2026 Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development – Phase 2 (SEED-2) – Government of Canada

Location: Canada

Program: Short-term study or research

Eligibility: International Students

Duration: 4–8 months

Deadline: March 24, 2026

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The Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development – Phase 2 (SEED-2) is a flagship Canadian Government scholarship programme funded by Global Affairs Canada and delivered as a key initiative under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, representing an expansion of the original Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) programme. SEED-2 provides opportunities for students from the 11 ASEAN Member States, 14 Pacific Island Countries, and Mongolia to undertake short-term study or research at Canadian post-secondary institutions in fields that contribute directly to the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Canada is one of the world’s foremost destinations for international education and research, with a higher education system that consistently ranks among the very best globally for academic quality, research output, and student experience across disciplines as diverse as engineering, environmental science, health, agriculture, education, business, and the social sciences. The SEED-2 programme taps into this world-class academic environment to give students from the Indo-Pacific region’s most dynamic and development-focused economies the opportunity to conduct meaningful, SDG-aligned study or research at a Canadian institution returning home with enhanced skills, international networks, and the practical knowledge needed to address the most pressing development challenges facing their communities and countries.

Benefits of the Scholarship

This scholarship will provide the following to its recipients:

CAD $10,200 for 4 months (one academic term) at the college or undergraduate level
CAD $15,900 for 8 months (two academic terms) at the college or undergraduate level
CAD $10,200 for 4 months (one academic term) at the graduate level (Master’s and PhD)
CAD $12,700 for 5–6 months at the graduate level (Master’s and PhD)
Full tuition fee waiver — tuition is not charged by the participating Canadian host institution
Eligible expenses covered: visa/study permit fees, return airfare (most direct/economical route), health insurance, accommodation, utilities, food, ground transportation/transit pass, books and supplies
CAD $500 per scholarship recipient provided to the Canadian institution to cover administrative costs
Other benefits

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Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must meet the following:

Must be a citizen of one of the eligible countries: ASEAN Member States, Pacific Island Countries or Mongolia
Must be enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an eligible country at the time of application
Must be paying tuition fees to their home institution at the time of application and for the full duration of their exchange in Canada
Must be identified and nominated by a participating Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI) — direct applications from individuals are not accepted
Must not hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
Must not already be enrolled in a degree, diploma, or certificate programme at a Canadian post-secondary institution
Must not already be participating in any scholarship programme funded by the Government of Canada
Must not have previously received a scholarship under the first phase of the programme (Canada-ASEAN SEED)
Must submit a one-page letter of intent identifying a specific SDG that the proposed study or research will contribute to — letters that do not identify an SDG are deemed incomplete and ineligible
Must provide a letter of proof of full-time enrolment from home institution (on official letterhead, dated within 6 months, confirming full-time status — transcripts, student cards, or admission letters are not acceptable)
Graduate applicants must also provide a letter of invitation from a Canadian supervisor (on institutional letterhead, dated within 6 months, signed by the supervisor)
Must abstain from clinical training or clinically oriented research involving direct patient care during the exchange

Note: Kindly check the official webpage for full and detailed requirements

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Selection Criteria

The SEED-2 scholarship selection process evaluates applications at the institutional level, with Global Affairs Canada assessing each nominated candidate’s application against a set of clearly defined criteria that directly reflect the programme’s development mandate. The primary and most heavily weighted criterion is the linkage of the proposed study or research to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development specifically, the candidate’s ability to identify a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) that their proposed programme of study or research in Canada will directly contribute to, and to articulate this linkage clearly and convincingly in their one-page letter of intent. Candidates who fail to identify a specific SDG in their letter of intent are automatically deemed ineligible, regardless of their academic qualifications.