The Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) program supports research collaborations between Canada and eligible countries and regions through intern(s) international mobility.
Open to full-time senior undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, the award enables talented researchers to undertake one 12 to 48-week project or two 12 to 24-week projects with a host supervisor inbound to Canada or aboard from Canada.
The program is offered through two streams:
- Allocation stream: Participating Canadian universities receive a set number of internship units per year.
- Quantum stream: Open to all Canadian universities. The project must be in the quantum sector. No limit of projects per Canadian university and does not count in the university’s allocation.
Awards are offered in partnership with Mitacs’ Canadian academic institution partners and are subject to available funding.
Applicants are encouraged to seek support from other funding sources to cover all expenses and use prudence when allocating funds to travel and accommodations.
Mitacs funds must be spent according to the budget in the application and Tri-Agency eligible expenses. See Mitacs use of funds for details of eligible expenses for Mitacs programs.
Mitacs Globalink Research Award program website
InternalUBC Internal Process
Under the Allocation stream, universities are allocated units and UBC has been allocated 19 “internship units (IUs)” for this fiscal year. Each internship unit = $6,000 research award for an intern (senior undergraduate student, graduate student, or PDF within 5 years of PhD) to conduct one 12- to 24-week research project in another country.
There is no institutional limit on Quantum stream projects, which do not count in a university’s allocation. Applicants may apply directly through Mitacs by contacting their local Mitacs advisor. Quantum stream applications do not require VPRI signature.
Internal Selection Process for Allocation Stream
| June 1, 2026 | Faculty members submit a two-page application to the VPRI for internal review. |
| June 16, 2026 | Decisions of internal review communicated to applicants. |
Applicants successful in the internal review may proceed to complete a full application for submission to Mitacs. Ensure all required signatures are obtained. See Mitacs Globalink Research Award website for details.
Internal Application Content
Open to faculty in all disciplines at UBCV and UBCO. Interested faculty are encouraged to submit a brief application (max 2 pages) containing the following:
- Participant and project details: Include project title, name of UBC PI and their unit/Faculty, name of intern and affiliation, project dates, requested internship length(s), and number of internship units requested.
- Note: PIs may request a maximum of 2 IUs per application.
- Brief description of research proposal: Include objectives, hypotheses and/or research questions.
- Justification for international mobility: Detail how the intern(s) will be involved in the project, and why an international internship is essential for their project and career development
- Brief description of collaboration: Include a description of how the collaboration will benefit from the project and any plans to apply for future funding.
Submit internal applications to Stacey Herzer, Manager, Internal Research Competitions, stacey.herzer@ubc.ca by June 1, 2026.
Internal applications will be reviewed internally within VPRI to ensure appropriate and equitable allocation of internship units between Faculties and campuses, and to gauge:
- How effectively the intern(s) are involved in the project and the quality of the opportunities offered to them; and
- The benefit the project will bring to the collaboration and feasibility of future funding plans.
Submission to Mitacs
Following internal selection, approved projects proposed though the Allocation stream require signatures from both the VPRI (or designate) and ORS prior to Mitacs submission. Signatures must be obtained in the following order:
- VPRI (or designate): Applicants should send their Mitacs applications to stacey.herzer@ubc.ca to facilitate the necessary VPRI signature. Signed applications will then be returned to applicants.
- ORS: Complete application packages, including a completed and signed RPIF, must be sent to ORS for review and signature. Contacts for ORS signature may be found here.
Please allow enough time to obtain all appropriate university signatures. Selected applications should be submitted to Mitacs about 16 weeks before the proposed project starts. Applicants may apply for the Quantum stream directly through Mitacs by contacting their local Mitacs advisor.
Complete details about the funding program, including eligibility and how to apply, can be found on the Mitacs website.