How to Apply

Applications for the CSC 2027 program are not yet open.

All application instructions and guidance are tentative and may change until the competition opens for applications. 

Please review the CSC Program Dates & Deadlines before proceeding.

Please follow these steps to apply:

  1. Please review the eligibility criteria before starting an application. 
  2. To review available projects and apply for them, please navigate to the Horizons application system in a web browser. 
    • Click on the "Research Internships in Alberta" button in the top right-hand corner of the page
    • Of the two option in the pop-up that appears, click on the "Research Internships in Alberta" button.
    • On the Search Programs website page, look at the Results section.
    • Click on the hyperlinked research project title (under Program Info) to review project details.
    • The project title needs to start with (CSC 2027) in front of the research project name to indicate it is specifically for eligible Chinese applicants to apply to.
    • Please read Research Project titles carefully - do NOT apply for (Araucaria GWS) or (UARE) projects if you would like to be considered for CSC-funded placements
      • Sorry but the system does not allow us to move your application from one program to another. Be sure it's a CSC-eligible research project when you first begin applying!
  3. Find up to three (3) research projects that you are interested in and qualified for. Please be sure to review the Academic Backgrounds section of the project listing for the qualifications that the host professor is looking for.
  4. Register to apply for CSC by clicking on the "Incoming Student Registration" button at the bottom of the description page of the first research project you are interested in applying to.
    • No button at the bottom? Then the research project is likely not accepting applications at that time. Check back later!
  5. You will be prompted to create a Horizons account and set a password.
    • Do not click on the "I need to register for an account" link located in the top-right of the page.
    • Use your home university-provided email address for your Horizons account to help prove that you are a current student at an eligible Chinese institution. Please ensure you've spelled your email address correctly.
    • You MUST enter your family name and given name in English alphabet characters (pinyin) ONLY, not in Chinese characters.
    • Applicants are responsible for noting which email address and password you used to create your account. Please note that each student applicant must only have one application/account. Duplicate student applicant accounts may be discarded.
  6. After your account is created, you will log into the Horizons system using your new account information and complete the research intern application.
    • Please note that each student applicant must only have one application/account.
  7. In the application you must provide the following: 
    • Program Selection
      • You will then be able to click the Add Item button to select more than one research project. Please indicate your project preference/ranking in the application forms (1st Choice being your top preference, 2nd Choice being your second preference, etc.).
    • Application Documents
      • Cover Letter (Statement of Intent)
        • One-page explanation of the knowledge and research skills that you would like to practice applying and using by participating in this research internship program.
        • Tell us how your skills meet the academic background and project requirements.
        • What are your scholarly interests and how are they a good fit for the research project(s)?
        • How would participating in this research experience fit into your future plans?
        • Please keep this cover letter general enough to be relevant for the 1-3 research projects you are able to apply to.
        • Please note, wanting to come to Canada is naturally assumed since these research internships are in-person only and not virtual. So please detail the specific reasons why both the University of Alberta's research facilities and the chosen host professors' project(s) and research area(s) appears to be a good match for your skills and scholarly interests.
        • Cover pages longer than one page will be deemed ineligible.
      • Resumé/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
        • One to two page document listing your academic, scholarly, and/or work experience(s) and accomplishments.
        • Please be concise! You are a senior undergraduate student; resumes or CVs of 3 or more pages will be discarded and deemed ineligible.
      • Academic Transcripts
        • Official grades for courses/classes taken and/or credits earned, issued by your home university
        • You MUST include an accompanying English translation, made and signed off on by someone other than yourself
        • Save those together as ONE document attachment, ideally a .pdf
        • Transcripts in Chinese that are sent to us without an accompanying English translation will be discarded and deemed ineligible
      • Academic reference letter
        • A one-page signed letter from an instructor, university professor, or previous research supervisor who can attest to your knowledge of the research area you are applying for and how you are a suitable candidate.
        • Reference letters longer than one page will be deemed ineligible.
  8. Once you are finished competing the application form, we recommend that you have a detail-oriented fellow student or friend review your application form including the attached documents to be sure that you've followed all published instructions correctly before submitting it.
  9. Once you are comfortable making absolutely no further changes, please click on the "Submit Your Application" button.
    • Take your time! As long as it's in before the deadline, that's what counts. 
    • We are unable to reopen submitted applications. We cannot replace data or document(s) on your behalf.
    • Be certain it is the FINAL version before submitting it!
  10. The system will confirm that your application has been submitted. 
    • Please contact us BEFORE the application deadline if there is a technical issue, such as a software bug or glitch, and we will work towards a resolution.
  11. After submitting your application, please do not contact us by email!
    • Instead, we kindly ask that you please refer to the timelines indicated in the CSC program dates & deadlines section for details of when results will be shared with all applicants. That section of our website will be updated if there are any changes to the anticipated release date of results, so please feel free to check it again if you're expecting news and haven't heard anything yet.  
    • Due to available staff resources and a high volume of applications received for this program, emails sent by applicants after the application deadline and during the review period are generally unable to be responded to.
      • We appreciate your interest, however our staff must focus on reviewing applications and sharing them with host professors to obtain their rankings
      • Sorry but no, we cannot allow you to modify your application after the deadline under any circumstances. You may not add a new journal article to your resume, and we cannot help you perform a minor data change to your application or fix a mistake (real or perceived). That would be unfair to all of the other candidates who are being judged by what they sent in as of the same point in time. Thank you for your understanding.
  12. Successful candidates will receive notification of results BY EMAIL outside of the Horizons Symplicity application system.
    • Please refer to the CSC program dates & deadlines for when we anticipate this to occur (it may need to fluctuate depending upon the volume of applications received, which is unknown until after the deadline), and be sure to revisit that website closer to the anticipated date of publishing results.
    • Please be sure that the primary home university email address you've entered in the application system is spelled correctly and that you check it frequently, including any spam or junk folders! We typically send emails outside of the Horizons systems from intern[@]ualberta.ca, so add us to your safe sender list if you want.
    • Unsuccessful candidates will receive notification of results in the weeks following the acceptance of successful candidates, not at the same time. Thank you in advance for your patience. Should you remain eligible to apply again in a future cycle, unsuccessful candidates are welcome and encouraged to do so!
    • For selected candidates, please be aware that the University of Alberta cannot contact IRCC on your behalf to advocate for the processing of any visitor visa or application for you to enter Canada for a research internship. Please be sure to follow any immigration advice provided to you by our office, as we will share more details with selected candidates after your offer has been accepted. We would provide it earlier, but since immigration policies and advice can change quickly, we wish to supply you with the most current information when it's relevant.  

Thank you for your interest in a CSC-funded research internship at the University of Alberta!

Date modified: 2026-10-21