Mitacs Globalink Research Awards
Conduct research at Université de Montréal
Thanks to an agreement between Canadian organization Mitacs and UdeM, several scholarships of a maximum of $6000 each are offered to international students wishing to conduct research at our university for 12 to 24 weeks.
"I had the opportunity to complete my training in Canada with this scholarship. I was thrilled to learn that at the end of my stay, I was admitted to the Master's degree in veterinary sciences at UdeM's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine." - Rosette Kakese, Globalink Research Awardee
Spring 2026 Call for Applications
Scholarships are now awarded through a selection process. Students are invited to submit an application no later than May 15, 2026. A new call for applications will open in August 2026.
Participation requirements
Students and their supervisors must meet several eligibility criteria to participate in the scholarship program.
Criteria for students
UdeM's specific terms:
- Be a graduate student, regardless of the discipline.
- Not have already received a Globalink Award for the same level of study.
- Only one award per student per project is possible.
- Be 18 years of age or older at the time you apply.
- Be enroled as a full-time student for the entire research stay.
- Plan for a 12- to 24-week research stay at UdeM. Up to a quarter of the duration of the research project can be carried out at your home university. No courses/seminars may be taken during the research.
- Come from a university or university-level research centre located in one of the eligible countries.
- Be under the supervision of a professor from your home university as well as from UdeM. You will be responsible for finding the person who will supervise you at UdeM.
- Meet the immigration requirements for Canada.
- Not begin your research stay until the award has been approved by Mitacs.
Not eligible for the scholarships:
- Undergraduate students (for the Spring Call for Applications)
- Postdoctoral researchers
These conditions may change in the next call for applications.
Criteria for supervisors
- Supervise only one research project involving no more than one UdeM student undertaking a research stay abroad and one international student undertaking a research stay at UdeM.
- Important: Professors who have supervised a research stay between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026, will not be eligible to supervise a stay for the Spring call for applications. A new call will open in August 2026.
These conditions may change in the next call for applications.
The UdeM supervisor must:
- Comply with institutional policies applicable to researchers
- Lead and support the student's research at all times
- Ensure that the student has the resources, lab or appropriate workspace to conduct their research project
- Fill out the invitation form with the student to determine the immigration process and the time frame for their arrival in Canada
- When necessary, ensure that the student has ethics approval issued by UdeM (or a proof of exemption) and accompany them in the steps to obtain it
- Have its academic unit work with UdeM international's immigration team to determine if the student needs a work permit and to provide them with an offer of employment number, if applicable
The Home University Supervisor must:
- Adhere to institutional policies for research abroad
- Lead and support the student's research at all times
Application process
Apply
To submit an application,you must download the Research Proposal, fill it, and send it for pre-assessment no later than May 15, 2026 to Billel Djerir and Visou Ady from Mitacs.
Should your application be selected, you will be sent the next steps by email.
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Billel Djerir and Visou Ady.
Ethics approval
Depending on the nature of your research project, you may be required to obtain approvals for research involving human or animal subjects, biohazards, or the use of radioactive materials or controlled substances (e.g. cannabis), etc. It is your responsibility to verify if they are required and to obtain them or provide proof of exemption if applicable.
In accordance with UdeM rules, ethics approval must:
- List your name
Be obtained prior to the start of your research project
- Cover the entire duration of your research (confirmation of renewal must also be sent to us if the ethics approval is not valid for the entire duration of the research stay)
- Be final (conditional approval are not accepted)
Be issued by an UdeM ethics committee (documents issued by another university are not accepted). Ethical approvals from affiliated research centres must be recognized by one of UdeM's ethics committees and you must provide proof. For more information, please refer to UdeM’s Comité sectoriel d'éthique de la recherche avec des humains or Comité d'éthique animale.
Questions about ethics approval? Contact your UdeM research supervisor, who will be able to help you with these steps. Our team will only send you basic information on the subject.
Important: If ethics approval proves to be necessary, the scholarship will not be paid until this document is obtained. If you can be exempt, you will need to provide a document confirming so to receive the scholarship. Start the process as soon as possible since it can be long and delay payment. It is possible to proceed even if you have not yet been admitted to UdeM, since your application can be submitted through your supervisor.
