Government of Canada Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program 2025

The Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program (ELAP) provides opportunities for Canadian post-secondary institutions to host students from Latin America and the Caribbean. The program is funded by Global Affairs Canada through the Academic Relations program to advance Canada’s education relations and engagement in the region. Scholarships are awarded to college and university students in the Americas to pursue short-term studies or research in Canada.

Established by the Government of Canada in 2009, the program supports the development of human capital and the next generation of leaders in the region, and strengthens academic and cultural linkages between Canada and the Americas.

Canadian institutions interested in participating are encouraged to promote the program to their faculty, staff and eligible partner institutions. Institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean interested in sending their students to Canada are encouraged to explore student exchange agreements with Canadian institutions.

Scholarship of Emerging Leaders

• College / undergraduate: $8,200 for four months or one academic term Study or research at the college or undergraduate level. A valid student exchange agreement that waives tuition fees is required.
• Graduate: $8,200 for four months or one academic term Study or research at the graduate level (Masters and PhD). A student exchange agreement is not required.
• Graduate: $11,100 for five to six months.

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Eligibility for Emerging Leaders

To be eligible, candidates must be

• Citizens of an eligible country/territory:
  • Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos;
  • Central America: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama;
  • North America: Mexico;
  • South America: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela.
• Enrolled full-time at post-secondary institution in an eligible country/territory;
• Paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the full duration of the program.

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.

Canadian post-secondary institutions interested in hosting students must:

• be a Designated Learning Institution (DLI);
• have a valid student exchange agreement with the student’s home institution that waives tuition fees for scholarship recipients (required for college/undergraduate study only).

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated based on:

• merit of the research or study to be undertaken in Canada;
• benefit to the home institution and peers;
• benefit to the Canadian institution, supervisor and peers;
• strength of the linkages to be created through the proposed exchange;
• rankings submitted by the Canadian institution.

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Application

Canadian institutions must apply on behalf of eligible candidates by March 18, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EDT.

• Assign a program coordinator to complete applications.
• Select “Login or Register” to create a My EduCanada account for your institution. Ensure to select Institution for your account type.
• Once you have logged into your account, select the Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program and click Apply.
• Enter data in the required fields and follow the instructions on the application form.
• Click Validate and save as you progress through the application form.
• Upload all required supporting documents. Each document must be smaller than 5 MB and in .jpg, .gif, .png, .pdf, .doc, .docx, .txt or .xlsx format.
• Review all components of your application for accuracy and completeness.
• Read and accept the conditions of the “Declaration and permission” statement. Click Submit. You will receive a confirmation message and a reference number for submitted applications.
• Print or download the form for your records using the “Print | Download” function.

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