MITACS Selection Experience

#1 Research Internship Globally

As the internship application season is in its full swing once again, I take this opportunity to share my experience right from the application process to the completion of the research internship. I hope that this would help all the students applying to MITACS Globalink Research Internship or any other research internship abroad with similar requirements.

To give a brief introduction, My name is Mo Ahsan Ahmad. I am a Pre-final year student at Bansal Institute of Science and Technology(BIST), Bhopal Madhya Pradesh, India pursuing engineering with Computer Science. I have been accepted for the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship(GRI) Program 2022 at Brock University -St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, under the professor, S.E.A. Mitacs is a non-profit organization that delivers research and training programs in Canada. GRI is an initiative for international undergraduates to spend their 12-weeks long summer in Canada on a research project under the supervision of Canadian university faculty members. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to indulge in cutting-edge research with adequate financial support and a healthy work-life balance. https://globalink.mitacs.ca/#/student/application/welcome is the link to the 2023 application. The deadline for the application is around September.

So how did it all start?
We are four friends who are very interested in research internship programs and to be honest I have very good connections and through them, I got to know about Mitacs Globalink Research Internship Program. Last year, some students from their college got selected for the same so the guidance that you get always makes you stand out from the others. Also having a group with similar interests is very important because that leads to the exchange of thoughts and internal healthy competitiveness. So I around mid-September for the program and got the selection mail by mid-December.

But why Research internships?

You may think there are good FAANG Internships so why does anyone choose Research Internship over them. The answer is it totally depends upon you. If you wanna pursue a master’s then research internships are the best. And in this case, Mitacs is top of that because it gives 3 Months long summer in Canada on a research project under the supervision of Canadian university faculty members with adequate financial support and a healthy work-life. The best thing about Mitacs is The Globalink Graduate Fellowship provides $15,000 CAD in financial support to former Globalink Research Interns who return to Canada for full master’s or Ph.D. programs or Postdoctoral fellowships at any Mitacs partner institution.

Application procedure

The application portal of MITACS is simple where they ask for your basic details. Then, you have to write your research rationale (SOP) this year it wasn’t required, previous research internship experience(if you have any), your notable achievements, and a general description of your skillset in about 100 words each. So, be as precise as possible. You also have to submit 2 letters of recommendation from your professors/supervisors whom you have worked with along with your CV and transcripts. Lastly, you have to give 7 preferences of project/professor you want to work with, in your preference order. Seriously, that was the most difficult part. You are given a list of around 2500 projects from which you have to select only 7 and all 7 projects combined should be in at least 3 different Canadian provinces (states). The applications generally open in early August and the deadline is around mid-September.

The selection process is carried out in two phases. The applications of the students selected in the first phase are sent to the respective professors. During that time Phase-2 students are waitlisted and have to wait till the phase-1 process is over and then their profiles are sent. MITACS doesn’t reveal how they separate students but based on previous interns and my experience, they shortlist you on the basis of overlap between your interests and the projects which you have chosen along with many other factors such as CGPA. Being waitlisted in the first stage is a big disadvantage as it might be possible that the professor of your choice has already selected someone else during phase-1. So, try to fill the projects with relevance to your previous work/experience so that you get selected in the first phase. After that, your profiles are sent to your respective professors. It solely depends on the professor to have an interview for selection or not and some professors have as many as 5–7 interviews. I had an interview for my first priority project. But, I got selected with my 3rd preference project. The interviews are easy and revolve around your previous projects/ internships from your resume along with a short discussion about the current project. Also, do show your interest in higher studies, professors prefer students who can extend their project in their masters/Ph.D. and work with them for a longer duration. The procedure after you receive the offer is straightforward and in most cases, students get their visa approved in 15–20 days due to the funding from MITACS.

Benefits of Mitacs GRI

• A matched project with a Canadian professor and university, based on their research interests, skills, and expertise
• Round-trip airfare to Canada (amount varies depending on country of origin)
• Transportation from airport in Canada to accommodation
• Stipend for housing (amount varies depending on country of origin)
• Health insurance
• Stipend towards student enrollment fees up to a maximum of $300
• Stipend for food and incidentals (amount varies depending on country of origin)
• Support from student mentors on campus in Canada
• Registration for industry events and professional development courses
• Globalink Research Internship certificate of completion

And for the Globalink Graduate Fellowship offers former Globalink Research Interns returning to Canada these benefits

• Recognition as Globalink alumni
• Direct financial support from Mitacs
• The opportunity to work with Canada’s research supervisors during your graduate studies
• Additional exposure to the Canadian research & innovation landscape and increased Canadian experience.

Ending Note

Globalink Research Internship is an amazing international experience to hone your research skills. The application process is lengthy but structured. I have tried to include all the pointers that I kept in mind while applying. Also, it is important to remember that the fact that IITians/NITians have higher chances of getting through these scholarships is just a popular myth. I have personally worked with students from many corners and colleges of India (yes, even private colleges) and the selection committee doesn’t seem to discriminate between your home colleges if your application is good enough. So feel confident and believe in yourself before applying anywhere.

With this, we come to a close to this blog. Did you like what you read? Would you like to know more about me? Well, guess what, I’m on LinkedIn so go ahead and reach out!

With ❤,
Ahsan.