Queen Elizabeth Scholarship (QES) at York: Canada-Global South Interdisciplinary Initiative on Climate Change & Displacement

York University in Toronto, Canada, with funding from the Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships, is pleased to offer funding opportunities for Canadians and international scholars working together on topics related to climate change and displacement. This funding will support research travel, living expenses, and research internships or collaborations between York University and our partners in Costa Rica, Ghana and the Philippines, as well as the public dissemination and sharing of research results.

The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) program aims to mobilize a community of young leaders to create lasting impacts at home and abroad. Established in 2012, this scholarship has been awarded to more than 2,600 scholars from Canada and around the world. It is Canada’s premier academic program for global leadership, collaboration and multidisciplinary learning.   The Canadian Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarships (QES) is managed through a unique partnership of Universities Canada, the Rideau Hall Foundation, and Canadian postsecondary institutions. QES 2025 is made possible with financial contributions from the Rideau Hall Foundation.

Through the QES project at York, titled  Canada-Global South Interdisciplinary Initiative on Climate Change & Displacement: Cases of Costa Rica, Ghana and the Philippines. This project will provide international study experiences, research, or internships for outbound Canadian students as well as support for inbound international students. The Project aims to bring together and co-create a network of interdisciplinary teams of faculty and students to:

study the current human displacement caused by climate change-related extreme events;
model and predict the future trends of population displacement caused by climate change;
understand the impacts of climate displacement on different groups, economies, health systems, cultures, and environments; and
examine the current and future planning and policy challenges of climate change-related population displacement.

Over the next three years (2025-2028), the Project will bring 10 international scholars to York and send 12 York students to our project partner institutions to research the current and future trends and challenges of climate change displacement and design effective mitigation and resilience strategies.

York-QES Faculty Advisory Committee:

Prof. Ali Asgary, Director, CIFAL York (also Principal Investigator / Academic Lead) and Executive Director of ADERSIM
Prof. Eric Kennedy, Director of York Emergency Mitigation, Engagement, Response, and Governance Institute (Y-EMERGE)
Prof. Godfred Boateng, Canada Research Chair in Global Health and Humanitarianism and Director, Global & Environmental Health Lab
Prof. Joseph Mensah, Geography, Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change (EUC)
Prof. Felipe Montoya-Greenheck, Las Nubes Director & James and Joanne Love Chair in Neotropical Conservation, EUC

York-QES coordinating unit: York International

Countries	International partner hosting Canadian student(s)
Costa Rica	University of Costa Rica Casita Azul, Las Nubes
Ghana	University of Ghana University of Cape Coast Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
Philippines	University of the Philippines (UP) CIFAL UP Resilience Institute Office of Civil Defense

Outgoing Scholars: For York Students

In order to participate in this program, you must satisfy the following requirements:

Must have completed at least two years of their undergraduate program requirements (or enrolled in a graduate program).
Canadian citizen or permanent resident
Less than 35 years old at the time of application
Students who have previously been a QES Scholar are not eligible for funding.
Placements must be at least 61 days at the host institutions.

AI Prototype for Forecasting Climate-Induced Displacement in Ghana- Senior Lecturer Emmanuel Antwi-Boasiako

For more proposals with partner universities please email sunguyen@yorku.ca

Students accepted for this program will receive up to CAD 10,000. Placements must be at least 61 days at the host institutions.

Eligible expenses include:

Travel expenses: includes international airfare (the most direct and economical routing), airport taxes, visas, medical insurance, immunization and ground transportation;
Living allowance: accommodation, local transportation, food and communications;
Research/study/internship expenses: remuneration for research assistants, resources for the research (e.g. journals, data), computer and laboratory services/equipment, costs related to dissemination and sharing of research results.

If students wish to purchase additional items, such as souvenirs, they will need to use their personal funds.

Students will be responsible for keeping all related receipts and share them back with YI on a form which will be shared with you.

Interested candidates are invited to complete the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship: Application Form (York students) with the following listed documents for the Project Advisory Committee's evaluation and consideration.

