AICTE – Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI) Scheme

What is the AICTE – Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI)?

The AICTE – Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI) is an international research-mobility programme offered under the Ministry of Education, with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) acting as the Indian partner organisation and Mitacs, a Canadian not-for-profit that funds research and training; running the placements. Through this partnership, high-performing Indian engineering undergraduates spend a summer doing hands-on research at a Canadian university, mentored by a faculty supervisor.

According to Mitacs, the Globalink Research Internship is a 12-week, fully funded placement that takes place between 1 May and 31 October each year, with interns working 40 hours per week. It is designed to give students early exposure to graduate-level research abroad, build international academic networks, and encourage them to consider higher studies. For India, the programme is limited to Engineering and Technology students at AICTE-approved institutions.

Key features

• A structured 12-week research internship at a Canadian academic institution.
• AICTE as the Indian nodal partner; Mitacs as the funding and placement body.
• Open only to Indian nationals studying at eligible AICTE-approved institutions.
• Application and matching handled entirely online through the Mitacs Globalink Student platform.

What does the programme fund?

Mitacs provides a support package rather than a conventional salary. According to the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship page, the award includes:

• A contribution towards the cost of round-trip airfare to Canada.
• A housing stipend, which varies depending on the host city.
• A stipend towards student enrolment fees.
• Support for food and incidentals.
• Emergency health insurance coverage for the duration of the internship.
• Campus mentor support and access to professional-development activities.

Because the housing stipend and some costs depend on location, students should confirm the current amounts for their host city on the Mitacs platform before accepting an offer. The programme is structured so that a selected student can travel and live in Canada for the internship without needing large personal funds up front.

Who is eligible for the AICTE – Mitacs GRI scheme?

You can apply if:

• You are an Indian national.
• You are a full-time undergraduate: or in a combined undergraduate–Master's programme — pursuing Engineering (B.E.) or Technology (B.Tech.).
• You study at an AICTE-approved institution that appears on the eligible list for the programme.
• You have a minimum 70% cumulative GPA.

You cannot apply if:

• Your institution is not on the eligible list; unlisted institutions are not accepted, even if AICTE-approved in general.
• You are not an Indian national, as the AICTE route is reserved for Indian citizens.
• Your cumulative GPA is below 70%.
• You are in a discipline outside Engineering and Technology under the AICTE partnership.

No English-language proficiency examination is required, which lowers a common barrier for Indian applicants. Selection is competitive and based on academic record, the strength of your reference letter, and the fit between your profile and the research projects you apply to.

What documents are required?

How to apply for the AICTE – Mitacs GRI scheme

The entire application is done online through the Mitacs Globalink Student platform. The steps are:

1. Check that your institution is on the eligible list and that you meet the 70% cumulative GPA and discipline requirements before you begin.
2. Create an account on the Mitacs Globalink Student platform when the annual call opens.
3. Build your profile and prepare your CV using the Mitacs template, arrange your professor reference letter, and gather your official transcripts.
4. Apply to between 3 and 7 research projects spread across at least 3 Canadian provinces, completing all mandatory fields.
5. Submit before the deadline. Applications are matched with supervisors, and selected students are notified with an offer.

Because the annual call opens and closes on a fixed schedule, and the specific eligible-institution list can change each cycle, applicants should watch the AICTE and Mitacs portals for the current-year call, deadlines and eligibility list rather than relying on last year's dates.

Why this internship matters

The AICTE – Mitacs GRI scheme gives Indian engineering students something that is otherwise hard to arrange as an undergraduate: a funded, supervised research experience at a foreign university, with the logistics and most costs handled by the programme. For students considering a Master's or PhD, a Globalink internship is also a recognised pathway: Mitacs runs follow-on graduate-fellowship options for alumni who later study in Canada. As with any government-linked programme, students should apply directly through the official Mitacs platform and never pay a private agent to "secure" a place.