Global Access Fund

To be eligible for a Global Access Fund grant, applicants must meet the following requirements: 

• Will be participating in a credit-bearing UCalgary Global Experience program outside of Canada, such as an exchange or Global Classroom. Applicants pursuing work-based programs (co-op, practicum, or internship) may be considered in cases where the pay is insufficient to cover costs of participation;
• Will be earning credit towards a degree at the University of Calgary (UCalgary), i.e. accepted into and registered in a degree program at time of application;
• Applicants must have completed or be in the process of completing at least four (4) courses at the time of application, and have completed at least eight (8) courses (24 units) toward their undergraduate degree program by the time they go abroad (may include transfer courses);
• Have not previously received funding from the International Studentship, International Study Travel Grant competition, Undergraduate International Research Grant, Global Learning Award, Global Access Fund or Global Skills Opportunity GIS scholarship;
• There is no minimum GPA (Grade Point Average) to apply for the Global Access fund. However, students must be in good academic standing and good conduct standing.

Ineligible candidates

The committee will not consider applicants who: 

• Are participating in a global experience within Canada;
• Are attending conferences;
• Are registered in a graduate program;
• Are not registered in a degree program at UCalgary;
• Have already commenced their global experience;
• Have completed their global experience at the time of applying for the Global Access Fund;
• Have received funding previously from Global Learning Award or International Study Travel Grant, Undergraduate International Research Grant, Global Indigenous Skills scholarship, or Global Access Fund; and/or
• Submit a late application. 

The University of Calgary recognizes that all students have individual circumstances that may impact their ability to participate in a global experience. All University of Calgary students who meet the eligibility requirements above will be considered. However, preference may be given to applicants who:

• Demonstrate financial need;
• Communicate commitments and circumstances outside of academia such as community, faith/spiritual, employment and/or family commitments;
• Communicate unique individual barriers to participation in a global learning experience outside of Canada, with clear explanation of the unique individual barriers to participation;
• Communicate belonging to an underrepresented or equity deserving group(s); along with specific barriers, related to identity, that has caused challenges in the ability to study abroad;
• Have not previously participated in a UCalgary global experience such as an exchange, Global Classroom, international internship, research program or field school.

A printable version of the Global Access Fund guidelines are available here.

1. Log into RAISA, our application portal for programs and funding.
2. Complete/update your profile.
3. Click on the ‘Funds’ tab.
4. Search for the 2027 Global Access Fund and click on the apply button.
5. In the Program section, please enter the program you have applied to or are planning to apply to. If this has not yet been determined or confirmed, we encourage you to write about the program type or location that you may be interested in.
6. Complete your application by responding to the following questions:
   • Please identify at least three global learning benefits that are most relevant to you. Explain how each of the benefits you identified will support your career goals or your ability to contribute/enhance your engagement in community/society.
   • Please describe any roles or responsibilities that you navigate aside from your academic studies (i.e., work, volunteering, clubs, sports, caregiving, etc.). Provide a general overview of your tasks and level of commitment for each. Make note of any leadership positions you hold in relation to these activities.How have these experiences helped prepare you for a global learning experience?   
   • Please explain how this grant can support you in achieving your goal of participating in an overseas global learning opportunity.  We welcome you to comment on any global learning experiences you are currently considering as well as challenges that have prevented you from applying to participate in global learning in the past.
   • Optional: Please review the selection criteria outlined in the Global Access Fund Guidelines and describe any individual circumstances that you wish to have considered as part of this grant application.  
7. Once you have completed the application, make sure to submit it.

Please note: you need to press "Submit". Saved applications will not be considered by the committee past the deadline. 

To check the status of your application, please follow these steps:

1. Log into RAISA: www.ucalgary.ca/UCI/RAISA
2. Click on the tab labeled “My Applications” and then click on "view fund applications".

The status of your application will be shown on the right-hand side of the Fund application title.

Here is what each status means:

Accepted — Congratulations, you have been awarded an award! You will receive an email within 24 hours of this status change with the award details. If it has been more than 24 hours, please email slfunding@ucalgary.ca to have the letter re-sent. Please make sure to check your junk/spam mailbox.

Applied — Your application has been completed and successfully submitted. Your application will remain at the applied status until the system is updated with the committee decisions.

Declined — Regretfully, you have not been awarded an award.

Saved — You have a draft application. Any applications that are saved are not considered by the committee. Please ensure you complete and submit your application by the deadline.

Withdrawn — You have not been able to complete the study program or an acceptable alternative and are therefore ineligible for an award so your funding has been withdrawn. This is only used for students who withdraw an application before the committee considers it or who withdraw after they have been awarded.

Selected students

Once you have been accepted, you will need to complete a few steps in order to receive your Global Access Fund. You will be given instructions in your acceptance email. Please review these instructions very carefully.

Upon your return, you must submit a Program Report Survey. Depending on the source of your funding, specific instructions will be e-mailed to you after completing your global learning experience. This report will need to be completed within three weeks of completing your experience abroad.

Any questions or technical difficulties should be directed to slfunding@ucalgary.ca.