Review and Award process
Application review and timeframes
Mitacs will evaluate the scholarship application and may request updates, which may cause the response to take longer. The letter announcing the outcome of the review will be sent to you by email between 8 and 12 weeks after your application has been officially submitted to Mitacs.
Outcome letter
If Mitacs’ review committee approves your scholarship application, you will be emailed an outcome letter.
This letter will be accompanied by the International Pre-Departure form that must be completed, signed, and returned to Mitacs as soon as possible, once you have obtained all the necessary immigration documents for your stay in Canada and confirmed your stay dates.
Important: The issuance of your Award letter is contingent on receipt of that completed document. You will need to wait until you receive your outcome letter from Mitacs to begin your research stay.
Admission and registration
Please note that both admission and an active status (full-time enrollment) during your research stay abroad are required to be eligible for and receive the Globalink Research Award.
Notice of award
The award letter sent by Mitacs could be issued after your research stay has already begun.
We will ensure that all steps are completed before we pay the scholarship to you. We will be able to begin the payment process according to the guidelines of the UdeM's Finance Department and inform you of an expected payment date only after we receive the award letter.
Once admitted at UdeM
Official letters
An official admission letter and acceptance letter will be available in your Centre étudiant. Even though it is mentioned that the letter of acceptance must be used for immigration purposes, it is best to use a specific letter provided by your academic unit to obtain immigration documents or to cross the border.
Immigration procedures
UdeM international will send you information regarding immigration steps necessary for your research stay in Canada only once Mitacs confirms your application has been submitted.
If you wish to begin your immigration process before then, please refer to the academic unit welcoming you at UdeM for more details.
In any case, you will be responsible for taking the necessary steps as soon as possible to plan for your arrival in Canada.
A minimum of 3 months is required to obtain authorization to come to Canada.
Important: Do not plan to arrive in Canada until you have obtained all the necessary immigration documents for your stay.
Applying for a work permit
Based on your situation, you may need to apply for a work permit.
UdeM international's immigration team, along with the person supervising your research, and the person in charge of administration in your host academic unit at UdeM can help you in this process.
Once you have received your award letter, a UdeM offer of employment number will be requested for you in order to obtain a work permit, if one is required.
Important: Prepare your required documents in advance, as the process of obtaining a work permit can take several months.
Questions about the work permit? Contact UdeM international's immigration team at immigration@umontreal.ca
Registration at UdeM
Admission and enrolment in a research stay via the exchange program
To be admitted under this status, your must have received a positive outcome letter and stay at UdeM for less than 6 months (other conditions may apply). Otherwise, you will need to apply as a Training or Research Intern.
When you confirm that you have the necessary immigration documents for your stay in Canada, we will send you the information to begin the admission and registration procedure for your research stay via the exchange program.
This process can be long. It is therefore important to start as soon as possible. Admission and active status are required for payment of the Globalink Research Award.
Fee amounts
As a research student via the exchange program, you are exempt from paying UdeM tuition fees and have access to several services offered to regular full-time students (fees may apply).
A mandatory health insurance fee will be charged to your Centre étudiant (student portal). Please note that people from certain countries may apply for an exemption.
Insurance
Following registration, you may be required to pay a mandatory medical insurance fee through your student center.
Please note that students from certain countries can apply to be exempt.
For more information regarding insurance
If you have any questions regarding the payment of these fees, please see the details online or contact fraisscol@fin.umontreal.ca.
Proof of status in Canada
You will need to submit your immigration documents to UdeM. For more information, please see the details by clicking on the tasks that will appear in your student center:
Under Permis de séjour: Please upload one of the immigration documents listed above:
- Work Permit
- Passport and boarding pass
- Airline ticket and boarding pass
Under CAQ/Exemptions: Please upload your invitation letter or form signed by your supervisor at UdeM.
Note that the UdeM's Registrar's Office will contact you if there is a problem with the documents you provide or if another document is required. If you have any questions about this, please contact their team directly.
Improve your French
Do you want to improve your French? We have a few suggestions to help you in this process.
Extending a research stay
Extending a research stay can be very complex. Doing so can cause delays, costs, and disruption to your research activities.
If you wish to extend your stay, it is strongly recommended that you plan for this before your arrival in Canada.
