Funding opportunities

The Student International Activities Fund (SIAF) is intended to assist UVic students with their participation in unpaid, international learning activities. The primary purpose of these activities is to prepare students and graduates for a “global future” as professionals and as informed, responsible and effective citizens in the world. 

SIAF applicants whose international activity takes place in Asia-Pacific (including Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii) may also apply for the President’s Asia Partners Travel Supplement (for undergraduate and graduate students).

The value of each award is as follows:

• $500 CDN Student International Activities Fund Award (any country)
• $1,000 CDN Asia Undergrad Supplement
• $5,000 CDN Asia Graduate Supplement

Please read the application guidelines carefully.

Eligibility

The SIAF supports unpaid initiatives which are at least 2 weeks in duration and that give students a unique experience in the global community. 

Applicants must be full-time undergraduate or graduate students. The international activity must commence within 12 months of the application deadline used. Applications can be submitted retroactively.

How to apply

Complete and submit the online application form and reference form.

Three competitions are held each year. The deadlines for applications are 4:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of March, July and November.

If you require help or have any questions, please email the Office of Global Engagement.

The BC Scholarship Society offers two international scholarship programs (One World and Premier's) to assist students who plan to complete some of their course work outside of North America (Canada/United States).

One World International Scholarships of between $2,000–$5,000 are awarded to students participating in study, or work-abroad programs that are either experiential learning opportunities (language or cultural training), or that provide credits toward the BC academic credential they are working towards and for a period of two weeks or longer.

Premier's International Scholarships of between $8,000-$12,000, please view eligibility criteria for details. 

Eligibility

View detailed eligibility criteria.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted to the Office of Global Engagement as a single pdf document by email.

Download the application guidelines and forms.

Three competitions are held each year. The deadlines for applications are 4:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of March, July and November. 

BC Study Abroad Scholarships

The BC Study Abroad Scholarships celebrate the study abroad experience through student-generated content and financial support. Scholarship recipients will receive $500 for a virtual study abroad program and $1000 for a in-person study abroad program, and the opportunity to share their in-person and/or virtual exchange study abroad experience via blog and photos.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the BC Study Abroad Scholarships, applying students must meet the following criteria:

1. Be currently enrolled at an active BC Study Abroad Consortium Institution (UVic is included).
2. Enrolled in or accepted into a short-term study abroad program. Please note that the program may be conducted either as an in-person exchange (e.g. physically in another country) or as a virtual exchange using virtual learning platforms hosted by a foreign institution.

Expectations:

In-person exchange expectations:

In return for a $1000 scholarship, successful student applicants will submit the following:

• One 300 to 400-word blog post (with photo) to be submitted during their study abroad program
• One 300 to 400-word blog post (with photo) to be submitted within 60 days of the completion of their study abroad program
• Upon completion of the program, 8 to 10 high resolution photos taken by the student documenting their experience:

• Photos must be at least 150 dpi
• Accompanied by a document (i.e. Word, Excel, etc.) containing:
  • Image file name
  • Caption for each image
  • Location where each image was taken (i.e. geotag)
  • A short presentation to be made at their home institution once back in BC

Virtual exchange expectations:

In return for a CAD$500 scholarship, successful student applicants will submit the following:

• One 300 to 400-word blog post to be submitted during their virtual exchange program that is accompanied by either:

• Screenshot of their virtual class; or
• Picture, photo or video that demonstrates their learnings 

• One 300 to 400-word blog post to be submitted once their virtual exchange program has concluded that is accompanied by:

• Screenshot of their virtual class; or
• Picture, photo or video that demonstrates their learnings 

• Upon completion of their program, 5 or 6 screenshots/photos/videos created by the student that best illustrates their virtual exchange experience (e.g. team photos, presentation slides, pictures that demonstrate class achievements, etc.):

• Photos must be at least 150 dpi
• Accompanied by a document (i.e. Word, Excel, etc.) containing:
  • Image file name
  • Caption for each image

How to apply:

To apply for a BC Study Abroad Scholarships:

• Review the application checklist
• Email using the subject line:

• Stories from Study Abroad: British Columbia Study Abroad Scholarships Application

• Email all required material as a single email to:

• info@bcstudyabroad.ca

Application deadline is October 11, 2024

Content use:

Photos and blog posts will be featured on the BC Study Abroad website and associated social media channels. They may also be featured on our Study in BC and BCCIE websites and social media.

