EduCanada Scholarships (ELAP, SEED and SICS)

Internal deadline for applications:  Monday, March 3, 2025 

External deadline: Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EDT 

Announcement of Results: Spring 2025 

Note: Selected students may arrive as early as August 1, 2025 for the fall semester and no later than February 1, 2025 for the winter/spring semester. Failure to arrive during this time may result in the cancellation of the scholarship. 

The Government of Canada announced the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program in 2009 to support the development of human capital and the next generation of leaders in the Americas while strengthening the linkages between post-secondary institutions in Canada and the Americas. These scholarships provide students from post-secondary institutions located in Latin America and the Caribbean with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research at Canadian post-secondary institutions.  

The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program is a Short-term Exchange Program under Global Affairs Canada’s International Scholarships Program. Canadian institutions will receive funding from Global Affairs Canada, through its legal name, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD).  

McMaster’s Faculty interested in hosting/supervising interns should: 

• Complete the google form available here by relevant faculty members to share details on the program they seek to host students for and the nature of the research. The results will be shared with our partner universities. 

• For students who opt to apply for course only, the university is committed to waiving the fees.  Concerned Faculty will need to verify that it is agreeable and that there are relevant courses offered during the time the student is at McMaster. 

• Departments/supervisors must email all the required documents as individual files to gacexpro@mcmaster.ca no later than Monday, March 3, 2025.  

Students interested in studying in Canada under this scholarship should:  

• review the eligibility requirements by going to the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program website  

• ask your international office if your school has an exchange agreement with McMaster University  

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

• For graduate applications, an inter-institutional agreement is desirable but not mandatory. If there is no existing exchange agreement, graduate applications which involve a new or established collaboration between professors from a Canadian institution and the candidate’s home institution will be accepted. Graduate applicants must secure a supervisor at McMaster before they can apply for this scholarship.  

• For undergraduate course-only applications, an inter-institutional agreement is required. For undergraduate research applications with no agreement, a letter issued by McMaster’s Office of International Affairs will be accepted instead of an inter-institutional agreement.   

Scholarship Value and Duration  

Award component	Value	Duration	Activities
College / undergraduate (4 months)	$8,200	Four months or one academic term	Study or research at the college or undergraduate level. A valid student exchange agreement that waives tuition fees is required.
Graduate (4 months)	$8,200	Four months or one academic term	Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD). A student exchange agreement is not required.
Graduate (5-6 months)	$11,100	Five to six months	Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD). A student exchange agreement is not required.

Eligible Expenses  

Selected students 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  

Eligibility  

To be eligible, candidates must be:  

•  a citizen of an eligible country/territory  

• Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos  

• Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama  

• North America: Mexico  

• South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela  

• a student enrolled full-time at post-secondary institution in an eligible country/territory  

• paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of your exchange  

Candidates are not eligible for this scholarship if:  

• you hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency  

• you are already participating in a scholarship program funded by the Government of Canada  

• you are already enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program at a Canadian post-secondary institution  

Selection process  

The following guidelines are followed for the review, assessment and selection of applications:  

All online applications received by the deadline will be pre-screened to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements established for the program.  

Eligible and complete applications will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria:  

• merit of the research or study to be undertaken in Canada  

• benefit to the home institution and peers  

• benefit to McMaster University, supervisor and peers  

• strength of linkages to be created through the proposed exchange  

McMaster will be required to rank the eligible applications based on the above selection criteria and then provide the rankings to Global Affairs Canada.  

Supporting documents  

Departments/supervisors must email all the required documents as individual files to gacexpro@mcmaster.ca no later than Monday, March 3, 2025, 11:59 PM EST. 

Applicants are to provide the following documents to their department:  

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  

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  

• 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  

Additional application information: a Word document completed by the applicant that includes all the following information.  

• Candidate’s research project title  

• A summary of the research project or courses to be undertaken at McMaster (maximum 1000 characters).  

• History of Inter-Institutional Collaboration: Describe the nature of the agreement i.e., formal Memorandum of Understanding, informal agreement between post-secondary institutions or departments, research collaboration between professors, etc. (maximum 1000 characters).  

• How long is the candidate planning on staying? You need to choose A or B. A) Four months (one academic term) or B) Between 5 and 6 months.  

• Candidate’s expected arrival date to McMaster and departure date from McMaster. These dates are required for the application, but they can be changed at a later date.  

