Program Overview

The Mitacs Globalink Research Internship program is a competitive initiative for international undergraduates from the following countries and regions: Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

From May to October of each year, top-ranked applicants participate in a 12-week research internship under the supervision of Canadian university faculty members in a variety of academic disciplines, from science, engineering, mathematics, and health studies to the humanities and social sciences.

Supervisor Eligibility

In order to be eligible for hosting interns as part of the Globalink Research Internship program, supervisors must:

• Have one of the following statuses at an eligible institution: Full professor, Associate professor, Assistant professor, Adjunct professor, Emeritus professor;
• Be able to supervise international students at the supervisor’s institution; and
• Be able to host interns within the stipulated dates of the GRI program: Internships must between May 1 and July 31 and must be delivered over the course of 12 consecutive weeks.

Funding

The GRI award is paid directly to participating students, and includes:

• Funding to contribute to the cost of a round-trip airfare to Canada (amount varies depending on country of origin);
• Funding to contribute to the cost of transportation from the airport in Canada to accommodation;
• Stipend for housing (amount varies depending on country of origin);
• Stipend for food and incidentals (amount varies depending on country of origin);
• Emergency health insurance policy for the duration of the internship;
• Support from student mentors on campus in Canada; and
• Access to industry events and professional development courses.

Administration fees associated with intern registration are invoiced to Mitacs directly by the Office of Research Services (ORS).

How to Apply

Requirements

BU Faculty members will submit a project proposal through the Mitacs online portal. Faculty should reach out to the BU Mitacs Advisor to set up a Mitacs online portal account. The project proposal includes the following:

• Project title
• BU Supervisor’s name
• Number of openings
• Preferred Student’s Academic Background
• Preferred Internship start date
• Description of specialized research area
• Description of research project
• Required background/skills of student
• Student role
• Student activities
• Safety protocols
• Location of research activities

Timeline for Applications and Internships

Step 1: BU Faculty Member to Submit a Project Proposal

April – Mitacs opens the call for internships that will take place in the following year (e.g. projects submitted in Spring 2025 will be for internships taking place in Summer 2026). The BU Research Officer will send out an email announcement to faculty members.

April to June – Faculty members submit research projects to Mitacs.

• Multiple projects can be submitted by the same PI; this increases the chance of matching to an intern.
• Each project can host 1 or more interns.

External Application Deadline: The Mitacs application deadline for faculty to submit project proposals is normally in the first week of June.

Internal Application Deadline: Prior to submission, applications should be submitted to the Research Officer, Julia Herr (herrj@brandonu.ca), with a BU cover sheet two weeks before the Mitacs submission deadline.

July to August – Faculty projects are reviewed by Mitacs and decisions are communicated to professors directly.  Successful projects are made available to international students via an online database.

Step 2: International Students Submit Applications

August to September – International students submit applications and select research projects.

October – Student applications are vetted by Mitacs.

Step 3: Matching Interns to Projects

November to January – Mitacs provides professors with a shortlist of student candidates for their project.  Professors review them, conduct interviews and rank them in order of suitability.  Mitacs collects the rankings and finalizes offers to students.

Step 4: Mitacs Results & Intern Preparation

December – Mitacs puts out a hiring call to mature students to act as Globalink Mentors. The BU Research Officer circulates the job advertisement to students and faculty to disseminate, and interested students apply directly to Mitacs.

February – Final results are announced, and interns input personal details and accept agreements.  Once completed, interns will have access to their Mitacs award letter, outlining terms and conditions. Interns connect with their matched supervisors and establish start and end dates. Dates are entered into the Globalink platform.

February to April – Pre-internship preparation occurs, including interns entering their flights and accommodation details into the Globalink platforms.  Professors submit research project plans to their interns via the Globalink platform.

March to April – Intern lists are finalized by mid-March, including finalized start and ends dates, and will be updated subsequently with any changes to contact information. The ORS receives the list of interns who will be coming to BU and works with International Office to provide the incoming interns with the following:

• a BU ID number,
• a BU email account,
• a welcome letter that serves as an official acceptance letter from Brandon University, and
• an electronic package with information on accommodations, Brandon, various student groups etc.

Insurance: Mitacs purchases insurance policies for all incoming interns. Interns may provide proof of this insurance certificate to opt out of BU-provided insurance.

April – Interns receive mentor matches and Canadian institutions receive a list of mentors.

Supervisors request any fobs or keys required for their interns.

Step 5: Interns Arrive in Canada

May to July – Internships must start between May 1 and July 31.

May to October – Interns arrive in Canada and work with supervisors for 12 weeks. Internships must end by October 31.

For more information, please contact Julia Herr, Research Officer, in the Office of Research Services via email: herrj@brandonu.ca.

Revised: June 2024