advisor to determine if their project fits the funding requirements for their institution and to request the link to the GRA Application Portal. It is strongly recommended to apply at least 16 weeks prior to the planned start date of the research project.

The program is offered through two streams: the Allocation stream (where participating Canadian universities receive a set number of internship units) and the Quantum stream (open to all Canadian universities for projects in the quantum sector). Awards are offered in partnership with Mitacs’s academic partners and are subject to available funding. The list of eligible countries is subject to change, and participants are required to check the status at the time of application and prior to travel.