Scientific collaboration with Canada is a strategic priority for theUniversité Grenoble Alpes. A framework agreement has been signed with the Canadian agency Mitacs with the aim of developing this collaboration, particularly by funding research stays for students.
Mitacs is a Canadian nonprofit organization that has been supporting research and training programs in Canada for 25 years, in collaboration with nearly 200 Canadian postsecondary institutions, 11,000 companies, and the government.
The partnership between
Mitacs and the UGA is coordinated by the Office of International Partnerships and Mobility within the UGA’s Directorate General for International Relations.
Table of Contents
◽What is a GRI research internship?
Globalink Research Internship (GRI, or Globalink Research Internship) is a program that funds high-quality research internships in Canada. Each year, interns from Mitacs partner countries spend 12 weeks—between May and October—conducting research projects at top Canadian postsecondary institutions. The goal is to build ties with Canada and support future international research talent. For UGA students, each internship is co-funded by UGA and Mitacs. The scholarship amount covers all travel and living expenses.
◽Who is eligible?
UGA applicants for the GRI internships in 2027 must:
1.
Be at least 18 years old at the time the application is filed.
2. During your stay in Canada, you must be a third-year undergraduate student or a first-year master’s student. For UGA engineering schools, you must be enrolled in the first or second year of an engineering program.
2.1. The 12-week internships may take place between May and October 2027. You must be able to begin your internship at any time between May 1 and July 31. Start dates before or after this period are not permitted.
2.2. Students must be enrolled full-time at UGA for the entire duration of their stay.
3.
Have a minimum average of 13 out of 20 during the last two years of high school (or during the last year of high school for first-year engineering students who came from preparatory classes).
4.
Have the support of the UGA department/school relevant prior to submitting the application to Mitacs (see below: “certificate of support” from the department/school).
5.
Apply for a minimum of three internship opportunities and a maximum of ten internships offered by Mitacs in at least three different Canadian provinces.
6.
Be proficient, both orally and in writing, in the language in which the project will be conducted (English or French). If at least one of the internship topics selected by the candidate is in English, a language certificate is required to verify the student’s proficiency level. A B2 level is required (see details below).
7.
You must not have previously participated in a Globalink Research Internship project in the past.
8. Not currently be affiliated with one or more of the institutions listed on the
List of ORNs (Designated Research Organizations), or that receives funding or in-kind support from them.
◽Which Canadian institutions are eligible?
GRI research internship opportunities are listed at more than 200 postsecondary institutions across Canada.
◽How do I apply?
GRI applications must be submitted to Mitacs via the GRI platform, which will open on August 5, 2026, while UGA is closed. It is therefore important to plan ahead in order to follow the specific procedure for UGA applicants, outlined below:
➡️ Starting in early June 2026: Get your application materials ready
1) Review the GRI guidelines required by Mitacs, as well as the additional specific guidelines for UGA students
- Visit the Mitacs website, which will be updated in August 2026
- And read the information below, which is not available on the Mitacs website.
2) Request the “certificate of support” from the international relations officers at your affiliated UGA unit or school as soon as possible
- This document serves as proof of eligibility for UGA applications to Mitacs. This certificate must be requested from the UGA department or school to which applicants will be affiliated during the 2026–2027 academic year. This document will be completed and signed by the respective international relations officers. Download the template and contact uga-mitacs@univ-grenoble-alpes.fr if you need help identifying the correct contact person within your affiliated department or school.
- The applicant’s department or school will calculate and enter on this certificate the average grade for the last two years of study and its conversion to the “minimum cumulative weighted average” or “cumulative grade point average” (CGPA). Applicants must report this information on the Mitacs GRI platform.
Very important: If applicants do not report their grades as a CGPA (score out of 100), they will be deemed ineligible.
- The transcripts used to calculate the CGPA must be attached to the “certificate of support” to form a single PDF document, which must be uploaded to the “Documents” section of the GRI platform.
- In the letter of support, the school/department confirms the period between May and October 2027 during which GRI internships may be completed.
- Finally, after verifying the language certificate, the school will indicate whether the applicant meets the required English proficiency level.
- B2 level required.
