***The below information pertains to the ELAP, SEED and SICS application process for the 2024-2025 academic year. Details for the application process for upcoming 2025-2026 academic year will be released in December 2024 or January 2025, please check back at this time for more details for the upcoming application cycle.***
**Please Note: This announcement is specific to ELAP, SEED, and SiCS programs for international graduate student applications. Student awardees will be registered as Visiting Research Students at USask to engage in full-time resarch and are not allowed to take or audit USask courses.
*** Stage 1 Internal Preliminary Deadline is January 19, 2024.
International graduate student applications will be managed and processed through the International Office (IO) at international.office@usask.ca, while international undergraduate student applications will be managed and processed through the International Student and Study Abroad Centre (ISSAC) at study.abroad@usask.ca.
International Student Scholarship Programs (ELAP, SEED, and SiCS) funded through Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has officially been announced and accepting applications from international students for short-term study or research at a Canadian university. If you are interested to support a graduate research student application to one of these programs, please review the ‘How to Apply’ section outlined below and take note of the quotas in each program as well as the deadlines outlined below.
International Visiting Research Student Scholarship Programs
The short-term student scholarship programs listed below allow students to come to USask for a period of four to six months and provide scholarships ranging from approximately $8,200 – $12,700 CAD. Scholarship funds cover international student expenses such as visa and/or study/work permit fees; airfare for the scholarship recipient via the most direct and economical route; health insurance; living expenses, such as accommodation, utilities, and food; ground transportation, including a public transportation pass; and books and supplies required for the recipient’s research, excluding computers and other equipment.
Each program is different with varied requirements, it is important to review the criteria for each in detail.
The Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) program provides students, from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions at the undergraduate and graduate levels to address the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP) scholarships provide students from post-secondary institutions located in Latin America and the Caribbean with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions, at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
The Study in Canada Scholarships provide students from post-secondary institutions located in select countries/territories in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Main roles and responsibilities of the USask host supervisor
Host professors must ensure the following is in place for their scholarship students:
- Research supervision during the student visit to USask, with pre and post support as well
- Provide host supervisor letter of support at the application stage
- E-mail and internet access
- Lab and/or office space
- Software or hardware
- Any safety or orientation information required for the project
How to Apply (International Graduate Student Applications)
There will be a quota/limit on the number of international graduate student applications that can move forward to full submission from USask (quotas listed below). These programs are extremely competitive with lower success rates.
Preliminary Stage 1 – Preliminary Deadline: January 19, 2024.
The student applicant in consultation with the USask host supervisor must complete the respective ‘2024 Application Form’ (see links at the bottom) in its entirety and email it to the International Office (IO) at international.office@usask.ca as soon as possible and no later than January 19, 2024.
Applicants should consider the following criteria when developing their proposal:
- Motivation and preparedness for research at USask.
- Understanding of how the proposed research fits with the applicant’s academic program and future career development.
- Clear rationale of proposed research and choice for USask as the host institution.
- Concrete objectives and feasible approach.
- Demonstration of benefits and future engagement opportunities with the applicant’s home university.
- Active involvement of the USask host unit and opportunities for interaction with other students.
Invited and Submission Stage 2 – February & March 2024
The IO will provide an Invitation to Submit confirmation by email in February 2024. Only applicants invited to submit will move forward to full submission. No changes in the core application content (i.e., research project and activities, graduate student applicant or USask host supervisor) are permitted after an invitation to submit is issued.
Invited applicants must then email the International Office the finalized application form and all required supporting documents by March 8, 2024. The International Office will make the final submission on the applicants’ behalf through our institutional portal, by the funder deadline - likely in late March (exact agency deadline to be announced by the funder). Applicants and their USask host supervisor will be notified once the submission is complete.
Graduate Student Application Quotas by Scholarship Program
ELAP — 20 Applications will be invited to full submission
SEED — 10 Applications will be invited to full submission
SICS — 5 Applications will be invited to full submission
If you have questions, concerns, or would like to discuss a potential international graduate application, please do not hesitate to contact the International Office at international.office@usask.ca.