Diversity statement:

BCCIE is committed to an inclusive learning environment that reflects the richness of the community that we serve. BCCIE welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including Indigenous peoples, people of colour, people with disabilities, and all groups protected by the BC Human Rights Code.

BC Study Abroad and the BC Study Abroad Scholarships are administered by the British Columbia Council for International Education (BCCIE) on behalf of the BC Study Abroad Consortium

The Nimrod Hungarian Mobility Award (Nimrod) helps UVic students participate in international learning activities taking place at accredited universities in Hungary. Successful candidates will engage in international activities that provide them with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and perspectives needed to live, work and communicate in an intercultural environment.

Eligibility

Awards are given to academically outstanding undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate students in sciences, medicine (and related programs), technology and social sciences disciplines. It was the donor’s wish that the definition of these areas of studies be broadly interpreted. Students enrolled in a wide range of faculties are eligible.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted to the Office of Global Engagement either in person to Jamie Cassels Centre (JCC), Room B202, or by email as a SINGLE pdf document (with exception of the reference letter(s)).

Download the application guidelines and forms.

Two competitions are held each year. The deadlines for applications are 4:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of March and November.

The Killam Fellowships Program, administered by Fulbright Canada, provides an opportunity for exceptional undergraduate students to spend either one semester or a full academic year as an exchange student in the United States. Credit load and housing information varies by institution.

The program provides a cash award of $6,000 US per semester ($12,000 for the full academic year), a three day orientation in Ottawa, and a three day spring seminar in Washington, D.C. In addition, the Foundation provides all Killam Fellows with a health plan. All Killam Fellows are also eligible to apply for a mobility (in-country travel) grant in an amount not to exceed $800 US.

Eligibility

 All Canadian applicants for the Killam Fellowships Program must:

• Be Canadian citizens
• Be full-time undergraduate students in good standing at a degree-granting institution in Canada
• Expect to receive an undergraduate degree in the Spring of 2026 or beyond
• Have met the eligibility requirements of their home university
• Be fluent in the English language (and/or French, where appropriate)
• Have a superior and competitive academic record
• Have completed the application process prior to the published deadlines, and
• In the case of the direct exchange applicants, be nominated by their home university.

 How to apply

Applicants can apply to the Direct Exchange Program and/or Open Competition. Note that candidates of the direct exchange program must be nominated by their home institution and that some partner institutions also choose to nominate Open Competition applicants.

Direct exchange: UVic students planning to study at an existing UVic partner institution that is also a Killam American university partner will apply via Direct Exchange. Awardees will attend the host institution as an exchange student while continuing to pay tuition fees to UVic. Direct Exchange applicants need to complete an online application and submit it to the Office of Global Engagement (world@uvic.ca) by January 15, 2025.

Open competition: UVic students can apply to any U.S. university that is not on Killam’s partner list, or any U.S. university that UVic has an existing exchange program with that is not on Killam’s partner list.

If you are interested in a U.S. institution that is not a Killam partner, you may apply for the award via the open competition, directly to the Foundation. You will attend the host institution as a non-degree student. All fees will be paid to the host institution. Open Competition applicants need to complete an online application directly to Killam by January 31, 2025.

The Killam Fellowships Program application allows students to apply for one or the other program, or both programs. For more details, see How To Apply.

Access the online application here.

Note: for applicants applying to study at a UVic partner institution in the U.S., you must go through UVic’s outgoing exchange process.

The Faculty Mobility for Partnership Building Program, through the Emerging Leaders of the Americas Program (ELAP), provides Canadian faculty with short-term opportunities to build or expand partnerships with Latin American and Caribbean institutions through teaching and/or research at the college, undergraduate and graduate levels. The primary objective of the projects is to create new agreements with host institutions and/or to strengthen existing agreements.

Maximum value: $7,000 CAD

Duration: 3-8 weeks (can be extended/combined with other sources of funding) 

Eligibility

Full-time faculty from recognized Canadian institutions, proposing to teach or conduct research in an ELAP country (all of the Americas excluding the USA and Canada).

Please find more information about the program guidelines and eligibility on the EduCanada website.  

How to apply

To apply, carefully read the application guidelines.

1. Contact the Office of Global Engagement to request an application form.
2. Prepare all supporting documents.
3. Submit everything to the Office of Global Engagement for review and final submission to Global Affairs Canada.