Prepare the following documents and attach them to the Application Form above.
1. A letter of Intent (max 1 page per letter), outlining:
  - Your motivation to apply for this Scholarship at the host destination
  - How the internship/study/research fits into your present academic programs and your future career plans
  - What qualifies you for this QES scholarship (academic abilities, skills, talents, life experience...)
  - What interests you in the host organization and country, and what skills and strengths you have specific to the host organization and country
  - If selected, how will your experience contribute to the overall Canada-Global South Interdisciplinary Initiative on Climate Change & Displacement?
  - Suggested professors/supervisors you will work with at host institution (email exchange between you and the host professors could be attached)
2. A CV (resume)
3. A letter of recommendation from a York professor

Application deadline for participation date Fall 2026 (Sep. - Dec.): April 1, 2026
Application deadline for participation date Winter 2027 (Jan.-April): Aug. 1, 2026
Application deadline for participation date Summer 2027: Dec. 1, 2026
Application deadline for participation date Fall 2027: April 1, 2027
Application deadline for participation date Winter 2028: Aug. 1, 2027
Application deadline for participation date Summer 2028: Dec. 1, 2027
Application deadline for participation date Fall 2028: April 1, 2027

Deadlines may vary by project, and we encourage you to check with your host professor for specific timelines.

After your application is submitted, our Advisory Committee will evaluate your applications. Applications with missing documents will not be considered.

Results will be announced approximately two months after submission, and York International will organize pre-departure and wrap-around support for the selected scholars.

Please note that all QES Scholars travelling abroad must complete the pre-departure module and scholar narrative report (to be reviewed and approved by York)

Incoming Scholars: International Students at Partner Institutions

In order to participate in this program, you must satisfy the following requirements:

Graduate students who enrolled in one of our listed institutions in the Philippines, Ghana or Costa Rica below
Coming to Canada to study or conduct research at York University
The research/internship/study must be approved by your home institution.
Students who have previously been a QES Scholar are not eligible for funding.

The duration of your stay can be negotiated between you and York supervisors, but it must take place any time from May 2026 to April 2028.

Duration of research: 3 months (the start and end date can be negotiated with your supervisors)

All costs associated with this program are covered by the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship, (up to $CAN 14,000 per scholar). These are eligible costs for your research at York:

- Visa (Medical exam 300, Visa/biometric 470)
- UHIP for 3 months
- Airfare
- Winter clothing
- Monthly living allowances
- Installation expense
- Other expenses (laptop)

If students wish to purchase additional items, such as souvenirs, they will need to use their personal funds.

Interested candidates are invited to complete the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship: Application Form (Incoming Scholars) with the following listed documents for the Project Advisory Committee's evaluation and consideration.

1. A letter of recommendation from a professor/research supervisor/research director at your home institution
2. A letter of Intent (one page), in which, you will identify:
  - Your motivation to apply for this Scholarship at York University
  - How the proposed research fits into your present academic program and your future career plans
  - What qualifies you for this QES scholarship (academic abilities, skills, talents, life experience...)
  - What interests you in proposing a research proposal at York University, and what skills and strengths you have that will fit in with your proposed program at York, and suggested professors/supervisors you will work with at York
  - Proposed leadership activities or any extra curriculum activities (e.g. community engagement, youth/leadership/networking activities...) at York
  - If selected:
    1. how will your experience contribute to the overall Canada-Global South Interdisciplinary Initiative on Climate Change & Displacement? and/or
    2. how will it contribute to your personal developments as a leader, a scholar and to your home institution/country?
3. Suggested timeline (actives and intended outcomes) of the research
4. A CV (resume)
5. A letter of recommendation or confirmation from a York professor to host you at York (optional)

Application deadline for participation in Fall 2026 (Sep. - Dec.): April 1, 2026
Application deadline for participation in Winter 2027 (Jan.-April): Aug. 1, 2026
Application deadline for participation in Summer 2027: Dec. 1, 2026
Application deadline for participation in Fall 2027: April 1, 2027
Application deadline for participation in Winter 2028: Aug. 1, 2027
Application deadline for participation in Summer 2028: Dec. 1, 2027
Application deadline for participation in Fall 2028: April 1, 2027

Deadlines may vary by project, and we encourage you to check with your host professor for specific timelines.

Please note: The application and visa process may take up to 6 months. We strongly recommend submitting your application 7–8 months prior to your intended visit to York University to avoid any delays.

After your application is submitted, our Advisory Committee will evaluate your application.

Results will be announced approximately two months after submission, and York International will organize pre-departure and wrap-around support for the selected scholars.

Please note that all QES Scholars will have to complete the pre-departure form and scholar narrative report (to be reviewed and approved by York)

For more information visit our International Visiting Research Trainee (IVRT) page.

Contact Us

goglobal@yorku.ca