- All language certificates are accepted. If no certificate is available, a statement signed by an English teacher may be accepted (a formal letter with a letterhead, date, and signature). See the UGA Language Services website for more information on the various certifications.
3) Prepare the other documents for the application package
➡️ Between August 5 and September 16, 2026: Submit your applications on the Mitacs GRI platform.
1) Fill out the GRI application form on the Mitacs platform and submit the documents for your application
Guidance on the information requested through the Mitacs platform:
- Home institution: Specify Université Grenoble Alpes
- Date of graduation: Enter a date between December 2027 and December 2028. For example, you could write: “I am completing my undergraduate degree, and I am in my senior year.” or “I am completing a combined undergraduate-master’s degree, and I am in my senior year.”
2) Browse and select between three and ten internship opportunities on the Mitacs platform in at least three different Canadian provinces. For your information, Mitacs offers more than 2,770 internship topics across all disciplines.
◽How much is the scholarship, and how is it paid out?
The amounts listed below are for informational purposes only and may vary in 2026–2027. In general, the GRI scholarship includes:
- a $1,500 CAD allowance for the plane ticket;
- a stipend of 175 Canadian dollars to help cover transportation costs from the Canadian airport to the place of lodging, unless the host institution decides otherwise;
- a living allowance of 200 Canadian dollars per week for the duration of the internship, for up to 12 weeks;
- a housing allowance of 350 Canadian dollars per week for the duration of the internship, for up to 12 weeks;
- Mitacs pays all administrative fees for students directly to the Canadian host institution through direct billing;
- reimbursement of expenses related to applying for the immigration document (required to participate in the research internship, up to C$240);
- Canadian health insurance.
The scholarship will be paid in 3 installments:
- First payment: This payment is made after the recipient arrives in Canada and opens a Canadian bank account. The first payment is made approximately 10 days after the bank account information is submitted to Mitacs. Applicants will be required to pay certain expenses out of pocket, including the cost of airline tickets.
- Second payment: approximately 4 weeks after the first payment
- Third payment: approximately 4 weeks after the second payment
Internship Agreement
An internship agreement is required and must be prepared by your home department or school and signed by the host university.
As a reminder : GRI internships last 12 weeks (no less, no more). If the duration falls outside this range, Canadian universities may place a hold on the internship. We encourage you to check this with your department or school in advance.
◽Organizing Trips to Canada
The UGA does not get involved in organizing trips.
The stays are organized by the awardees with the assistance of Mitacs. In February 2027, Mitacs will provide a link to a webpage with comprehensive information on immigration, housing, insurance, etc.
For your information, you can consult the
2026 Guide.
Please note that interns are responsible for obtaining the required immigration documents. UGA does not have the authority to provide guidance or assistance in expediting these procedures, which can be complex in some cases.
The UGA Mitacs Partnership Coordinator will host an informational session for awardees in February–March 2027. She can also direct awardees to the appropriate contacts.
◽Calendar
- August 5, 2026: Launch of the Mitacs GRI Platform
- September 16, 2026 (1 p.m. Pacific Time, or 10 p.m. CET): Call for proposals closes
- February 2027: Final results. Some applicants may receive their results in mid-December 2026.
- Late February 2027: Instructions for award recipients on preparing for their stay in Canada
- May–October 2027: Internships in Canada
- Late October 2027: internship report and responses to the UGA and Mitacs surveys (required)
As a reminder, the UGA is closed from July 24 to August 18. We recommend that you prepare your application as soon as possible.
◽In-person or online information sessions
- Thursday, June 18, at 10 a.m. — online
- Tuesday, June 23, at 11:00 a.m. – online, for RI coordinators from the various departments and schools
- Thursday, September 3, at 2:00 p.m. — online
- Monday, September 7, at 1:00 p.m. — in-person only
Additional presentations could be arranged—upon request—during the departments’ back-to-school meetings.
Pre-registration is required via the link below:
https://evento.renater.fr/survey/pre-inscription-reunion-d-informations-gri-mitacs-2026-2027-m3yr6hu8
Link to join the meetings:
https://visio.numerique.gouv.fr/myg-pwco-fhy
◽Documents to Review
Updates on the call for applications will be posted on this page as information is provided by Mitacs.