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) provides up to $6,000 in funding for senior undergraduate and graduate students to conduct a 12- to 24-week research project at universities outside of Canada, under the joint supervision of a home and host professor. The program requires a $2,000 contribution from your UVic home supervisor as part of the $6,000 award.

Most applications are accepted on a rolling basis, although some partner countries (see below) may have specific deadlines.

Eligibility

The Mitacs GRA program is offered in collaboration with select partner countries and currently available for:

• Belgium (Wallonie-Bruxelles region only)
• Brazil
• France
• Germany (select institutions only)
• India
• Japan
• Korea
• Mexico
• Singapore
• Taiwan
• Tunisia
• Ukraine
• United Kingdom

Award recipients must be registered as full-time UVic students at the time of application and during the duration of their GRA term.

View more information on specific partner countries and institutions.

How to apply

1. Review the specific eligibility and award guidelines for your destination country.
2. Identify a UVic home supervisor to support your application as well as a host supervisor abroad and approach them to discuss your research project. Both your home and host supervisor will have to approve the application.
3. Contact Mitacs Business Development Representative Nolan Beise to obtain an application form and to confirm the submission process.
4. Complete the application documents and submit them for signature to your home and host supervisors.
5. Submit the completed and signed application by email to obtain institutional endorsement from the UVic Office of Research Services. Important: Mitacs GRAs are paid as a research grant to your UVic home supervisor and require a Research Application Summary Form at the time of application. This must be submitted by the home supervisor via the UVic RAIS system.

For more information email Holland Gidney, Research Grants Officer.

Note: as of May 2024, the application cycle for this award has been suspended until further notice. 

The International Mobility Access Grant (IMAG) aims to reduce barriers for Indigenous students, students with a disability and low-income students to access and participate in UVic’s international outbound mobility programs and strengthen their global skills.

Eligibility

Grants of up to $8,000 are available to undergraduate Indigenous students, low-income students and students with a disability who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents and are going abroad on international study (exchange program organized by UVic) and/or work experiences (co-op placements at UVic partner universities). 

Note: Funding allocations for each of the eligibility categories are limited in each academic term.

Award Value

Up to $8,000

How to apply

Applications can be submitted to the Office of Global Engagement either in person to Jamie Cassels Centre (JCC), Room B202, or by email.

Download the eligibility and application guide.

Download the application form.

Application Deadline

Several competitions held through the year. The last application deadline is February 28, 2024.

Questions? 

Contact OGE by email or speak with your international mobility program contact. 

Cultural intelligence development 

A research study is being conducted to explore the difference in cultural intelligence development between students who study abroad and those who work abroad. As a prospective participant in the Global Skills Opportunity program, you will be invited to participate in this study. Participation will be voluntary and will include access to an online module that allows you to develop your cultural intelligence during your study abroad term.

The International Mobility Access Grant (IMAG) is funded by the Global Skills Opportunity (GSO) program, a new outbound student mobility pilot through Universities Canada. The GSO program aims to increase underrepresented students' participation in international learning opportunities, diversify the countries students visit, and reduce study/work abroad barriers. There are two funding programs offered at UVic — the IMAG through the Office of Global Engagement, and the GSO Internships through the Centre for Asia Pacific Initiatives (CAPI). 

The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP) provides students with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions, at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Value and duration

• $8,200 CAD for undergraduate or graduate students for one term (four months);
• $11,100 CAD for graduate students for a period of five to six months

Eligibility

Candidates must be enrolled full-time at post-secondary institution in an eligible country/territory, and be citizens of a country in the Americas (excluding the USA and Canada): 

• 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

For undergraduate applications, a written student exchange agreement must be in place at the time of application in order to take courses. Undergraduate students whose home institution does not have an exchange agreement in place, may partake in research under the supervision of a UVic supervisor through the Visiting International Research Student (VIRS) program.

Please review all scholarship guidelines and eligibility requirements.  

How to apply

Exchange students: Before applying please contact the exchange advisor at your home institution.

Research students: Please note that it is your responsibility to find an academic supervisor at UVic willing to mentor and support your research at UVic.

1. Contact the Office of Global Engagement to request a Scholarship Application Form. Please specify if you are an undergraduate or graduate student and the name of your current home institution.
2. Gather all supporting documents (listed on the application form).
3. Submit everything by email to world@uvic.ca

Note:

• UVic sets an internal deadline for prospective applicants to submit all their documents, which is earlier than the official date on the EduCanada website. The internal UVic deadline for 2025-2026 is Monday, March 10 by 12:00pm Pacific Time.
• The University of Victoria applies to the Government of Canada international scholarship on behalf of the candidate(s).

