The Honourable V. Peter Harder International Experience Fund
Dreaming a Bigger World Experience
Imagine the dreams that become possible when financial barriers are removed for students: a term abroad, an immersive language program, a globally focused internship, or research grounded in another culture. Students might find themselves volunteering in a refugee settlement, researching an issue they care about, immersing themselves in global music, taking a field course in environmental justice, working with a governmental think tank, or collaborating with an NGO overseas. Experiences like these broaden a person’s perspective, change career paths, and contribute to the kind of leadership that Canada will need in the future.
Senator Peter Harder (BA 1975, Hon. LLD 2005) knows the value of international experience. As a lifelong public servant, Harder has worked on immigration, public security, innovation, and foreign affairs, enacting policies in Canada and abroad. “My career has been based on public service and the opportunity to work on the issues that are truly defining our global age,” he summarized. “If you look at my experiences, it was dealing with refugee movements, immigration, public security — which is all about international challenges on the security side — innovation at Industry Canada, and Foreign Affairs, the pinnacle of all of that in terms of the changes to foreign policy.”
Find out more about the story behind this new fund
Application Details
Students eligible for support from The Honourable V. Peter Harder International Experience Fund must be in good academic standing at the University of Waterloo and have a demonstrated connection to Grebel, whether as residents or associates, as students in Music, Peace and Conflict Studies, Mennonite Studies, or the Master of Theological Studies or Master of Peace and Conflict Studies programs. They must also have confirmed acceptance into a university-approved international opportunity, such as a study‑abroad term, an international co‑op or internship, or a short‑term academic or language program.
Applications for The Honourable V. Peter Harder International Experience Fund are now open and will be considered beginning March 25 for the spring 2026 term. When selecting recipients, the committee will consider students’ academic readiness, the educational value of the proposed experience, and how strongly it aligns with the fund’s purpose. Financial need, leadership and involvement in the Grebel community, and the potential for the experience to impact a student’s future academic, professional, or civic contributions will also be taken into account. If there are undistributed funds after awards have been made to recipients with Grebel connections, awards may be made to UWaterloo applicants who otherwise meet the criteria.
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Apply now for The Honourable V. Peter Harder International Experience Fund
Read more about Senator Harder’s Legacy of Public Service