Global Challenges Award

Eligibility

Eligible opportunities generally involve a vetting/selection process, are mentored, and have clear plans, learning outcomes and deliverables.

If you are unsure whether or not your opportunity falls within the eligibility criteria defined below, we suggest meeting with a member of the Empower Team to discuss it.

Project Eligibility:

• Be between 12 to 16 weeks in length during the Summer 2025 term
• Be clear in its description of duties, responsibilities and deliverables required of the student
• Demonstrate opportunity for personal, professional and/or leadership development
• Demonstrate that the student will be using their engineering or architectural knowledge
• Be supervised by a professional and who will provide a final evaluation of the student

Student Eligibility:

To be considered for the Global Challenges Award, you must meet all of the following:

1. Be enrolled in an Undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Engineering at McGill University
2. Return for at least 1 term of undergraduate studies before completing your degree
3. Be in satisfactory academic standing
4. Have completed at least 2 full-time academic terms

Ineligible Opportunities:

• Exchange semesters abroad
• Study away semester
• Internship or Co-op work-terms in a private company
• Research-focused projects (these fall under Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering at McGill University or University affiliated Research Abroad – SURE International)
• Opportunities that allow for university credit upon completion

What does the funding include?

Funding amounts will be based on several factors. Financial support from other sources or awards is not a prerequisite for the Global Challenges Award but will be taken into account in the final amount disbursed. A detailed budget will be required to assess the final value of the award. Items in budget may include travel, accommodation, and one-time relocation expenses (for opportunities outside the Montreal area), specialized equipment (steel toed boots, building material, tools, specialty equipment rentals …), costs related to insurance and visas/entry fees. The Award will not subsidize the purchase of certain materials including but not limited to a computer, camera, etc.

Other Considerations

Health and Safety:

The Faculty cannot guarantee the safety of any student during the length of their project whether it be local or abroad. It is up to the student to fully assess and prepare for any health or security risks that may be involved in pursuing the opportunity. Applicants are encouraged to discuss potential risks with their family prior to applying.

Applicants must ensure that they are physically and mentally capable of successfully completing an internship in the internship host country/location. The Faculty may request a doctor’s attestation that an applicant is sufficiently healthy to complete an internship.

Traveling:

Traveling, living and working abroad can involve certain risks to your health and safety that differ from your home country. These may include: crime, political/social instability, tropical diseases/infections, extreme weather conditions, poor infrastructure, etc. All applicants should consult the Global Affairs Government of Canada Travel Advice and Advisories for the internship host country prior to applying to an opportunity abroad. http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories

Travel arrangements:

Preparing travel arrangements to and from the host community is the responsibility of the student.

Accommodations:

Finding suitable lodging during the project is the responsibility of the student.

Entry requirements:

Students are responsible for informing themselves of what entry requirements are required to visit and work as an intern in the host country. These may include a visa, work permit, passport valid for at least 6 months after entry, and proof of certain vaccinations. The student is responsible for acquiring all necessary documents in time for the beginning of their project. Non-USA citizens completing an internship (paid or unpaid) in the USA require a J-1 visa. Students should apply for a J-1 through Cultural Vistas or the SWAP Summer USA Program (Canadians only). Students should be prepared to pay $1,300 - $2,500 for a J-1, and should allow a six-week delay for processing. Neither the Faculty nor the host organizations are responsible for helping the student procure the visa, or speed up the processing.

Ready to apply?

For the Summer 2025 Award, the extended deadline to apply is March 28, 2025, after which all applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of members from the Faculty of Engineering.

To help with your planning, you may apply for the Global Challenges Award without having official confirmation from your partner organization.

Application Requirements:

1. Description of host organization
2. Supervisor/team lead information
3. Description of position and duties/responsibilities
4. Description of how your engineering degree relates to the opportunity

Required documents:

1. Letter of Interest (maximum 500 words)
2. CV
3. Copy of unofficial transcript
4. Proof of Participation (i.e., email from host organization, contract) *Note that if proof of participation is pending at the time of application, you can still apply for the award. The award will only be granted once proof of participation is received.
5. Detailed budget including overview of funding received from other sources (e.g., department, faculty, external) *Note that external funding is not required to be eligible.

Next steps:

1. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of Faculty of Engineering members after the extended deadline of March 28, 2025.
2. The Faculty of Engineering will email successful applicants with next steps in Spring 2025.
3. Awardees will be required to submit their banking information on Minerva for payment.
4. Awardees will be required to submit a report, and write a letter of thanks to the donors upon completion of their Global Challenge.
5. Recognition will be added to your co-curricular record