For questions please contact Office of Global Engagement.

The Nimrod Hungarian Mobility Award (Nimrod) supports students from Hungary who come to UVic to study. Successful candidates will engage in international activities that provide them with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and perspectives needed to live, work and communicate in an intercultural environment.

Eligibility

Awards are given to academically outstanding undergraduate, graduate or post-graduate students in sciences, medicine (and related programs), technology and social sciences disciplines. It was the donor’s wish that the definition of these areas of studies be broadly interpreted. Students enrolled in a wide range of faculties are eligible.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted to the Office of Global Engagement either in person to Jamie Cassels Centre (JCC), Room B202, or by email as a SINGLE pdf document (with exception of the reference letter(s)).

Download the application guidelines and forms.

Two competitions are held each year. The deadlines for applications are 4:30 p.m. on the third Wednesday of March and November.

• The Study in Canada Scholarships program (SiCS) provides students with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions, at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Value & duration

• $10,200 CAD for undergraduate or graduate students for one term (four months);
• $12,700 CAD for graduate students for a period of five to six months

Eligibility

Candidates must be citizens of one of the following eligible countries/territories:

• Asia: Bangladesh, Nepal, Taiwan
• Europe: Turkey, Ukraine
• Middle East and North Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda

Candidates must be enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an eligible country.

For undergraduate applications, a written student exchange agreement must be in place at the time of application in order to take courses. Undergraduate students whose home institution does not have an exchange agreement in place, may partake in research under the supervision of a UVic supervisor through the Visiting International Research Student (VIRS) program.

Please review all scholarship guidelines and eligibility requirements.  

How to apply

Exchange students: Before applying please contact the exchange advisor at your home institution.

Research students: Please note that it is your responsibility to find an academic supervisor at UVic willing to mentor and support your research at UVic.

1. Contact the Office of Global Engagement to request a Scholarship Application Form. Please specify if you are an undergraduate or graduate student and the name of your current home institution.
2. Gather all supporting documents (listed on the application form).
3. Submit everything by email to world@uvic.ca

Note:

• UVic sets an internal deadline for prospective applicants to submit all their documents, which is earlier than the official date on the EduCanada website. The internal UVic deadline for 2025-2026 is Monday, March 10 by 12:00pm Pacific Time.
• The University of Victoria applies to the Government of Canada international scholarship on behalf of the candidate(s).

For questions please contact Office of Global Engagement.

The Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) program aims to reduce poverty in the developing countries of ASEAN by provides opportunities for students from ASEAN 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.

Value and duration

• $10,200 CAD for undergraduate or graduate students for one term

Eligibility

Candidates must be citizens of an ASEAN member state (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand or Vietnam) and must be enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an ASEAN member state.

Candidates must demonstrate a commitment and capacity to use their research or studies in Canada to help reduce poverty in the developing countries of ASEAN and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls (Goal 5) and taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (Goal 13).

For undergraduate applications, a written student exchange agreement must be in place at the time of application in order to take courses. Undergraduate students whose home institution does not have an exchange agreement in place, may partake in research under the supervision of a UVic supervisor through the Visiting International Research Student (VIRS) program.

Please review all scholarship guidelines and eligibility requirements.  

How to apply

Exchange students: Before applying please contact the exchange advisor at your home institution.

Research students: Please note that it is your responsibility to find an academic supervisor at UVic willing to mentor and support your research at UVic.

1. Contact the Office of Global Engagement to request a Scholarship Application Form. Please specify if you are an undergraduate or graduate student and the name of your current home institution.
2. Gather all supporting documents (listed on the application form).
3. Submit everything by email to the Global Engagement Officer.   

Note:

• UVic sets an internal deadline for prospective applicants to submit all their documents, which is earlier than the official date on the EduCanada website. The internal UVic deadline for 2025-2026 is Monday, March 10, 2025 by 12:00pm Pacific Time.
• The University of Victoria applies to the Government of Canada international scholarship on behalf of the candidate(s).

For questions please contact Office of Global Engagement.

Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI) is a competitive initiative for top-ranked senior undergraduate students. The program pairs faculty in Canada with international undergrads for 12-week research projects between May and October. It builds international networks and experiences, and positions UVic as a top destination for innovation and research among students from abroad.