• Candidate’s McMaster Supervisor details: name, title, department, phone number and email address.  

• Name, job title, email address, name of institution and mailing address for the contact person responsible for the exchange program at the candidate’s home institution.  

• Candidate’s email address  

• Candidate’s current level of study. Undergraduate, Master’s or PhD? Current year? (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th)  

• Candidate’s field of study and program at home institution  

• Candidate’s expected degree completion at their home institution  

• Candidate’s Gender  

• Candidate’s country of citizenship  

Only for Graduate Student applications – Departments to include the following document in the PDF:  

• Letter of invitation from the Canadian supervisor (graduate students only, maximum one page)  

• On official 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  

Conditions for successful students  

Students selected for the scholarship agree to:  

• Engage in full-time studies or research as defined by the Canadian institution  

• Abstain from clinical training or clinically-oriented research involving direct patient-care  

• Focus primarily on full-time studies or research during your stay in Canada  

• Return to your home institutions after the scholarship period to complete their studies  

Failure to meet these conditions may result in the cancellation of your scholarship.  

Student arrival in Canada 

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

Additional information  

• Scholarships cannot be deferred and are not renewable  

• Scholarships are subject to availability of funding from the Government of Canada  

• Scholarships are not taxable for either the Canadian institution or the scholarship recipient  

Read more at EduCanada. 

 

Internal deadline for applications:  Monday, March 3, 2025 

External deadline: Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EDT 

Announcement of Results: Spring 2025 

Note: Selected candidates may arrive as early as August 1, 2025 for the fall semester and no later than February 1, 2026 for the winter/spring semester. Failure to arrive during this time may result in the cancellation of the scholarship.

Study in Canada Scholarships aim to increase opportunities for Canadian post-secondary institutions to welcome international students from a wide range of countries and territories on short-term exchanges for study or research. This will provide institutions the opportunity to strengthen and diversify their international linkages and promote their academic and research excellence in new markets.  

The new connections created through the program will diversify and enrich Canada’s education engagement with a diverse range of partners, strengthen bilateral ties, and complement the Government of Canada’s broader international trade diversification efforts.  

The Study in Canada Scholarships is a Short-term Exchange Program under Global Affairs Canada’s International Scholarships Program. Canadian institutions will receive funding from Global Affairs Canada, through its legal name, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD).  

McMaster’s Faculty interested in hosting/supervising interns should: 

• Complete the google form available here by relevant faculty members to share details on the program they seek to host students for and the nature of the research. The results will be shared with our partner universities. 

• For students who opt to apply for course only, the university is committed to waiving the fees.  Concerned Faculty will need to verify that it is agreeable and that there are relevant courses offered during the time the student is at McMaster. 

• Departments/supervisors must email all the required documents as individual files to gacexpro@mcmaster.ca no later than Monday, March 3, 2025.  

Students interested in studying in Canada under this scholarship should:  

• review the eligibility requirements by going to the Study in Canada Scholarships website  

• ask your international office if your school has an exchange agreement with McMaster University  

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

• For graduate applications, an inter-institutional agreement is desirable but not mandatory. If there is no existing exchange agreement, graduate applications that involve a new or established collaboration between professors from a Canadian institution and the candidate’s home institution will be accepted. Graduate applicants must secure a supervisor at McMaster before they can apply for this scholarship.  

• For undergraduate course-only applications, an inter-institutional agreement is required. For undergraduate research applications with no agreement, a letter issued by McMaster’s Office of International Affairs will be accepted instead of an inter-institutional agreement.   

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. A valid student exchange agreement that waives tuition fees is required.
Graduate (4 months)	$10,200	Four months or one academic term	Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD). A student exchange agreement is not required.
Graduate (5-6 months)	$12,700	Five to six months	Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD). A student exchange agreement is not required.

Eligible Expenses  

Selected students 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  

Eligibility  

To be considered for a scholarship, candidates must be:  

• citizens of the following eligible countries/territories:  

• Asia: Bangladesh, Nepal, Taiwan  

• Europe: Turkey, Ukraine  

• Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia  

• Sub-Saharan Africa: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda  

• a student enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an eligible country/territory  

• paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of your exchange  

Candidates are not eligible:  

• if they hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency;  

• if they are already participating in a scholarship program funded by the Government of Canada; and  

• if they are already enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program at a Canadian post-secondary institution.  

