International Centre

What can GSO funding cover?

Depending on where you go and for how long, funds may cover between 30% and 80% of the costs of your outbound experience. Funds will be allocated based on the GSO target group criteria and destinations, the cost of the program, and the length of your experience.

The funds can be used to pay for any expenses required to support your mobility program such as student tuition, airfare, relocation, family support, living expenses, accommodation, health insurance, passport / visa application, dependent care, etc.

Funding is limited to one physical international outbound mobility experience per student for the period 2023-2025.

Who can participate?

Funding is open to UM undergraduate students who are Canadian citizens or Permanent Resident of Canada. Priority will be given to groups for whom international experiences have traditionally been less accessible, specifically:

• Indigenous students
• Students from low-income background
• Students with disabilities (must be registered with UM Accessibility Services)
• Visible minorities, 2SLGBTQIA and those who practice minority faith religions.

How to apply?

Please contact the International Centre at GSO@umanitoba.ca for an application form.

Students must be approved to participate in a UM recognized outbound mobility program (e.g., student exchange, field/research/studio course work, travel study and co-op, etc.) before applying to be considered for a GSO funding

In order to promote cultural understanding, and in honour of the support he received as an international student, Tony T.K. Lau (B.A.’71), past President of the International Students' Organization (1971-1972), and co-founder and current President of the University of Manitoba Chinese Alumni Association of Canada (1986), has established scholarships to recognize student volunteers who have had an impact in the lives of international students at the University of Manitoba.

Each year, one or more scholarships will be awarded to undergraduate or graduate students.

Questions about the Tony T.K. Lau Awards for Volunteer Service to International Students can be directed to IC.Awards@umanitoba.ca.

Tony T. K. Lau Scholarship for Volunteer Service to International Students

Each year, one or more scholarships will be offered to undergraduate or graduate students who meets the following criteria:

• enrolled full-time (min 80% load) in any faculty, college, or school at University of Manitoba;
• has achieved a minimum DGPA of 3.5;
• has volunteered to help international students adapt to Canada and the University of Manitoba, either through participation in programs offered through the International Centre, or through any University of Manitoba association or group.

Candidates will be required to demonstrate how they meet the third criteria by submitting a  nomination from International Centre staff, University of Manitoba staff, and/or members of a University of Manitoba association or group. Students will fill out the application form (see Apply Now button below), and ask their nominator to complete the online nomination form (see Nomination Form button below). Nominations must be received by the deadline for students to be considered for the scholarship.

The scholarship is open to domestic and international students. Applications will close in October each year. To be considered, students must seek a nomination from UM staff, members of a UM association, group or student club. Nominators can submit their nomination through the form linked below. 

Applications for the 2024 scholarship will open in mid-August 2024. Application deadline on October 21, 2024. 

APPLY NOW     NOMINATION FORM

The Nahlah Ayed Prize for Student Leadership and Global Citizenship is named for Nahlah Ayed, award-winning CBC foreign correspondent, UM alumna and honorary degree recipient.

Two cash prizes are awarded annually to students who can demonstrate they have global skill sets and participated in activities that celebrate diversity, curiosity, respect and mutual understanding. One prize is awarded to a domestic student and one prize is awarded to an international student.

Do you know a student who demonstrates exceptional vision, passion, commitment, great leadership skills, and whose actions are helping to bridge the local and the global?

Do you know a student who is building bridges between communities on campus, in the city, the province, and around the world? Do you have a friend who inspires you, motivates you, or challenges you to think globally and act locally? 

Students, faculty, and support staff can submit nominations for this prize. Two cash prizes and a certificate will be made annually.

Submit a nomination by November 15 to be considered for the Prize.

Application Form
To be completed by the student nominee.

Nomination Form
To be completed by the nominator.

Note for Nominators: New this year, nomination questions will be submitted through Microsoft Forms online application. A separate nomination letter is not required.

For more information contact the International Centre: ic.awards@umanitoba.ca

The International Centre (IC), offers an annual prize to encourage students at the University of Manitoba to participate in activities that celebrate diversity, curiosity, respect, mutual understanding, and will expand their horizons and develop global skill sets.

Each year, the Centre will offer two prizes, with a minimum value of $500 each and a commemorative certificate. One prize will be allocated to a domestic student and one to an international student who meets the following three criteria:

1. is enrolled in a minimum 80% course load in any degree program in any Faculty, School or College at the University of Manitoba;
2. has achieved either:
   1. as an undergraduate student in the Undergraduate Medical Education Program, is in good academic standing, or as an undergraduate student in any other program has achieved a minimum degree grade point average of 2.5; or
   2. as a graduate student, has achieved a minimum point average of 3.0 based on the last 60 credit hours (or equivalent) of study;
3. has demonstrated exceptional vision and leadership, and who has best demonstrated good global citizenship through (i) their participation in activities that bridge local and global communities and (ii) by actions that demonstrate how students are making vital contributions to civil society and are responding constructively to the emerging issues experienced by local and global communities.

Nominations can be made by University of Manitoba students, faculty, or full-time staff. 

Information about past winners coming soon!

More information coming soon!

International partnerships

We have partnerships with over 500 universities, businesses, governments and institutions around the world, providing students and researchers with opportunities to learn, discover and exchange knowledge on a global scale.

• International partnerships
• International delegations
• International proposals and funding
• International agreement development and current partnerships

The Research and International Agreements team provides information on international funding opportunities and supports international funding proposal development for faculty and staff. 

• International funding opportunities
• Information about proposal development

We host several information sessions each term on topics related to international funding opportunities, international development funders and agreement development.

• Explore our upcoming events 

If you’re hosting a diplomatic or research delegation, or coordinating a visiting student researcher or intern, we can assist with the logistics.

• Delegations to the University of Manitoba
• Supporting a visiting student researcher or intern
• Hosting a Mitacs scholar

We provide support for international mobility for faculty, staff and students, including travel risk advice, a travel registry, training, and access to International SOS, which provides free, 24-7 medical and travel security assistance.

• UM travel tools

Read our 2021 study and recommendations: Exploring Barriers And Bridges to UM Participation in International Opportunities