It is not possible to stay longer than 6 months as a research student via the exchange program. If you plan to stay for this length of time or wish to extend your stay beyond 6 months, you must apply for admission and enrolment as a Training or Research Intern through Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
This means:
- Having the necessary immigration documents for this extension
- Re-applying for admission (some admission fees apply and immigration documents will be requested)
- Paying administrative fees according to the length of the stay
- That access to some services might change
Admission and active status are required for payment of the Globalink Research Award.
Any questions? Email us at international-bourses@umontreal.ca.
Useful resources
Housing
Learn more about student residences. For more information and assistance regarding off-campus housing, please see the Student Services website where you will find a practical guide for housing search and links to housing search assistance workshops there (in French only).
Administrative information
Medical insurance
UdeM has a mandatory group medical insurance plan. Please note that a medical insurance fee of approximately $356 per term will automatically be charged to you via your Student Centre.
Some students may request to be exempt.
Learn more about medical insurance
Student Centre
The Student Centre is the online portal through which you can find information about:
- Your studies at UdeM (course schedule, list of courses, grades, etc.)
- Financial information (account statements, health insurance fees, language course fees)
- Admission (progression of your application, official acceptance information)
- Your personal contact information
- Uploading documents (application, immigration, insurance, etc.)
If you are having difficulty accessing the Student Centre, please consult the Student Centre Help Page.
Institutional email
Communications from UdeM will be sent to your institutional email. See how to set up your @umontreal.ca email >
University calendar
Consult the university calendar for the exact start and end dates of each term, depending on your faculty or school at UdeM.
Student invoice
Once your enrolment is finalized and during the beginning of each term, fees will appear on your Student Centre. These are mandatory medical insurance fees and faculty fees, if applicable. You must pay these fees by the date indicated on your invoice or you will be billed for interest.
Certificate of enrollment
Should you need for an official document to be issued or signed (certificate of enrolment, proof of arrival/departure, letter for obtaining a scholarship, etc.), please request it by contacting the Registrar’s Office (fees apply).
Student ID
New Students Office
Kick off your exchange at UdeM on the right foot with a wide range of resources and opportunities to help with your arrival and integration.
Bienvenue.umontreal Instagram page
This page is dedicated to the new UdeM students. Through their unique backgrounds, the student ambassadors answer their questions and share their experiences.
Buddy Program
Studying abroad can be challenging, but you do not have to go through it alone! Experienced students can help you with your arrival and the early stages of your exchange. The Buddy Program pairs you with students who will offer you their support and expertise. With its various exclusive networking activities, you will also have the opportunity to meet other new students.
It is possible to apply as of the beginning of August.
Orientation activities
At the start of every academic year, UdeM Student Life Services (Services à la vie étudiante) organize a wide variety of events that offer you many opportunities to build friendships and to discover all that UdeM has to offer. The Orientation Days, designed especially for new students, take place at the end of August (for the fall term) and at the start of January (for the winter term). They include orientation activities, workshops, campus tours, and much more.
You won’t want to miss this chance to discover all the good things waiting for you at UdeM. It’s also a great chance to meet the yearly group of ambassadors in person—the people who will use their knowledge of the UdeM campus to keep you entertained and welcome you into our big family.
Learn more about the Orientation Days
Focus UdeM blog
Check out our blog for new students where student ambassadors share their authentic university experiences.
Resources on living in Montréal
Familiarize yourselves about life in Montréal and find out more about cost of living, food, culture, transportation and much more.
Health and psychological support
Our health and psychological support services are accessible at any time.
Students living with disabilities
Students can contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for assessment and support prior to arrival, to ensure that they qualify for services.
Additional fees may apply for some services.
Learn more about the support offered
Athletic activities
As an exchange student, you will have access to the UdeM athletics centre (CEPSUM).
Your resources
| Questions about choosing courses, enrolment, etc. | Academic advisor - Your advisor's contact information is included in your welcome message. Mitacs Globalink Research Awards: international-bourses@umontreal.ca |
|---|---|
| Immigration procedures | immigration@umontreal.ca |
| Health insurance - Group health insurance plan | immigration@umontreal.ca |
| Housing | Off-campus housing | logement@sve.umontreal.ca |
| Support and activities for international students | Support for the International Students Community | scei@sve.umontreal.ca |
| Activities for new students | New Students Office |
| Any other questions | Student Mobility Team: echange@umontreal.ca Mitacs Globalink Research Awards: international-bourses@umontreal.ca |