Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED)

The Government of Canada is offering scholarship opportunities in the Indo-Pacific region through the Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development – Phase 2 (SEED-2) program. This program is an expansion of the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED). SEED-2 is a key initiative under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. The program provides opportunities for students from Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Pacific Island Countries and Mongolia to conduct short-term study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions in areas that contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development .

To be eligible, candidates must be:

• ✔ citizens of a country listed below:
  • ASEAN Member States: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos (Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)), Malaysia, Myanmar, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam;
  • Pacific Island Countries: Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu;
  • Mongolia.
• ✔ enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an eligible country
• ✔ paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of their exchange

Candidates are not eligible for this scholarship if they:

• hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• are already participating in a scholarship program funded by the Government of Canada
• are already enrolled in a degree, diploma or certificate program at a Canadian post-secondary institution
• have previously received a scholarship under the first phase of the program: the Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED)

Canadian post-secondary institutions interested in hosting students must:

• ✔ be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) 
• ✔ waive tuition fees for scholarship recipients
• ✔ centralize all applications through their international office

Eligible expenses

Selected candidates may use scholarship funds towards:

• ✔ visa or study/work permit fees
• ✔ airfare via the most direct and economical route
• ✔ health insurance
• ✔ living expenses, such as accommodation, utilities and food
• ✔ ground transportation, including a public transportation pass
• ✔ books and supplies required for their study or research, excluding computers and other equipment

Canadian institutions are eligible to receive:

• ✔ $500 per scholarship recipient to aid with administrative costs once the student arrives in Canada
• ✔ reimbursement of additional employer compliance fees paid to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in some cases

Tuition must be waived by Canadian institutions.

How funding works

Canadian institutions will receive funding from Global Affairs Canada, through its legal name, the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD) in the form of a non-negotiable contribution agreement and will be responsible for providing the funds to successful candidates. Should a selected candidate not take up the scholarship, Canadian institutions must return those funds, including the administrative fee, to DFATD.