Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development Phase 2 (SEED-2)

Internal deadline for applications: March 6, 2026 (CLOSED) 

External deadline: March 24, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EDT

Announcement of Results: Spring 2026

Note:Please note that McMaster University will prioritize research-based and study applications from partner institutions. Applicants must check with their university’s international office to confirm whether an inter-institutional agreement with McMaster University is in place.

If you are applying for a study (course-based) experience, please also follow the McMaster University Incoming Exchange Students Guidelines to apply to the McMaster exchange program by the March 6, 2026 deadline.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW AND ELIGIBILITY

The Government of Canada is offering scholarship opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region through the Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development – Phase 2 (SEED-2) program. This program is an expansion of the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED). SEED-2 is a key initiative under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. The program provides opportunities for students from Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Pacific Island Countries and Mongolia to conduct short-term study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions in areas that contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development .

The Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development – Phase 2 (SEED-2) program aims to reduce poverty in eligible countries and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . Scholarships and educational exchanges will contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SEED-2 contributes to strengthening people-to-people ties between Canada and the Indo-Pacific region. The Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development – Phase 2 (SEED-2) program is offered by Global Affairs Canada. SEED-2 scholarships are facilitated through institutional collaborations between post-secondary institutions in Canada and their partner institutions in ASEAN Member States, Pacific Island Countries and Mongolia.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible, candidates must be citizens of a country listed below:

• • ASEAN Member States: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos (Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)), Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam;
  • Pacific Island Countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu;
  • Mongolia.
• enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an eligible country
• paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of their exchange

Candidates are not eligible for this scholarship if they:

• hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• are already participating in a scholarship program funded by the Government of Canada
• are already enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program at a Canadian post-secondary institution
• have previously received a scholarship under the first phase of the program: the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED)

Scholarship value and duration:

Award component	Value	Duration	Activities
College / undergraduate (4 months)	$10,200	Four months or one academic term	Study or research at the college or undergraduate level.
College / undergraduate (8 months)	$15,900	Eight months or two academic terms	Study or research at the college or undergraduate level.
Graduate (4 months)	$10,200	Four months or one academic term	Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD).
Graduate (5-6 months)	$12,700	Five to six months	Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD).

 

Eligible expenses

Selected candidates may use scholarship funds towards:

• visa or study/work permit fees
• airfare via the most direct and economical route
• health insurance
• living expenses, such as accommodation, utilities and food
• ground transportation, including a public transportation pass
• books and supplies required for their study or research, excluding computers and other equipment

HOW TO APPLY

Students interested in studying in Canada under this scholarship should:

• review the eligibility requirements by going to Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development – Phase 2 (SEED-2) website

• contact your international office to learn more about the application process and any admission requirements at McMaster University

Submit the Application form

Supporting documents

To complete your GAC scholarship application, you must submit the application form and email the following supporting documents to gacexpro@mcmaster.ca copying your McMaster supervisor (if research) by March 6, 2026.

• Proof of citizenship
  • A copy of the candidate’s passport or national identity card with a photo and valid dates
  • Documents not accepted as proof of citizenship are: driver’s license, permanent residence card, work permit, student card, health card, birth certificate or baptismal certificate
  • Proof of citizenship selected must be from the same country/territory as the citizenship selected in the online application form

• Signed Privacy Notice Statement
  • A copy of the Privacy Notice Statement for non-Canadian participants  signed by the candidate and dated within the last six months

• Letter of intent from the candidate (maximum one page)
  • Explains the nature of studies or research to be undertaken
  • Provides rationale for study in Canada and for the choice of institution, program and supervisor and how the proposed program of study or research will relate to their future career
  • Explains how undertaking study or research in Canada will empower the student to apply their learning to address the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
  • Explains how they intend to use their learning to help reduce poverty and narrow the development gap in their region in their future career
  • Identifies the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)  their proposed study or research in Canada is aligned with and will contribute to (letters that do not identify an SDG will be deemed incomplete and not eligible)
  • Candidates from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste or Vietnam must provide an explanation of how their learning in Canada will help to reduce poverty in their home country
  • Candidates from Brunei or Singapore must provide an explanation of how their learning in Canada will help to reduce poverty in one of the other nine ASEAN countries
  • Candidates from Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu or Vanuatu must provide an explanation of how their learning in Canada will help to reduce poverty in their home country
  • Candidates from the Cook Islands must provide an explanation of how their learning in Canada will help to reduce poverty in one of the other thirteen eligible Pacific Island Countries
  • Candidates from Mongolia must provide an explanation how their learning in Canada will help to reduce poverty in their home country

• Letter of proof of full-time enrolment from the home institution
  • On official letterhead
  • Dated within the last six months
  • Confirms that the candidate is currently enrolled in a full-time program (letters that do not confirm full-time student status will be deemed incomplete and not eligible)
  • Copies of transcripts, a student card or a letter of admission are not acceptable

• Letter of support from the home institution (maximum one page)
  • On official letterhead
  • Dated within the last six months
  • From the candidate’s instructor, professor or international director
  • Explains the nature of study or research to be undertaken in Canada and how the candidate and the home institution will benefit from this scholarship program
  • Assesses the candidate’s commitment and capacity to use the program of study or research in Canada to help reduce poverty and narrow the development gap in their country or region

• Letter of invitation from the Canadian supervisor (graduate students only, maximum one page)
  • On institutional letterhead
  • Dated within the last six months
  • Signed by the Canadian supervisor
  • Describes the nature and scope of the research collaboration with the student’s home institution
  • Confirms their willingness to support and mentor the candidate during the exchange period
  • Explains how the Canadian institution, supervisor and peers will benefit from the exchange

Student arrival in Canada 

Students should submit their visa or study/work permit application as early as possible to avoid delays.

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