NB: The deadline has passed for the 2023/24 call. The form will reopen in 2024 for academic year 2024/24.

Call Details

The 2024 Globalink Research initiative offers full funding for up to five Durham undergraduates to complete a 12-week research internship in Canada during the summer of 2024 in a variety of academic disciplines from science, engineering, and mathematics to the humanities and social sciences. Successful applicants will complete an internship under the supervision of a professor at one of 70 participating Canadian universities. Mitacs have developed some impact stories showcasing the experience of previous Globalink interns. Examples can be found here and here.

Why participate?

Students who successfully apply for the scheme will have the chance to:

• participate in an internationally competitive and fully funded mobility opportunity in Canada in 2024
• develop research expertise with the assistance of leading professors at Canadian institutions with outstanding research facilities
• enhance vital workplace skills, including critical thinking, cultural awareness, and developing a global outlook
• take part in professional training covering areas such as teamwork, project 
  management, problem solving, communication, and entrepreneurship
• experience educational, social, and recreational opportunities
• join an international alumni community and become eligible for the Mitacs Globalink Graduate Fellowship.

What do interns receive from Mitacs?

• the opportunity to work on a research project at a Canadian university
• round-trip airfare to Canada (via reimbursement)
• airport transfer to accommodations in Canada
• stipend for housing, food, and incidentals
• health insurance
• stipend towards student enrolment fees up to a maximum of $300
• support from student mentors on campus in Canada
• registration for industry events, professional development courses, and 
  social activities

Eligibility

Interested students need to meet Mitacs’ eligibility criteria. At the point of expressing interest in this initiative students must:

• Be at the end of their first year of a three year programme, or at the end of their second year of a four year programme. Integrated masters students should be at the end of their first year of study. This is to ensure that successful students will have one full year of undergraduate study remaining at the time of the prospective internship (summer 2024);
• Be at least 18 years of age;
• Have a minimum weighted average of 65% or higher for their most recent academic year, equivalent to a high 2:1
• Be able to spend 12 weeks within in the period May – October 2024 at a university in Canada;
• Demonstrate oral and written fluency in English or French, depending on the primary language of the project;

Fair Access

This initiative is open to any Durham student who meets the eligibility criteria above. As this is a fully funded scheme, expressions of interest are particularly welcomed from students from backgrounds where participation in study or work abroad is traditionally low. Applications is encouraged from students who:

• Have received or are eligible for the Durham Grant Scheme;
• Have participated in the Supported Progression Scheme or Sutton Trust Summer school at Durham University;
• Are from a minority ethnic group;
• Have a home address in an area of low progression to higher education (i.e. your postcode is listed '1' or '2' in the Polar checking tool;
• Are a care-leaver (at any time) or an estranged student, or;
• Have had limited or no previous access to overseas opportunities.
  

Marking & Assessment Boycott FAQ

We are aware that students will be concerned about the impact of the MAB on their Expression of Interest. The MAB is affecting 145 universities across the UK, therefore, this issue (in relation to Mitacs) is not unique to Durham students. We have raised this question with Mitacs to seek clarification:  

"...that given the circumstances - universities can nominate students based on their predicted grade/GPA [...] to avoid any unintended biases. Once the actual grades are known we [Mitacs] can update any tables/nominations [until] the 21 Sept"

Therefore, we would advise expressing an interest if you genuinely think that you will meet the GPA requirements. If you subsequently do not meet the grades, you may be withdrawn. In interpreting "genuinely", we would ask students to make good-faith common sense decisions. E.g.

• if your first year grades that meet the GPA and you have no grades for any year two modules, please use Y1 grades (as you can evidence your best guess on historic performance);
• if you have first year marks and half of your year 2 marks are 70%, please use a mix to calculate and apply as long as your indicative grades appear to meet the GPA requirements;
• if you have first year marks and half of your year 2 marks are at 65% and you think the rest of your results are going to be similar, then use a mix to calculate (if it meets the GPA you may apply in in good faith based on indicative grades);
• if you have first year grades but half of the year 2 marks are 60% and you think the rest of the exams didn’t go well, we would suggest not making an application;
• if you have no first year grades, please use any in-year mock exam grades or assessments to inform your decision of whether you are likely to meet the GPA requirement.

Please note that completing the 'register to apply' form is only the first step of a longer application process. Students will be vetted by both Durham and Mitacs to confirm eligibility. Thereafter, Mitacs will invite students to make a formal application.

Further Information / Resources

Mitacs / UUKi have produced the following guide for students:

• Mitacs-UUKi Globalink Research Internship Scheme Notes 2023-24