Frequently Asked Questions

University of Alberta International Student + Visitor Services (ISVS) in International Education and Enrolment is pleased to help directly facilitate the research stays of hundreds of inbound visiting international student research internship participants each year for these research internship programs:

ISVS directly coordinates research internship participants who are:

  • a current student at their home university outside of Canada, and actively working towards a higher education degree program
  • selected to participate in one of the above research internship programs

Our Go Abroad teammates whom we work alongside in International Education and Enrolment at the University of Alberta coordinate research internship and work placements for participants who are:

  • a current student at the University of Alberta and actively working towards a degree program
  • interested in exploring internship experiences outside of Canada

The relevant information for anyone who falls outside of the above criteria, including international visitors interested in being invited by a U of A host professor to come to the University of Alberta as a self-funded or independently-arranged researcher (academic visitor), and/or current students at Canadian universities who wish to pursue a research visit to the University of Alberta, can be found at Visitors to the University.

Please click on each question below in order to expand the answer. 

University of Alberta International Student & Visitor Services (ISVS) team provides research internship participants whose stays are coordinated through one of our affiliated programs with full support before, during, and after their placement.

Please note that self-funded or independently-arranged academic visitors are not administered or invited by ISVS, and the inviting host professor should consult the Visitors to the University website for further guidance.

Each research internship participant whose stay is coordinated by ISVS is offered the following:

  • Coordination of immigration processes and documents, including the Foreign Visitor Category Assessment (FVCA) and/or Contract/Invitation Letter as necessary
  • 'Guest' (Academic Visitor) CCID and ONEcard;
    • research interns are NOT considered Staff nor Students while at U of A, and are NOT covered by U of A liability insurance 
  • Academic Visitor liability waiver form processed in-person at the International Service Centre
  • Person of Interest (POI) processing for campus registration
  • In-person intern orientation and optional campus tour
  • Professional development seminars and academic networking opportunities
  • An opportunity to present at a research symposium*

*Typically offered in mid-March, mid-late July, mid-late August, and early December

Interns may have the option to participate in the following seasonal activities:

University of Alberta International Student and Visitor Services coordinates research internships for visiting international students who are sponsored by the specific programs/funding agencies listed at the top of the FAQs page. There are hyplinked webpages to each program.

The Inbound International Internship Coordinator collects research projects from U of A faculty members who are willing and able to host and mentor visiting researchers only through some specific programs. Examples include UARE and CSC-funded research internships. Student applicants then apply directly to the specific research project(s) during specific application periods by following the How to Apply steps for that program. 

For other ISVS-coordinated research internship programs, applicants may be responsible for finding a suitable research supervisor, and then the Coordinator assists with all processes after that. This is the case for research internship programs such as Global Affairs Canada International Scholarships (ELAP; SEED-2; SICS) or the University of Alberta-RWTH Aachen Junior Research Fellowship. Research projects are not centrally collected and applicants must independently initiate finding an appropriate placement. These still have deadlines each year.

If none of the above options are viable based on eligibility, timing, or other factors, you may independently pursue a research stay with a U of A host professor if you will be self-funded or have external funding. A kind clarification that any next steps do not involve the Internship Coordinator or ISVS, as you must be directly invited by the host professor or their department. The inviting host professor or department may review next steps for inviting Foreign Visitors to the University of Alberta.

While each situation is different and visitor may be advised differently depending on their individual circumstances and IRCC processing times, generally speaking, visiting international students participating in an ISVS-administered research internship typically enter Canada via one or more of the following categories in order to primarily perform research work as a temporary resident:

Find out if you need a visa to travel to Canada

Please note that none of the above options are study permits. Do not apply for a study permit, as research internship participants are not coming to Canada to enroll in courses or participate in a study exchange for credit. No academic transcript will be issued.

As per IRCC, international student visitors entering Canada to work performing research through the specific programs in this portfolio are not able to study or enroll in any courses at any education institutions, not even to audit.

All research internship placements are intended to be a consecutive stay for the entire duration listed on your Contract/Invitation Letter. 