Selection process  

The following guidelines are followed for the review, assessment and selection of applications:  

All online applications received by the deadline will be pre-screened to ensure they meet eligibility requirements established for the program.  

Eligible and complete applications will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria:  

• merit of the research or study to be undertaken in Canada  

• benefit to the home institution and peers  

• benefit to McMaster University, supervisor and peers  

• strength of linkages to be created through the proposed exchange  

McMaster will be required to rank the eligible applications based on the above selection criteria and then provide the rankings to Global Affairs Canada.  

Supporting documents   

Departments/supervisors must email all the required documents as individual files to gacexpro@mcmaster.ca no later than Monday, 3 March, 2024, 11:59 PM EST. 

Applicants are to provide the following documents to their department:  

Proof of citizenship:  

• a copy of the candidate’s passport or national identity card with a photo and valid dates  

• candidates from Taiwan must also provide a proof of household registration in Taiwan  

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 must be from the same country/territory as the citizenship selected in the online application form  

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  

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  

• 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  

Additional application information: a Word document completed by the applicant that includes all the following information  

• Candidate’s research project title  

• A summary of the research project or courses to be undertaken at McMaster (maximum 1000 characters) 

History of Inter-Institutional Collaboration: Describe the nature of the agreement i.e., formal Memorandum of Understanding, informal agreement between post-secondary institutions or departments, research collaboration between professors, etc. (maximum 1000 characters).  

• How long is the candidate planning on staying? You need to choose A or B. A) Four months (one academic term) or B) Between 5 and 6 months.  

• Candidate’s expected arrival date to McMaster and departure date from McMaster. These dates are required for the application, but they can be changed at a later date.  

• Candidate’s McMaster Supervisor details: name, title, department, phone number and email address 

• Name, job title, email address, name of institution and mailing address for the contact person responsible for the exchange program at the candidate’s home institution.  

• Candidate’s email address  

• Candidate’s current level of study. Undergraduate, Master’s or PhD? Current year? (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th)  

• Candidate’s field of study and program at home institution  

• Candidate’s expected degree completion at their home institution  

• Candidate’s Gender  

• Candidate’s country of citizenship  

Only for Graduate Student applications – Departments to include the following document in the PDF:  

Letter of invitation from the Canadian supervisor (maximum one page):  

• On official 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  

Successful applicants  

Students selected for a scholarship agree to:  

• engage in full-time studies or research as defined by the Canadian institution;  

• abstain from clinical training or clinically-oriented research involving direct patient-care;  

• focus primarily on full-time studies or research during their stay in Canada; and  

• return to their home institutions after the scholarship period to complete their studies.  

Student arrival in Canada 

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

Additional information  

• Scholarships cannot be deferred and are not renewable  

• Scholarships are subject to availability of funding from the Government of Canada  

• Scholarships are not taxable for either the Canadian institution or the scholarship recipient  

• Students must return to their home institutions after the scholarship period to complete their studies 

 

Internal deadline for applications:  Monday, March 3, 2025 

External deadline: Tuesday, March 31, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EDT 

Announcement of Results: Spring 2025 

Note: Only applications for Fall 2025 will be accepted. Selected students may arrive as early as August 1, 2025 for the fall semester and no later than October 1, 2025 for the winter/spring semester. Failure to arrive during this time may result in the cancellation of the scholarship.  

Overview 

On August 6, 2017, the Government of Canada announced the ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) program to provide opportunities for students from ASEAN member states 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 Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) program aims to reduce poverty in the developing countries of ASEAN and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Scholarships and educational exchanges will contribute towards the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SEED contributes to strengthening people-to-people ties between Canada and the Indo-Pacific region. 

SEED scholarships are facilitated through institutional collaborations and student exchange agreements between post-secondary institutions in Canada and their partner institutions in ASEAN countries. 

McMaster’s Faculty interested in hosting/supervising interns should: 

• Complete the google form available here by relevant faculty members to share details on the program they seek to host students for and the nature of the research. The results will be shared with our partner universities. 

• For students who opt to apply for course only, the university is committed to waiving the fees.  Concerned Faculty will need to verify that it is agreeable and that there are relevant courses offered during the time the student is at McMaster. 

• Departments/supervisors must email all the required documents as individual files to gacexpro@mcmaster.ca no later than Monday, March 3, 2025.  

