Globalink Research Internships, Canada

Globalink Research Internship is a competitive Canadian internship programme that gives UK undergraduate students the opportunity to conduct research abroad as part of their degree

The call for Expressions of Interest for the 2025 programme will open in June 2024 to UK universities.

Students will be nominated by their home institutions in July 2024 and then will apply directly on the Mitacs website when the applications are launched in August 2024.

Only students that have been nominated by their current home institution will be eligible to apply. Please see the eligibility requirements and the list of eligible institutions in the drop down at the end of this page and speak to your study abroad department if you have any questions.

The fully funded scheme offers successful candidates from participating countries a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to carry out a 12-week summer internship at a Canadian university. Internships will take place from May-October 2025 and interns will work on a research project of their choice, under the supervision of a Canadian professor.

The scheme is collectively funded by Mitacs and the UK.

Benefits to participants

Those who apply for the Globalink Research Internship will have the chance to:

participate in an internationally reputable, competitive, and fully funded mobility opportunity in Canada in the summer of 2025;
develop research expertise with top professors at cutting-edge Canadian institutions with outstanding research facilities;
enhance vital skills for the workplace, including research skills, critical and creative thinking, cultural awareness, and developing a global outlook, 
take part in professional training covering areas such as teamwork, project management, problem solving, communication, and entrepreneurship;
interact with companies of interest through tours or individual meetings;
experience one-of-a-kind educational, social, and recreational opportunities, as well as become part of an international alumni community;
become eligible for the Mitacs Globalink Graduate Fellowship.

Eligibility requirements

Students who wish to apply for the Globalink Research Internship must have expressed their interest in applying for the scheme through the Study Abroad, International, or Careers office at their home university if their home university is participating in the scheme. Those who have expressed their interest in applying for the scheme will have been nominated by their university if they met the eligibility requirements set out below. 

Alongside having been nominated by their university, students applying must also:

be undergraduates enrolled full-time in an accredited university in the UK with a year remaining in their undergraduate programme when they return to the UK;
Students will be in the second year of their three year bachelor's degree in May 2025, or will be in the second year of their four year integrated master's degree in May 2025;
This includes students who will be in the third year of a four-year bachelor's degree in May 2025 (e.g., those on four-year courses with a year abroad or in industry);
be at least 18 years of age;
have a minimum weighted average of 60%+ if they meet their university's widening participation or equivalent criteria, or have a minimum weighted average of 65%+ if they do not meet their university's widening participation or equivalent criteria;
be available to spend 12 weeks in the period between May and October at a host university in Canada on a research project related to their area of interest and expertise;
demonstrate oral and written fluency in English or French, depending on the primary language of the project, as indicated by the host professor.

Please note that your university may have its own eligibility criteria.

How to apply

The call for student applications for the summer of 2025 will open in August 2024.

Costs covered

Return airfare (via reimbursement)
Student fees at host institution (via reimbursement)
Visa fees (via reimbursement)
Living expenses
Daily accommodation allowance
Canadian medical insurance
Professional development training 
Registration for industry events
Access to the Mitacs mentor scheme

Please note that although this is a fully funded opportunity, some of these fees (e.g., return flights, visa costs) will be incurred by successful students upfront, and will be reimbursed upon their arrival in Canada.

Is your university participating in Globalink?

The universities participating in the 2023-24 Globalink Research Internship are listed below. The institutions participating in the call for 2025 will be updated here in July 2024.

Birmingham City University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cardiff University
City University of London
Durham University
London School of Economics
Newcastle University
Queen's University Belfast
Swansea University
University Bradford
University of Aberdeen
University of Aberystwyth
University of Edinburgh
University of Exeter
University of Greenwich
University of Leicester
University of Liverpool
University of Manchester
University of Nottingham
University of Portsmouth
University of Southampton

You can also access the list on the Mitacs website.

What is the Globalink Research Internship experience like?

Hear from past students that have benefitted from the scheme through their blogs on the UUKi website:

My experience as a Mitacs Globalink Research Intern in Montréal, Canada (universitiesuk.ac.uk)

My summer in Canada with the Mitacs Globalink Research internship (universitiesuk.ac.uk)