How to Apply
The instructions below are ONLY for students who wish to conduct research. If you instead wish to register in courses as part of a study exchange then you'll need to follow the instructions for students interested in a course-based exchange. Note that we are unable to accept applications for students wishing to both conduct research and take courses; you must choose one or the other.
Candidates wishing to conduct research at the U of A
If all Eligibility criteria is met, the research internship candidate must find a willing UAlberta host supervisor and work with the host supervisor to determine a mutually agreed upon research project and duration based on the scholarship that is being applied for.
Search by faculty and research area on the different University of Alberta faculty websites or by Professors, Associate Professors, or Assistant Professors using this Department Listing.
Email professors you would potentially like to work with the following information:
- your full name and contact information
- your home University and home country
- whether you are currently an undergraduate (bachelor) or graduate (master or doctoral) student
- which year of your degree program you are in
- the full name of the scholarship program you would be applying for
- how long you wish to do research for (4 months, 5-6 months, 8 months)
- your ideal start date (must be no later than February 1)
- documents such as your CV/resume, university academic transcripts, and/or cover letter
- a link to the information for host supervisors
Start this search early and allow up to 10 business days for a reply before following up, as professors receive many requests.
It is a good idea to start by reaching out to one to three potential host professors in your field. Please respect if someone tells you that the timing does not work for them, or that your research strengths are not a good fit for their project. These scholarships are open to universities across Canada and there may be a more suitable fit for you at another institution.
Once the research internship candidate has found a host professor who has agreed to supervise and mentor them (if the scholarship application is successful in receiving funding), the candidate will work together with their home institution (not the University of Alberta) and U of A host supervisor to gather the required supporting documents.
Supporting documents must be saved as a .pdf. The file size of each .pdf must be smaller than 5 MB. Applicants are responsible for submitting the appropriate format and size of their file attachments to University of Alberta International to ensure a complete, eligible application can be submitted on their behalf.
The supporting documents vary slightly between funding programs, so please follow all instructions on the appropriate program pages carefully. The information is listed in the Supporting Documents section on each specific scholarship web page.
NEW IN 2024: All applications for a research experience at University of Alberta must be completed and submitted through Horizons, the University of Alberta's platform for research internship applications, by the University of Alberta’s internal deadline of March 6, 2024.
You will be required to create a new user account in Horizons before proceeding to apply to the Government of Canada International Scholarships program (this includes ELAP, SEED, and Study in Canada research scholarships). Please use your home university email address when setting up your account, if possible.
Once an account has been created, please select from the drop-down options whether you are applying to be nominated by the University of Alberta for a Canada-ASEAN SEED scholarship, Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP), or a Study in Canada scholarship. Which program you apply to will depend on your citizenship or location of your home university.
Answer several questions about your academic program and research goals. Then upload the supporting documents to the application form as individual .pdf files smaller than 5MB. Many of these documents need to be provided to you from your home institution as well as one from a University of Alberta host supervisor. Be sure to allow yourself adequate time before the deadline of March 6, 2024 to collect and submit all of the information via Horizons.
NOTE: Please do not submit your application until it is complete and final, as there is no advantage to submitting your complete application earlier than March 6. We understand it is a tight timeline to apply already.
If you do submit your application by March 6 and then need to make absolutely necessary changes/edits), please do not hesitate to email us at intern [ at ] ualberta.ca. We are happy to help, but due to high volumes of inquiries near the deadline, please allow at least one business day or more for University of Alberta International to release your Horizons application back to you for editing access. You will then be sent a reply email once we have allowed you to log in and make edits/changes. Then you can resubmit the application once finished.
University of Alberta International (UAI) will review all applications received via Horizons by the institution-set internal deadline for eligibility and completeness. Incomplete applications and unsolicited documents emailed outside of Horizons will NOT be submitted.
If your application is incomplete or ineligible, we will follow up with you between the institution-set internal deadline and the final submission deadline. If you are not able to provide the appropriate information within two business days of the request or before the final submission deadline, we will not submit your application. Check the email account that you provided to us in the application form frequently for any messages, and check your spam or junk mail folders to be sure.
University of Alberta International (UAI) will notify all candidates and host supervisors of the results via email once they are shared by scholarship provider, typically 3 months or so after the submission deadline has passed.
We anticipate sharing results by the end of June 2024. We endeavour to notify candidates as quickly as possible once results are shared with our institution. We appreciate your patience awaiting an answer until such time.
Important Information about Supporting Documents
Review the following information about the necessary application documents, what is required of each, and who is responsible for their submission.
Important Notes
- ONLY a copy of the candidate's passport or national identity card with valid dates and photo will be accepted.
- If the national identity card is not in English or French, an official translation by a professional translator must be provided. It does not need to be a certified translation.
Who Submits Document
Candidate (student) uploads to Horizons.
Important Notes
- Maximum one page
- dated within the last six months
- explains the nature of studies or research to be undertaken
- provides a rationale for study in Canada and for the choice of institution, program and supervisor
- explains how the proposed program of study or research will relate to their future career
Who Submits Document
Candidate (student) uploads to Horizons.
Important Notes
- Maximum one page
- Written and signed by Letter from the University of Alberta host professor (Canadian supervisor)
- on official letterhead
- dated within the last six months
- Should describe 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
Who Submits Document
University of Alberta host professor provides to the candidate.
Candidate (student) uploads to Horizons.
Important Notes
- Maximum one page
- This letter cannot be a generic support letter.
- It must be from the candidate's instructor, professor or international director
- on official letterhead
- dated within the last six months
- 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 (maximum one page).
Who Submits Document
Home institution provides to the Candidate.
Candidate (student) uploads to Horizons.
Important Notes
- Maximum one page
- on official letterhead
- dated within the last six months
- confirms that the candidate is currently enrolled in a full-time program
- must include the phrase ‘full-time’ or it will not be accepted
- copies of transcripts, a student card or a letter of admission are not acceptable
Who Submits Document
Home institution provides to the Candidate.
Candidate (student) uploads to Horizons.
Important Note
A copy of the Privacy Notice Statement for non-Canadian participants signed by the candidate and dated within the last six months
Who Submits Document
Candidate (student) uploads to Horizons.
Important Note
For all research-based applications, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or agreement is desirable, but not mandatory. There is no action required by the applicant, their home institution, or the host professor.
University of Alberta International will take care of meeting this requirement on behalf of the research applicant.
If an agreement or MoU already exists between our institutions, University of Alberta International will include a signed copy indicating that tuition fees will not be charged and highlight this specific clause with your application to Global Affairs Canada through the My EduCanada portal.
If no agreement or MoU currently exists between our institutions, University of Alberta International will include a signed letter on official letterhead that links the application to a specific international research collaboration, names the Canadian supervisor and confirms that tuition will not be charged. The letter will be dated within the last six months and be a maximum of one page.
NOTE:
If a document is not in English or French, an official translation by a professional translator must be provided. It does not need to be a certified translation.
Supporting documents must be uploaded and attached to the online application form as a .pdf. Each document must be smaller than 5 MB in order for the application to upload successfully. Applicants are responsible for submitting the appropriate format and size of their file attachments to University of Alberta International to ensure a complete, eligible application can be submitted on their behalf.
Incomplete applications and unsolicited documents emailed outside of the Horizons application will NOT be submitted to Global Affairs Canada and will be deemed ineligible.