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Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Call for applications for the 2024-2025 academic year is now closed.

On August 6, 2017, the Government of Canada announced the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) program to provide opportunities for students from ASEAN member states to conduct short-term study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions in areas that contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development .

The Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development program aims to reduce poverty in the developing countries of ASEAN and to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . Scholarships and educational exchanges will contribute towards the achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SEED contributes to strengthening people-to-people ties between Canada and the Indo-Pacific region.

SEED scholarships are facilitated through institutional collaborations and student exchange agreements between post-secondary institutions in Canada and their partner institutions in ASEAN countries.

The Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development Program is a Short-term Exchange Program under Global Affairs Canada’s International Scholarships Program.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must be:

✔ a citizen of an ASEAN member state
- Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos (Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)), Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, or Vietnam
✔ a student enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an ASEAN member state
✔ paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of your exchange

Students are not eligible for this scholarship if:

you hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
you are already participating in a scholarship program funded by the Government of Canada
you are already enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program at a Canadian post-secondary institution
you have previously received a scholarship under the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development Program

Canadian post-secondary institutions interested in hosting students must:

✔ be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
✔ have a valid student exchange agreement with the student’s home institution that waives tuition fees for scholarship recipients (required for college/undergraduate study only)

Scholarship value and duration

Award component	Value	Duration	Activities
College / undergraduate (4 months)	$10,200	Four months or one academic term	Study or research at the college or undergraduate level. A valid student exchange agreement that waives tuition fees is required.
College / undergraduate (8 months)	$15,900	Eight months or two academic terms	Study or research at the college or undergraduate level. A valid student exchange agreement that waives tuition fees is required.
Graduate (4 months)	$10,200	Four months or one academic term	Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD). A student exchange agreement is not required.
Graduate (5-6 months)	$12,700	Five to six months	Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD). A student exchange agreement is not required.

Eligible expenses

Selected students may use scholarship funds towards:

✔ visa or study/work permit fees
✔ airfare via the most direct and economical route
✔ health insurance
✔ living expenses, such as accommodation, utilities and food
✔ ground transportation, including a public transportation pass
✔ books and supplies required for their study or research, excluding computers and other equipment

Canadian institutions are eligible to receive:

✔ $500 per scholarship recipient to aid with administrative costs once the student arrives in Canada
✔ reimbursement of additional employer compliance fees paid to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in some cases

How funding works

Canadian institutions will receive funding from Global Affairs Canada, through its legal name, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) in the form of a non-negotiable contribution agreement and will be responsible for providing the funds to successful students according to its internal processes. Should a student not take up the scholarship, Canadian institutions must return all funds, including the administrative fee, to DFATD.

Application process

Canadian institutions must apply on behalf of eligible students before the deadline.

Before the application period

Canadian institutions interested in hosting students should:

✔ promote the scholarship to faculty and staff members
✔ promote the scholarship to eligible partner institutions
✔ explore student exchange agreements with eligible partner institutions

Non-Canadian institutions interested in sending students to Canada should:

✔ review eligibility requirements
✔ explore student exchange agreements with Canadian institutions
✔ promote this scholarship to students
✔ identify students who meet the eligibility and admission requirements for the Canadian partner institution

Students interested in studying in Canada under this scholarship should:

✔ review the eligibility requirements
✔ ask your international office if your school has an exchange agreement with a Canadian post-secondary institution
✔ contact your international office to learn more about the application process and any admission requirements for the Canadian institution

Application instructions

Application instructions for Canadian institutions applying on behalf of eligible students

Assign a program coordinator to complete applications.
Login or Create a Momentum account to apply for the scholarship on behalf of students.
Once you have logged into your account, select the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) and click on “Apply Now”.
Enter data in the fields marked mandatory and follow instructions for each item.
Upload all required supporting documents. Each document must be smaller than 5 MB and in .pdf, .jpg, .doc, .docx, .txt or .gif format.
Verify the data prior to submission.
Click “SUBMIT”. You will receive a confirmation message and a reference number for submitted applications.
Print the form for your records using the print function in the browser.

Supporting documents

Institutions must ensure documents are complete and accurate as per the instructions. Revised documents will not be accepted after the deadline. Documents in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by a translation.