Eligibility

Faculty can submit multiple projects and re-submit projects from previous years. All disciplines are eligible. Globalink Research Internships are open to students at universities in the following partner countries and regions: Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, India, Mexico, Taiwan, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and USA.

How to apply

April to June: Professors submit research projects to Mitacs. All accepted projects are made available to student applicants in an online database.

July to September: International students submit applications and select research projects from the online database. Mitacs conducts an eligibility review of student applications.

Visit Mitacs GRI website for more details or contact Mitacs by email.

The Mitacs Globalink Research Award (GRA) provides up to $6,000 in funding for senior undergraduate and graduate students to conduct a 12- to 24-week research project in Canada, under the joint supervision of a home and host professor.

Eligibility

The Mitacs GRA program is offered in collaboration with select partner countries and currently open to students from:

• Belgium (Wallonie-Bruxelles region only), Brazil, France, Germany (select institutions only), India, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Tunisia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom

Award recipients must be registered as full-time students at an eligible institution at the time of application and during the duration of their GRA term.

Get information on specific partner countries and institutions.

How to apply

1. Review the specific eligibility and award guidelines for your country of origin.
2. Identify a UVic host supervisor and approach them to discuss your research project. Both your home and host supervisor will have to approve the application.
3. Connect with the international partner organization in your home country confirm how and when to apply.
4. Complete the application documents and submit them for signature to your home and host supervisors.
5. Contact the International Grants Facilitator to obtain an institutional signature/endorsement from the UVic Office of Research Services. Important: Mitacs GRAs are paid as a research grant to the UVic host supervisor and require a Research Application Summary Form at the time of application. This must be submitted by the host supervisor via the UVic RAIS system.

For more information contact Holland Gidney, International Grants Facilitator

The China Scholarship Council (CSC) provides scholarships to qualified Chinese graduate students, visiting researchers and post-doctoral fellows to undertake graduate degree studies and research at partner universities abroad.

CSC provides successful candidates a living allowance as prescribed by the Chinese Government (including health insurance) for the duration of the scholarship, roundtrip airfare between China and Victoria and visa application fees.

The UVic sponsoring academic unit and/or faculty supervisor provides funding equivalent to the full cost of tuition for the student for the duration of the CSC Scholarship. The funds for this financial support can come from any combination of RA-ships, TA-ships or awards. Ongoing funding is conditional upon the student’s adequate academic progress in the program. UVic also provides the necessary resources and equipment (e.g., office space, laboratory, computer, network, library access, etc.).

Eligibility

For the full list of eligibility criteria, please refer directly to the CSC website. Check language requirements. If there is any inconsistency or conflict between the English and Chinese versions, the Chinese version shall prevail.

Please note that CSC scholarship recipients are required to return to China shortly after completing their stay at UVic.

How to apply

The CSC accepts applications once a year and normally March 10-31 for PhD students and April 10-30 for post-doctoral fellows and visiting researchers.

Before applying to the CSC, you must complete UVic’s admission process. Make sure you apply early enough to obtain an official offer of admission letter before the CSC application deadline.

The deadline to submit an application to UVic and receive an admission decision differs from program to program. We are not able to provide one deadline for all. The application deadlines (if any are in place) are listed under each program on the Graduate programs website. Each department also has their own selection process and time frame.

Step 1: Apply to the University of Victoria for admission as PhD student, visiting PhD ​student or post-doctoral fellow.

During the online application process please select ‘Yes’ for the statement ‘I intend to apply for funding through the Chinese Scholarship Council.’ In addition, make sure to notify the graduate unit and your potential supervisor that you will also be applying for a CSC scholarship.

UVic will evaluate admission applications and make acceptance decisions at its own discretion and will provide each qualified candidate with a copy of the letter of acceptance. You may then use this letter to include in your CSC application. Please note that as per the CSC guidelines, the offer letter must state that admission is conditional upon obtaining CSC funding. 

Step 2: Apply to CSC via the CS​C Application Platform

• overview of CSC application process
• instructions for applicants currently studying in China
• instructions for applicants currently studying outside of China
• FAQs for applicants

The CSC will evaluate applications and notify each successful applicant.

All successful CSC funded students must abide by UVic’s regulations and policies while in attendance, and will have access to the same level of service and support as any other international graduate degree student or researcher.

The CSC will pay scholarship funds directly to students. Funded students are responsible to arrange and maintain adequate medical and accident insurance for the duration of their attendance at UVic, and arrange their own accommodations.

For further information, please visit the China Scholarship Council website or contact the Office of Global Engagement.