Mitacs Globalink Research Award 2026: Up to $12,000 for International Research Internships in Canada and Eligible Countries
The Mitacs Globalink Research Award enables senior undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows to participate in international research collaborations between Canada and eligible partner countries. Successful applicants receive funding between $6,000 and $12,000 to conduct research under joint supervision.
Overview
The Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) facilitates international research mobility and academic collaboration by bringing together researchers from eligible Canadian and international institutions. Participants conduct research in another country under the joint supervision of a home supervisor and a host supervisor, maintaining ties to their home institution while gaining hands-on international academic experience.
The program operates through two primary streams:
- Allocation Stream: Participating Canadian universities receive a designated annual number of internship units, and rules and availability can vary by institution.
- Quantum Stream: Open to all Canadian universities without limit on project submissions, specifically focusing on quantum sectors such as computation, algorithms, software, communication, networks, cryptography, metrology, sensing, imaging, and materials.
Benefits
Depending on the number of internship units awarded, participants receive direct research award funding:
- One Internship Unit: Provides $6,000 for a research project lasting 12 to 24 weeks.
- Two Internship Units: Provides $12,000 for either a single 24- to 48-week research project or two separate 12- to 24-week research projects.
Funds are distributed to the Canadian institution's Office of Research Services and administered as a research grant in the Canadian supervisor's name to support eligible direct research costs and approved project expenses.
Eligibility
Applicants must meet specific academic and legal requirements to qualify for the program:
- Must be full-time senior undergraduate students, full-time graduate students, or postdoctoral fellows registered at an eligible Canadian or international institution.
- Postdoctoral fellows must hold a PhD graduation date no more than five years prior to the project start date and maintain active postdoctoral status.
- Must be at least 18 years old and meet all applicable visa, immigration, and travel documentation requirements.
- Cannot undertake research at an institution where they previously completed a degree.
- Cannot conduct research in a country where they hold citizenship.
- Cannot hold more than two Globalink Research Awards or Mitacs-JSPS Summer Program Awards in their academic lifetime, nor participate in multiple Mitacs internships simultaneously.
Supervisors must hold a faculty position at an eligible university, be approved to supervise graduate students, and be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funding if based in Canada.
How to Apply
Applicants are responsible for finding their own academic collaborators, as Mitacs does not provide a matchmaking service. The application process typically involves the following steps:
- Contact your local Mitacs Advisor early to verify university allocation and rules, and to obtain the appropriate application portal link.
- Coordinate and connect with an appropriate academic supervisor at the host institution.
- Obtain necessary Canadian university endorsements and internal institutional sign-offs.
- Prepare and submit the application through the portal, including a research proposal, Pre-Departure form, personal details, research security responses, and required sign-offs.
Deadline
There is no single fixed calendar deadline for the Mitacs Globalink Research Award. Applications follow a rolling schedule tied to the proposed research project start date, with complete applications required 12 to 16 weeks before the project begins and Mitacs recommending initiation at least 16 weeks ahead.