Proof of citizenship
- A copy of the candidate's passport or national identity card with a photo and valid dates
- Documents not accepted as proof of citizenship are: driver’s license, permanent residence card, work permit, student card, health card, birth certificate or baptismal certificate
- Proof of citizenship selected must be from the same country/territory as the citizenship selected in the online application form

Signed Privacy Notice Statement
- A copy of the Privacy Notice Statement for non-Canadian participants signed by the candidate and dated within the last six months

Letter of intent from the candidate (maximum one page)
- Explains the nature of studies or research to be undertaken
- Provides rationale for study in Canada and for the choice of institution, program and supervisor and how the proposed program of study or research will relate to their future career
- Explains how undertaking study or research in Canada will empower the student to apply their learning to address the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
- Explains how they intend to use their learning to help combat poverty and narrow the development gap in the ASEAN region in their future career
- Identifies the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) their proposed study or research in Canada is aligned with and will contribute to
- Candidates from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand or Vietnam must provide an explanation of how their learning in Canada will help to combat poverty in their home country
- Candidates from Brunei or Singapore must provide an explanation of how their learning in Canada will help combat poverty in one of the other eight ASEAN countries

Letter of proof of full-time enrolment from the home institution
- On official letterhead
- Dated within the last six months
- Confirms that the candidate is currently enrolled in a full-time program
- Copies of transcripts, a student card or a letter of admission are not acceptable

Letter of support from the home institution (maximum one page)
- On official letterhead
- Dated within the last six months
- From the candidate's instructor, professor or international director
- Explains the nature of study or research to be undertaken in Canada and how the candidate and the home institution will benefit from this scholarship program
- Assesses the candidate’s commitment and capacity to use the program of study or research in Canada to help combat poverty and narrow the development gap in the ASEAN region

Letter of invitation from the Canadian supervisor (graduate students only, maximum one page)
- On official letterhead
- Dated within the last six months
- Signed by the Canadian supervisor
- Describes the nature and scope of the research collaboration with the student’s home institution
- Confirms their willingness to support and mentor the candidate during the exchange period
- Explains how the Canadian institution, supervisor and peers will benefit from the exchange

Signed copy of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or Agreement with the partner institution
- Indicates that tuition fees will not be charged and highlights this specific clause
- College and undergraduate research applications with no existing agreement can include a letter from the international office or equivalent on official letterhead that links the application to a specific international research collaboration, names the Canadian supervisor and confirms that tuition will not be charged. The letter must be dated within the last six months and be a maximum of one page
- Expired agreements will not be accepted – if the agreement is in the process of renewal, institutions must include a letter to this effect
- For graduate applications, an agreement is recommended but not required

A ranking of applications
- Based on the institution’s strategic priorities must be sent to seed-bpeed@cbie.ca

Scholarship selection criteria

We evaluate applications based on:

the linkage of the proposed research or study that the student will undertake in Canada to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
the candidate’s commitment to use their proposed research or studies in Canada to help combat poverty and narrow the development gap in the ASEAN region
merit of the research or study to be undertaken in Canada
benefit to the home institution and peers
benefit to the Canadian institution, supervisor and peers
strength of the linkages to be created through the proposed exchange
rankings submitted by the Canadian institution

Key dates

Application deadline

The deadline for Canadian institutions to submit online applications on behalf of candidates is 11:59 p.m. EDT, March 21, 2024.

Canadian institutions should establish an earlier deadline with candidates and their home institutions to ensure timely receipt of supporting documents.

Notification of results

The scholarship administrator will communicate successful results to Canadian institutions in the spring. The administrator will not provide feedback for unsuccessful applications.

Institutions are responsible for notifying students of successful results.

Students should contact their home institution or the Canadian institution regarding the status of their application.

Student arrival in Canada

Selected students may arrive as early as August 1, 2024 for the fall semester and no later than February 1, 2025 for the winter/spring semester. Failure to arrive during this time may result in the cancellation of the scholarship.

Students should submit their visa or study/work permit application as early as possible to avoid delays.

Scholarship conditions

Conditions for successful students

Students selected for the scholarship agree to:

engage in full-time studies or research as defined by the Canadian institution
abstain from clinical training or clinically-oriented research involving direct patient-care
focus primarily on full-time studies or research during their stay in Canada
return to their home institutions after the scholarship period to complete their studies

Failure to meet these conditions may result in the cancellation of the scholarship.

Additional information

Scholarships cannot be deferred and are not renewable
Scholarships are subject to availability of funding from the Government of Canada
Scholarships are not taxable for either the Canadian institution or the scholarship recipient
Students must return to their home institutions after the scholarship period to complete their studies

Questions?

Contact the scholarship administrator, the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE): seed-bpeed@cbie.ca or 613-237-4820.

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