Waterloo and the World

Global Skills Opportunity program is a Canadian initiative that aims to provide thousands of postsecondary Indigenous students, students living with low-income students, and students living with a disability with international study and work experiences, strengthening their global skills and competencies. The program is an important step towards achieving Canada’s trade diversification goals and strengthening international networks.

Students must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are currently registered as full-time undergraduate students at the University of Waterloo, must be 18 years or older, and must identify in one of the following groups:

Indigenous students: Students who report being an Indigenous person, that is, First Nations, Metis, or Inuk (Inuit).

Student living with low-income : Students who report being in receipt of Canada Student Grants, or similar non-repayable student financial assistance offered by provinces and territories, or, in the absence of receiving non-repayable student financial assistance, can provide information to demonstrate that they require financial support to study or work abroad.

Students living with a disability: Students who report having difficulty or impairment due to a long-term condition or health problem and/or experience a limitation in their daily activities.

Physical Mobility: Up to $10,000 CAD per student for low-income students, students with disabilities and Indigenous students, and up to $5,000 CAD per student for other eligible students. The award value will vary and will be determined based on various factors.

There is a minimum duration of one week (seven days) for outbound mobility activities, excluding travel time. There is no maximum duration. The specific duration of the program will be determined by the corresponding unit or faculty.

Campus partners will facilitate high-quality in-person short, medium, and long-term iWIL experiences, student exchange, GEC and embedded field course experiences via existing and new exchange partnerships and agreements in non-traditional countries outside North America.

The program aims to widen access and equity to outbound student mobility programming by providing study and work abroad opportunities to students living with low-income students, students living with a disability, and Indigenous students. It also aims to diversify the destination countries where students can study and work, prioritizing non-traditional countries (this includes all countries other than the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Australia, as well as Canada). Additionally, the program aims to test innovative approaches to reducing barriers to studying and working abroad.

Funding may cover students’ tuition, living expenses, dependent care, health insurance, immunizations, transportation, and accommodation during their outbound mobility experience. Other costs may be eligible on a needs‐basis with written approval from Universities Canada. Funds may be leveraged from additional sources including from the University and/or its partners.