Word of caution—if you are entering Canada through the Global Skills Strategy 120-day Work Permit Exemption program, please do not automatically assume that you can enter Canada, leave Canada, and then re-enter Canada. It is a special program with specific rules. If you have been selected as a participant and you know well ahead of your confirmed research stay that you plan to enter Canada, leave Canada briefly for any reason, and then re-enter Canada to resume your research internship, please follow the instructions below to seek professional immigration guidance from qualified U of A staff on an exceptional case-by-case basis before you proceed with making any inflexible plans of this nature, as they may or may not be allowed by IRCC (and remain at the discretion of the CBSA BSO at time of entry). 

For selected research internship participants seeking advice about any immigration-related questions, please contact the Staff Service Centre with “Immigration - Academic Visitor” in the ‘What do you need help with?’ subject line. The Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) in U of A's HR Immigration Services unit are best positioned to answer these inquiries. Please be patient, as it may take 1-4 business days on average to receive a reply after you send an inquiry. 

Research interns offered a placement through an ISVS-coordinated research internship will be provided with more specific information and guidance at the time of invitation, as immigration policies and procedures are subject to change. 

Faculty members interested in inviting an international visiting researcher (academic visitor) to the U of A who is not part of an ISVS-facilitated research internship program should complete the Foreign Visitor Category Assessment (FVCA). This will be reviewed by our U of A HR Immigration Services colleagues and guidance will be provided accordingly.

The visiting researcher(s) that you are interested in inviting will need to provide some personal information to you such as their passport number, citizenship, date of birth, so that the FVCA can be completed. 

In this scenario, all academic visitor immigration/invitation as well as campus registration procedures are the responsibility of the inviting faculty member and/or department, not ISVS.

HR Immigration Services advisors can be reached via the Staff Service Centre if you have questions about this process before starting the FVCA. Submit an inquiry with the word "Immigration—Academic Visitor" in the subject line and share as many details as you have about the prospective visiting researcher.

After the invitation process is complete and once the visiting international student has arrived in Canada to perform research with you or in your department and you've registered them on campus, then our team at International Student + Visitor Services (ISVS) would be pleased to invite the academic visitor to join in on an existing new research intern orientation session, or any other ISVS Programs + Events that they may be interested in, as space permits. In order to facilitate this, around their start date, please have the visitor(s) send intern[@]ualberta.ca an email with the dates of when they will be here so that we can invite them. They can also sign up for our newsletter.

NEW in 2026: U of A employees can now view the new Safeguarding Research Office website to access additional information, guidance and resources. U of A Employees must sign in to their browser with their ualberta.ca email account to view this resource.

The University of Alberta's Safeguarding Research Office has published guidance regarding Safeguarding Your Research. Faculty members and research staff may direct any questions about safeguarding your research to safegrd@ualberta.ca.

The Government of Canada has published guidance for research organizations, funders, and universities. These include sensitive research technology areas and named research organizations.

In order for you to find an appropriate/suitable research project with a host professor/supervisor/mentor at University of Alberta as a prospective academic visitor, please visit our Colleges & Faculties webpage. From there, click on the webpage of the academic faculties you are interested in to view a list of our professors and their research areas.

Alternatively, you can also search for anyone whose job Title includes 'Professor' in the Advanced Search of U of A Directory.

You may also wish to consult this list of Successful [Research] Grants or Artificial Intelligence (AI) projects.

Your next step is for you to reach out to the University of Alberta faculty member directly via email. When contacting University of Alberta host professors via email, they may find it helpful for you to include:

  • your full name and contact information
  • your home university and home country
  • whether you are currently an undergraduate (bachelor) or graduate (master or doctoral) student
  • current year of your academic program and/or number of semesters completed vs. remaining
  • anticipated date (month/year) of graduation
  • how you expect to fund your research stay (ex. funding from your home university or other sources; a scholarship you have already received; a scholarship that you plan to apply for but need someone to agree to supervise you first, etc.)
  • a website link to the program you expect to fund your research stay with, or will be applying to
  • your research background and academic interests, and how they align with the chosen host professor's
  • whose research project you plan to work on (yours, theirs, or both?)
  • desired length of program (how long you wish to stay to do research), including your ideal start & end date and/or which specific months you are available, or how flexible you can be
  • your academic goals or anticipated outcomes based on the research visit (i.e., do you aim to co-author a published article, or wish to get trained in using a special piece of equipment that is uniquely available at University of Alberta?)
  • documents such as your CV/resume, transcripts, or relevant academic history

Please allow 4-6 business days for a response to your email (read: please do not count Saturday or Sunday or our statutory holidays) before following up or resending, as professors receive many requests.

