Funding & Awards for international learning opportunities
Participating in an international exchange program is much easier when you’re financially prepared. As a Saint Mary’s student thinking of studying abroad on exchange, field study course or departmental program, be sure to take time to explore your funding options before you leave.
Global Learning Awards
The Global Learning Office currently have 3 awards available to students. Click each link below to learn more about the opportunity:
Global Skills Opportunity Award - multiple awards annually (for Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents only).
Summerby-Murray Global Learning Award - one awarded annually
Michael Brown International Mobility Award - one awarded annually
Global Learning Awards can be applied to the following opportunities:
Exchange/Study abroad for academic credit (semester, full year, or summer sessions)
International field courses
Group training internationally
Language training outside of Canada
Volunteer placements that are recognized as part of an academic credit program
3 Awards, 1 Application
Students will submit one application to apply for all three awards. Eligibility for each award will be accessed based on responses given.
Learn more about applying for the SMU Global Learning Awards here: Global Learning Awards Application Toolkit.
Complete your application here: https://smuniversity.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aVtJ9prIJvcLWiW
Deadlines
Students are recommended to submit their funding applications by the following dates, based on when their international activity is expected to take place:
-September 15 for international learning activities commencing in October-March.
-March 15 for international learning activities commencing in April-September.
Applications for activities that fall outside of the above will be considered on an individual basis.
Award Opportunities
Global Skills Opportunity Award
The Global Skills Opportunity fund is funded by the Government of Canada through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in partnership with Saint Mary's University, and is administered by Universities Canada. It can provide up to $5000 for Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents to study abroad and up to $10 000 for students who identify as Indigenous, low-income students, or students with disabilities. Learn more about the GSO project at: https://studio.smu.ca/gso.
Faculty / Discipline: All
Value: maximum of $10 000 per award
Number of Awards: Multiple
Summerby-Murray Global Mobility Award
The purpose of the Summerby-Murray Global Mobility Award is to encourage global mobility for students at Saint Mary’s University as part of their intercultural learning experience. The recipient will be a current student in good standing and participating in an approved study abroad opportunity with Saint Mary's University. The award will help fund their travel and intercultural learning expenses. The recipient will have demonstrated financial need. Selection of recipient will be done by the International Mobility Awards Selection Committee.
Faculty / Discipline: All
Value: $1000 annually
Number of Awards: One
Michael Brown International Mobility Award
The Michael Brown International Mobility Award will be given annually. The recipient will be a current student in good standing and participating in an approved study abroad opportunity with Saint Mary's University.
Faculty / Discipline: Open to students in any field of study. Preference will be given to students enrolled in the Sobey School of Business who are from the Atlantic Canada Region.
Value: $750
Number of Awards: One
Other Funding Sources at SMU
Saint Mary’s University offers a number of awards and grants that support international experiences.
Financial Need-Based Bursaries
Questions regarding scholarships, awards, and bursaries should be directed to the Financial Aid & Awards Office. Visit their website or email financial.aid@smu.ca.
Accessibility Travel Bursaries
Inquiries should be directed to the Fred Smithers Centre (fredsmithers.centre@smu.ca)
SMUSA Experiential Learning Fund
Inquiries should be directed to SMUSA.
FGSR Conference Travel Funds (for graduate students)
For details, see the funding form [PDF]. Please contact FGSR for details at fgsr@smu.ca.
FGSR International Travel Funds for Graduate Student Thesis Field Research in the Social Sciences and Humanities (for graduate students)
For details, see the funding form [PDF]. Please contact FGSR for details at fgsr@smu.ca.
Accessibility Travel Bursaries for the Fred Smithers Centre students
Inquiries should be directed to fredsmithers.centre@smu.ca.
Partner Funding
For your Study Abroad Experience in the USA:
Eligibility: Canadian Citizen; Full-time undergraduate student in good standing; English proficiency
Application deadline: December 15, by listing a Killam Fellowship Consortium partner schools in the USA as one of your top three preferred study destinations in your SMU Exchange application.
Award value: US$6000
For your Study Abroad Experience in Asia:
Beijing Normal University (BNU)-Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) Full-Year Exchange Program
Apart from having two semesters in Hong Kong, students are given the option to spend the first semester in Hong Kong and the second one on their Zhuhai campus, called “BNU-HKBU United International College (UIC)” which was co-founded with Beijing Normal University.
For Full Academic Year Exchange students who spend a semester at BNU-HKBU-United International College (UIC) in Zhuhai, China, students are accommodated in the Student Hostel Cultural Village on campus for FREE of charge. UIC provides shared rooms (2/3/4 beds) to all students. For information about the HKBU Extended Study Programme, see here. Questions? Email Global@smu.ca.
For your Study Abroad Experience in Europe:
Erasmus+ Credit Mobility Program
Erasmus+ is a program created by the European Union to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe and provides a variety of funding and opportunities. This program allows institutions in program countries (EU countries and others in Europe) to collaborate with institutions in partner countries elsewhere (i.e., Canada) to secure mobility funding to further EU’s research and innovation (https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/about-erasmus/what-is-erasmus).
Due to concerted efforts of Saint Mary’s University and its partner institutions in Europe, funding has been secured for Saint Mary’s students to undertake semester exchanges at the partner institution.
Eligibility: Same as the international exchange program. See “Am I eligible” in https://studio.smu.ca/semester-or-year-long-exchanges.
Application deadline: February 10 annually, by listing an Erasmus+ partner school as one of your top three preferred study destinations in your SMU Exchange application.
2023/24 Erasmus+ Partner Schools:
University of Jyväskylä, Finland (two grants, for fall 2023 or winter 2024)
Award value: 4420 euros for one semester tenable at designated Partner School
Baden-Württemberg Scholarship
Eligibility: Same as the international exchange program. See “Am I eligible” in https://studio.smu.ca/semester-or-year-long-exchanges.
Application deadline: February 10 annually, by listing Konstanz University of Applied Sciences as one of your top three preferred study destinations in your SMU Exchange application.
Award valued: 4500 EUR for one semester tenable at Konstanz University of Applied Sciences, Germany (one grant annually)
Lithuanian state scholarships for short-term mobility
Eligibility: Same as the international exchange program. See “Am I eligible” in https://studio.smu.ca/semester-or-year-long-exchanges. Open to SMU students who are citizens of the following countries:
• The Eastern Partnership Countries: Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia.
• ASEM Countries: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Cambodia, China, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.
• Lithuania priority export market countries: the USA, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Turkey, South Africa Republic.
Application deadline: February 10 annually, by listing Mykolas Romeris University as one of your top three preferred study destinations in your SMU Exchange application.
Award value: 490 EUR per month for one semester or two semesters tenable at Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania
External Funding Sources
A number of external organizations offer funding that Saint Mary’s University students and faculty can apply for. For example, the Government of Canada has a listing of international scholarships for graduate study and research abroad. Some partner institutions also offer financial support to Saint Mary’s exchange students.
Contact Us:
Email: global@smu.ca
Phone: 902-496-8725
Fax: 902-420-5530
Office: Atrium 106
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SMUStudio
The Global Learning and Intercultural Learning Office staff are working on campus and virtually. Meetings times are available both online and in-person by request.