Students interested in studying in Canada under this scholarship should: 

• Review the eligibility requirements by going to the Study in Canada Scholarships website   

• Ask your international office if your school has an exchange agreement with McMaster University   

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

• For graduate applications, an inter-institutional agreement is desirable but not mandatory. If there is no existing exchange agreement, graduate applications that involve a new or established collaboration between professors from a Canadian institution and the candidate’s home institution will be accepted. Graduate applicants must secure a supervisor at McMaster before they can apply for this scholarship.   

• A valid student exchange agreement with the student’s home institution that waives tuition fees for scholarship recipients is required for college/undergraduate study only. For applications from institutions with no agreement, a letter issued by McMaster’s Office of International Affairs will be accepted instead of an inter-institutional agreement. 

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. A valid student exchange agreement that waives tuition fees is required.
Graduate (4 months)	$10,200	Four months or one academic term	Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD). A student exchange agreement is not required.

Eligible Expenses   

Selected students 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   

SICS-eligible countries: 

To be considered for a scholarship, candidates must: 

• be citizens of an ASEAN member state (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos (Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)), Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, or Vietnam);
• be enrolled as a full-time student at a post-secondary institution in an eligible country and paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of the exchange.

Candidates are not eligible: 

• if they hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency;
• if they are already participating in a scholarship program funded by the Government of Canada;
• if they are already enrolled in a degree or diploma program at a Canadian post-secondary institution; or
• if they have previously received a scholarship under the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development.

Selection process   

The following guidelines are followed for the review, assessment and selection of applications:   

All online applications received by the deadline will be pre-screened to ensure they meet the eligibility requirements established for the program.   

Eligible and complete applications will be evaluated based on the following selection criteria:   

• the linkage of the proposed research or study that the student will undertake in Canada to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;· the candidate’s commitment to use their proposed research or studies in Canada to help combat poverty and narrow the development gap in the ASEAN region;· merit of the research or study to be undertaken in Canada;· benefit to the home institution and peers;· benefit to the Canadian institution, supervisor and peers;· strength of the linkages to be created through the proposed exchange;McMaster will be required to rank the eligible applications based on the above selection criteria and then provide the rankings to Global Affairs Canada.   

Supporting documents   

Applicants are to provide the following documents to their department:   

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   

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   

• 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   

Additional application information: a Word document completed by the applicant that includes all the following information.   

• Candidate’s research project title   

• A summary of the research project or courses to be undertaken at McMaster (maximum 1000 characters).   

• History of Inter-Institutional Collaboration: Describe the nature of the agreement i.e., formal Memorandum of Understanding, informal agreement between post-secondary institutions or departments, research collaboration between professors, etc. (maximum 1000 characters).   

• How long is the candidate planning on staying? You need to choose A or B. A) Four months (one academic term) or B) Between 5 and 6 months.   

• Candidate’s expected arrival date to McMaster and departure date from McMaster. These dates are required for the application, but they can be changed at a later date.   

• Candidate’s McMaster Supervisor details: name, title, department, phone number and email address.   

• Name, job title, email address, name of institution and mailing address for the contact person responsible for the exchange program at the candidate’s home institution.   

• Candidate’s email address   

• Candidate’s current level of study. Undergraduate, Master’s or PhD? Current year? (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th)   

• Candidate’s field of study and program at home institution   

• Candidate’s expected degree completion at their home institution   

• Candidate’s Gender   

• Candidate’s country of citizenship   

Only for Graduate Student applications – Departments to include the following document in the PDF:   

• Letter of invitation from the Canadian supervisor (graduate students only, maximum one page)   

• On official 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   

Conditions for successful students   

Students selected for the scholarship agree to:   

• Engage in full-time studies or research as defined by the Canadian institution   

• Abstain from clinical training or clinically-oriented research involving direct patient-care   

• Focus primarily on full-time studies or research during your stay in Canada   

• Return to your home institutions after the scholarship period to complete their studies   

Failure to meet these conditions may result in the cancellation of your scholarship.   

Student arrival in Canada  

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

Additional information   

• Scholarships cannot be deferred and are not renewable   

• Scholarships are subject to availability of funding from the Government of Canada   

• Scholarships are not taxable for either the Canadian institution or the scholarship recipient  

• Students must return to their home institutions after the scholarship period to complete their studies