It is a good idea to start by reaching out to two or three potential host professors in your field. Your odds naturally decrease if you only reach out to one professor. Please respect if someone tells you that the timing does not work for them, or that your research strengths are not a good fit for their projects. 

In order to effectively perform research, visiting international student participants must have proficient English speaking, reading, writing, and listening capabilities.

In terms of standardized testing and benchmarking, this translates to a minimum score of TOEFL 70 iBT or 5.5 IELTS or B2 CEFR (or the equivalent through another testing platform).

Of course, some of our research interns are native English speakers, or have taken courses in English as the primary language of instruction or as an additional language during the majority of their schooling.

While a formal test is NOT required to apply for a research internship, we may ask about language proficiency in our application forms.

University of Alberta International Student + Visitor Services encourages faculty members to set up a brief video interview to evaluate if the prospective visiting international student has sufficient communication capabilities to contribute to the host professor's research project. This is due to the unique technical nature of specific terminology in many academic subjects and fields of research.

There are also opportunities to utilize French as the primary language of communication with specific Host Professors, such as for research projects with our faculty members based at University of Alberta's Campus Saint-Jean in Edmonton. Please be aware that while Campus Saint-Jean's primary language of research and campus communication is French, and it is nestled in the beautiful French Quarter of Edmonton, English is still the most commonly spoken language throughout Edmonton and area. Knowledge of conversational English is necessary to navigate the greater Edmonton community.

If you are interested in learning more about test scores or how your skills compare to the students you may be communicating with on campus, the University of Alberta's language requirements for degree-seeking students can be found at the following: 

Awards and scholarships contribute to funding the research internship placements coordinated by ISVS. That said, award or scholarship funds are not intended to cover every single expense necessary for you to participate in a research internship. Scholarship providers will readily clarify that you must retain access to some of your own funds to help with your stay in Canada, especially during the first week or two.

Research interns are treated as independent adults and responsible for coordinating and paying for their own:

  • Immigration-related expenses
    • These typically cost between $7-200 CAD
    • Please follow the instructions we provide to you carefully
    • You may repay yourself for this up-front expense from your award funds after arrival
  • Travel arrangements such as international flights
    • We recommend booking only after receiving confirmation from IRCC that you will likely be allowed to enter Canada, such as after an eTA is issued
  • Shelter
    • Rental housing/accommodations, most likely off-campus
      • Security/damage deposit fees
      • Lost key or key fob replacement (if applicable) 
    • There are limited opportunities to stay in certain U of A dormitories or residences on-campus between May-August; this information will be shared directly with selected research internship participants once it is confirmed, typically in early March.
      • Staying on-campus typically costs more than living in private accommodations off-campus nearby, but comes with the security of a known established landlord in a convenient location.
  • Food
  • Clothing and Toiletries
    • Seasonally appropriate gear for the wide swings in temperature that this part of the world experiences
      • Hint: it's probably colder and/or less humid here than wherever you are traveling from, so bring warm layers and be prepared to moisturize your skin!
  • Local Transportation
    • 747 Edmonton International Airport Bus or taxi/ride-share/shuttle from the airport to the university
    • Daily or monthly fares for using Edmonton Transit Service (ETS)'s integrated public bus and light rail transit (LRT) network
    • Private pay-per-use transportation options such as electric scooters and e-bikes
      • weather-dependent; typically offered by Bird/Lime/Neuron between late March through early November
    • Rent a bicycle from the U of A's North Campus Bike Library for only $15/week between the months of May through mid-October
      • Requires a refundable security deposit of $160 as long as the bicycle is returned, so be sure to lock it up well with the included U-lock each and every time it's left unattended
      • They have a volunteer-run bicycle workshop on-site and may be able to help you fix it if you get a flat tire, or a component requires adjustment/fixing
      • Typically open Tuesdays, Wednedsays, and Thursdays from 1-6pm

Exactly how much funding and spending money you will need depends upon your usual standard of living and quality of life in your home country. Fair warning that Canada is generally considered an expensive country to live in compared to many around the world. Any funds you have saved up in your home currency may have higher or lower value here on any given day.

