Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) Program 2026

Overview

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) programme supports research collaborations between Canada and eligible countries and regions through international mobility of interns. Under the joint supervision of a home professor and a host professor, successful senior undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows can complete one or two internships of 12 to 24 weeks. The aim is to help participants expand their innovation horizons and build or strengthen international research collaborations with another university.

The programme runs through two streams. In the allocation stream, participating Canadian universities receive a set number of internship units per year and manage their own allocation, so rules and conditions may vary. The quantum stream is open to all Canadian universities, but the project must be in the quantum sector, which includes quantum computation hardware, algorithms and software, quantum communication, networks and cryptography, and quantum metrology, sensing, imaging and materials. There is no limit on quantum projects per university, and they do not count against its allocation.

What you get

Each intern receives $6,000 per internship unit. A $6,000 research award covers one research project of 12 to 24 weeks in the other country. A $12,000 research award covers one project of 24 to 48 weeks or two projects of 12 to 24 weeks.

Who can apply

Interns must be registered full-time as senior undergraduates, graduate students or postdoctoral fellows at an eligible Canadian or international institution and stay that way throughout the award. Postdoctoral fellows may apply if their PhD graduation was no more than five years before the proposed start date and they hold postdoctoral status at an eligible institution. Interns cannot work at an institution where they previously completed a degree, or in a country where they hold citizenship, and must be at least 18. Canadian permanent residents or citizens enrolled in an eligible country other than Canada may apply to do a project in Canada, and those enrolled in Canada who hold citizenship in an eligible country may apply to do a project there. Interns must meet travel requirements, including visas, may not hold more than two Globalink Research Awards or Mitacs-JSPS Summer Program Awards in their lifetime, and may not take part in more than one Mitacs internship at once. Supervisors must hold a faculty position at an eligible university and be eligible to supervise graduate students, and Canadian supervisors must be eligible to hold Tri-Agency funding.

How to apply

The process varies by Canadian university and its internship unit allocation. Applicants should check with their local Mitacs advisor to confirm that their project meets the funding requirements and to get the link to the GRA application portal. Awards depend on available funding, and applying at least 16 weeks before the planned start date is recommended.