Funding opportunity

Funding opportunity: UK-Canada Globalink doctoral exchange scheme

COVID-19 update

Guidance for award holders

We are being as flexible as possible around the impacts of the pandemic. Grant holders are being kept up to date as we respond to the changing situation. Thank you for your patience.

Future rounds

This scheme’s fourth and final round was due to open in March 2021, but we’ve postponed it due to the pandemic. We’re working to agree new dates.

Get more information

Email: ukriglobalink@ukri.org

Summary

A new and exciting opportunity for UKRI and Canadian doctoral students to participate in a UK-Canada research exchange scheme.

UKRI has partnered with Mitacs, a national, not-for-profit organization that has designed and delivered research and training programs in Canada for 20 years, to deliver the £2.5 million programme.

Supported by UKRI and Mitacs, up to 200 UK doctoral candidates will have the opportunity to develop into global citizens, with international competencies, during 12-week research placements in Canadian universities. A similar number of Canadian students will visit UK universities.

The scheme supports the UK government’s target of 2.4% GDP spend in research and development by 2027, helping the UK make the most of its world-class research, supporting its researchers to stay at the cutting edge, forge international collaborations, and encourage global talent to work in the UK.

As a collaborative scheme between the UK and Canada, an equal number of Canadian doctoral students will have the opportunity to undertake research placements at UK universities.

Now open for the third round for applications from UKRI-funded doctoral students until 15 December 2020, the scheme will support travel, living and research costs for the students in their chosen field of study.

Following a competitive application process, the first exchanges will take place from April 2021.

The application process for Canadian students applying to undertake placements in the UK is coordinated by Mitacs. Please see the Mitacs website for further information.

Students can see a list of Canadian professors who have registered an interest in hearing form UKRI students. This page will be updated with new details as they are received. Students are also encouraged to make contact with other Canadian professors who they are interested in working with.

Canadian professors who want to register their interest in working with UKRI students can do so by entering their details on the UKRI-Mitacs Globalink host professor expression of interest form. Please note that all details entered on this form will be made publicly available.

Funding

Placements are financially supported by UKRI and Mitacs.

Doctoral stipend and fees should continue to be paid by the research organisation throughout the three-month placement period.

Students can also claim for eligible travel and accommodation costs incurred during the placement.

Eligibility

This scheme is open to doctoral students funded by the research councils of UK Research and Innovation (AHRC, BBSRC, ESRC, EPSRC, MRC, NERC and STFC) in all areas of UKRI’s research remit.

Placements will take place between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022 and students must be able to start their placement before the end of their funded period of study.

How to apply

Applicants must complete their application in the Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S).

When applying, select:

  • council – NERC
  • document type – Standard Proposal
  • scheme – NC&C
  • call/type/mode – Globalink Research Placement Dec 2020

Applicants must also upload the following documents as part of their application:

  • application and permissions form
  • placement proposal
  • student CV
  • home supervisor letter of support
  • host supervisor letter of support
  • justification of resources.

For further information, applicants are advised to read the Globalink announcement of opportunity below.

Documents

Contact us

For all enquiries, please contact UKRIGlobalink@ukri.org.

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