Thankfully, Edmonton and area is considered one of the most affordable major urban centers of 1+ million people in Canada. There are also many free tools + resources available to help you increase your Canadian financial literacy (as our systems may operate a little differently than the ones in your home country), including budgeting + planning. 

Edmonton enjoys abundant fresh water from the North Saskatchewan River, and our public city tap water is safe to drink straight from the tap. That said, you may see our water frequently filtered due to its high mineral content, as it originates from glaciers in the Canadian Rockies. 

How interns will be paid and by whom varies, as some research internship programs are funded by the researcher's home university, or a home country's scholarship agency. Others may be funded by provincial and national research agencies in Canada, or the University of Alberta (often so that our students may in turn be considered for reciprolal opportunities to conduct research at other institutions), or some combination of all of the above. 

For example, Mitacs Globalink Research Internship is sent via direct deposit from Mitacs to an intern's Canadian bank account that the intern receives instructions ahead of time to set up shortly after their arrival in Canada. A similar process may be used for China Scholarship Council-funded researchers. 

While more specific and current details are provided to successful applicants who are offered a placement, some basic information is outlined below for applicants to programs such as UARE, Global Affairs Canada International Scholarships (ELAP/SEED/SICS), etc. so that you may know what to expect ahead of time.

This information is provided as a courtesy to prospective applicants, and is subject to change.

  1. You will be registered as an academic visitor (guest) on campus during your research stay, as you are not here to enroll in courses as a student, so this saves you from having to pay mandatory tuition and fees to the University of Alberta. You are also not considered a staff member and do not receive privileges such as complimentary gym access. There are pros and cons to this. Please keep reading for some examples.
  2. As a University of Alberta community member, you will be given the option to sign up and pay a fee of ~$31 per month for access to the gym/swimming pools/recreational facilities. This is because academic visitors (guests) are not charged the normal mandatory term access fees that University of Alberta students must pay for various facilities and services, such as the gym/swimming pools/climbing walls. The monthly fee works out to be nearly equal to what a University of Alberta student pays per term to access the same facilities.
  3. As an academic visitor (guest), you are not eligible for UPass, which is a bundled deal on transit for students that they pay for in mandatory term fees. Since you are not charged the normal student UPass fees per term that University of Alberta students must pay, you are not eligible to opt-in or receive a UPass.
  4. The adult Arc card for local public transit has a fare cap (maximum monthly amount) if you choose to take the bus or LRT on a frequent basis. You can choose to spend up to $102 per month on transit and live further from campus, or you can choose to put that ~$100 per month towards living closer to campus that you can walk to.   
  5. No funds are ever able to be sent ahead of a participant's arrival in Canada. Only after you have arrived in Canada and have completed campus check-in procedures are we allowed to disburse award/scholarship funds. No exceptions.
  6. Award/scholarship funds disbursed by University of Alberta are typically given in two separate installments. The first is shortly after arrival, to assist with immediate settlement costs and necessary travel expenses you've incurred prior to your arrival. The second installment is approximately halfway through your research internship. Any mandatory health insurance fees will be deducted from your first installment if disbursed by U of A, or if you are externally-funded you may be required to pay for health insurance fees shortly after arrival. 

International Student & Visitor Services (ISVS) requires all visiting international students participating in our affiliated research internship programs to have mandatory health insurance coverage through our University of Alberta Health Insurance Plan (UAHIP).

The only exception is for Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI) program participants, as they are covered by StudyInsured.

UAHIP fees are assessed per calendar month at $53 CAD (as of June 25, 2026, the rate has increased from $50 to $53 for new research internships starting on or after September 1, 2026). Research internship participants with eligible dependents may add them to your plan for an additional fee.

