Graduate Mobility Award

Graduate Mobility Award logo Staff and Supervisors ║Faculty Contacts

The Graduate Mobility Award encourages graduate students to study and conduct research abroad as part of their McGill degree program by defraying part of the cost of the international experience. The award, funded by the Government of Quebec, is available to all full-time students enrolled in a graduate degree program at McGill who have been approved by their academic unit and Faculty to take part in a mobility opportunity. The mobility award is meant to contribute towards the completion of the student’s thesis or research project. A limited number of awards are available each year on a competitive basis.

Value 

  • Up to 1,500 per month (prorated), up to 8 months. 
  • Students' activities abroad funded by this Mobility program cannot exceed 8 months per degree. The 8 months can be used in one activity, or by combining several travel activities.

Deadlines

  • You should start the application process at least 8 weeks before your travel start date.
  • Completed and signed applications are accepted on a rolling basis at GPS.
    • Note there are blackout periods between April 14 – May 15, and between July 15 – August 15. Applications will not be processed during these dates.
  • Please consult your Academic Unit as internal deadlines may apply.
  • Applications for travel that has already happened will not be considered

Before Preparing your Application

Eligibility

The student:

  • The activity must not have started at the time of application
  • Must be enrolled in a graduate degree program at McGill
  • Must be registered as a full-time graduate degree student at the time of travel (status accepted: Full Time, Additional Session, Continuing)
  • Must have completed one full-time term at the time of application
  • Must be in good academic standing
  • Must have held an advisory/supervisory committee meeting within 10 months of the departure date
  • Must be approved by their Academic Unit and Faculty to take part in a mobility opportunity abroad
  • Must have completed the Pre-departure Orientation Session within one year of departure date
  • Must be participating in one or more of the following mobility activities, depending on the Faculty/Academic Unit:
    • Archival research
    • Bilateral exchange/research partnership
    • Fieldwork
    • Research stay
    • Workshop/training
  • The activity must take place outside of the province of Quebec
  • Student's activities abroad funded by this Mobility program cannot exceed 8 months per degree (the 8 months can be used in one single trip, or accumulated over several trips)
  • Conference travel is not eligible
  • Students in self-funded programs (Master's programs in the Desautels Faculty of Management, and Master's in Public Policy) are not eligible
  • Note that some Faculties may have additional requirements. Consult your Academic Unit for more information.

You are required to submit proof of having completed the Pre-departure Orientation Session. If the certificate of completion is not available at the time of submission, one must be submitted before payment can be released.

Before applying, McGill students on US Direct loans intending to pursue any portion of their program in the US or a foreign country should refer the Scholarships and Student Aid website to check eligibility and impact this funding will have on their US Direct loan(s).

Kindly be reminded that each student may only receive one award per academic year. Funding for Mobility cannot exceed 8 months per degree. 

How to Apply

  1. Sign up for and complete the Pre-departure Orientation Session (offered online). Do not submit your application if the session has not been completed. 
  2. Complete the GMA application form.
  3. Obtain approval and signatures from your Supervisor, Graduate Program Director (GPD), and Faculty Associate Dean (wherever applicable). Information on how to obtain Faculty signatures can be found below under "Contact". GPS does not obtain signatures from your Faculty Associate Dean.
  4. Your Supervisor submits their letter of support to GPS (fundingapplications.gps [at] mcgill.ca). If the supervisor is comfortable, the letter can also be attached to your application form. 
  5. Complete the Travel RegistryDo not submit your application if not been completed.
  6. Complete the online application form to submit the signed GMA application form and other supporting documents to GPS.
  7. FRQ Scholarship holders that are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada must also submit the Out-of-Quebec Short Stay declaration form.

*Please note that applicants from Dental Medicine & Oral Health Sciences, IPN, QLS, BBME, Law, Management and Music are not required to provide a signature from the Faculty Associate Dean.

Graduate Mobility Award recipients are required to complete a short survey and provide proof of travel (i.e. boarding pass, not airfare tickets) within one month of their return. Students who fail to complete this step will see their award withdrawn. Proof of travel can be submitted though this form: GMA Proof of Travel submission

All changes in travel plans must be reported to the academic unit and GPS immediately and at least one month before departure. Failure to report changes may result in the withdrawal of the award.

Contact

To obtain signatures from your faculty:

Faculty (and GMA website if available) Contact Email (Inquiries, Associate Dean signature and Supervisor letters)
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences susan.gregus [at] mcgill.ca
Arts adr.arts [at] mcgill.ca
Dental Medicine and Oral Health* graduate.dentistry [at] mcgill.ca
Education GPC of the department
Engineering GPC of the department
Law* grad.law [at] mcgill.ca; dalia.charafeddine [at] mcgill.ca
Management - Desautels phd.mgmt [at] mcgill.ca
Medicine and Health Sciences gradstudies.med [at] mcgill.ca
Schulich School of Music* graduatestudies.music [at] mcgill.ca
Science gradstudies.science [at] mcgill.ca ; general inquiries to GPC of the department
IFS- BBME* info.bbme [at] mcgill.ca; studentaffairs.bioeng [at] mcgill.ca
IFS - IPN* ipn.med [at] mcgill.ca
IFS - QLS* coordinator.qls [at] mcgill.ca

*Please note that applicants from Dental Medicine & Oral Health Sciences, IPN, QLS, BBME, Law, Management and Music are not required to provide a signature from the Faculty Associate Dean.

Please contact graduatefunding.gps [at] mcgill.ca for more information.

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 International License.
Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, McGill University.

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