For answers to health insurance-related frequently asked questions, as well as a detailed listing of what is covered by the plan, please visit UAHIP.

Health care services can be accessed at medical clinics and hospitals around the city as well as on-campus at the University Health Centre and Pharmacy, which are conveniently located in the Students' Union Building (SUB).

University Health Centre 

University Health Centre Pharmacy 

While more specific and current details are provided to successful applicants who are offered a placement, some basic information is outlined below so that you can make an informed decision before making the commitment to apply to any of our research internship programs.

Research interns are responsible for their own housing/accommodation arrangements, including the payment of any rent, security deposit, or key replacement fee(s) from your personal and/or award/scholarship funds. University of Alberta staff are not able to act as a guarantor, or send any of your award/scholarship funds to a landlord on your behalf.

On-Campus Housing is only available during specific periods of the summer (typically mid-May through early to mid-August; exact dates vary each year) in certain buildings such as Edmonton North Campus Lister Centre's Summer Accommodation, or the Ravine Complex at Augustana Campus in Camrose.

Please be aware that as per University of Alberta Residence Services, academic visitors are ineligible for traditional dormitories reserved through student housing. As such, academic visitors, including any ISVS-coordinated research internship participants, should not attempt to fill out any online student housing application for a dormitory on-campus, except under exceptional circumstances such as when an online reservation form or instructions have been provided to you directly by the Internship Coordinator.

Find Off-Campus Housing

It is very important that interns start searching for a place to stay before arriving. Most interns arrange at least short-term housing for the first few days before they arrive, and then look for longer-term housing once they are here. Many interns even find their long-term accommodations ahead of time, but it is better to undercommit and be able to adjust things after arrival, rather than paying a lot in advance and being locked into a place that you later find out isn't suitable or the best fit for you and losing a security deposit that is often in the hundreds of Canadian dollars.

The temporary accommodations listed below are being highlighted because they are relatively inexpensive compared to other local options and/or have a great location near campus:

#1 Rule - Please be very skeptical and overly cautious with any request from a landlord or rental agency to send money to them online, sight unseen! Many fraudulent scams and various schemes exist to trick otherwise smart people into sending money based on perceived urgency or other factors. Looking to rent in Edmonton? Beware of scams, experts say.

Research Internships at the University of Alberta are an excellent opportunity for you to explore all that the University and the province of Alberta has to offer.

Interns will have numerous opportunities to meet new people and discover life in Canada through social and cultural activities on and off campus. University of Alberta events offer a chance to connect with members of the public and greater campus communities.

Please visit our ISVS Programs & Events page for more details about optional social activities, group trips, and intercultural experiences. Be sure to follow our student Program Assistants on instagram by searching for ualbertavp.

Our campuses are connected in the fall and winter semesters (September through April) by a free shuttle minibus between Campus Saint-Jean and North Campus, as well as a low-cost shuttle van between Augustana Campus and North Campus. Please note, neither of these shuttles run in the spring/summer terms between May through August. 

Exploring Alberta (and beyond!) can be done by airplane, bus, and even passenger train!

Airplane

WestJet, Air Canada, Porter Airlines & Air North (plus many international airlines) service Edmonton via Edmonton International Airport (YEG).

Edmonton International Airport is connected to the city at Century Park station via the public 747 route bus, which is only $5 CAD one-way. This is the most economical way to get to the airport and surrounding area, which also offers a convenient stop at the Premium Outlet Collection Edmonton Intl Airport

Bus

A few private companies offer coach bus passenger service to connect people in Edmonton to popular Alberta tourist destinations such as Banff, Calgary, Canmore, and/or Jasper. Fares typically start at $60-80+ CAD one-way per-person. Some of these companies include:

Rail / Train

VIA Rail Canada has limited passenger rail service between Edmonton to Jasper for a unique way to reach this mountain town in Jasper National Park!

Questions?

Contact information is located on the bottom of our research internships homepage.

Current research interns may also drop by the International Service Centre on Wednesdays between 1-3pm to meet with the Inbound International Internship Coordinator.