Research abroad

Advance your applied research skills through an international research experience. Work on a lab or research project related to your academic study and expand your professional network. Be part of a team with a common purpose, understand how research is conducted in another country, all while exploring a new culture and community on your evenings and weekends. 

Planning for research abroad?

A research experience abroad allows you to immerse yourself in another culture while gaining valuable research skills in an international setting.  

Although applying for an international research experience usually takes place in your second or third year, planning can start much earlier! 

First-year students interested in research abroad can get ready in three ways: 

Plan your academics: If you are considering a for-credit research stay, review your advisement report on Mosaic to see how you can best set yourself up for a research abroad experience. If your program is very restrictive, this can be really important. Some strategies may include saving electives to take while you’re overseas, rearranging your schedule or taking some summer school classes to lighten your load abroad.  

Explore domestic research placements: Before you head overseas, consider volunteering or working with a domestic research group to familiarize yourself with the research experience and gain valuable skills/references you might need when applying for an international opportunity! Many McMaster faculties have dedicated pages to support student’s in their search for research experiences. 

Start saving up: Saving for the future is a great habit to get into, whether you end up going abroad or not. Start putting away a little each month, and consider what other resources you can take advantage of — scholarships, part-time work, RESPs, OSAP, etc.  

Be curious: Intercultural learning doesn’t start when you get on a plane! There are great opportunities at McMaster to get you started on your global journey. Consider McMaster courses with an international perspective, join an MSU club with a global focus or chat with a fellow Marauder whose background may be different than your own. Visit our Global Impact at Home page and take part in International Education Week for more ideas. 

Get started by viewing our general information sessions available on our MS Teams platform. All students interested in applying for a research experience abroad must view these recordings before they apply. Information sessions are updated each year in late October.  

Students can take advantage of two main pathways to research abroad while a student at McMaster. Sometimes, programs are even a merger of the two! Keep scrolling to explore your options and learn about eligibility. 

  1. The McMaster Exchange Program
  2. Independent Research Experience

McMaster Exchange Program

The McMaster Exchange Program is comprised of hundreds of university-to-university partnerships that facilitate the mobility of McMaster students for academic purposes. In addition to our traditional study abroad programs, students may alternatively choose a research stay at select partners. 

  • Students participate in a research stay abroad through one of McMaster’s formal exchange agreements. 
  • For-credit research experiences follow the same academic regulations as a traditional exchange (study) abroad program. 
  • May be entirely experiential or eligible for academic credit.  
  • Experiences generally start at 3 months in length and depend on the specific program/route chosen. 
  • Research opportunities are not guaranteed. Students may be responsible for securing their own lab supervisor overseas. Visit the SSC’s Research Job Search for general tips. 
  • Students must have a McMaster (home) supervisor as support in the process.  
  • Final approval from the student’s Department Chair will be required prior to departure. 

Undergraduate: 

  • Be enrolled in an Honours or a combined Honours program. 
  • Have completed at least 60 units with a cumulative average of at least 8.0 (Note: Individual programs may have additional requirements.) 
  • Be a current student (this program is not open to alumni). 
  • Not conduct research abroad in your home country (international students). 
  • Be registered as a full-time student during the exchange (for-credit, semester experiences only). 
  • Be in good academic standing. 

What kind of research abroad experience are you searching for? We can help you weigh your options and make an informed decision. The McMaster Exchange Program offers the following research pathways: 

  • Semester/year: Go on a semester- or year-long research stay. These programs are held during the academic year and usually include a mix of research and study. 
  • Summer (May-Aug): Spend two, three or four months supporting a research project abroad. 

View our opportunities to find out which pathways are available at each of our university partners. 

Exchange List

Visit the link below to start an application. 

[LINK TO ICENT APPLICATION OPENS NOV 1]

Attention: Your application will also require the below supporting documents to be uploaded before the deadline: 

  • Academic Letter of Reference: Ideally, this will be from someone in your area of research who can comment on your suitability for the placement. 
  • Academic transcript: Please upload your McMaster transcript to the application. 
  • Ontario/Baden-Württemberg (OBW) and Ontario/ Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (ORA) applicants only: These programs require you to submit their own respective application in addition to the McMaster application. Visit the appropriate program website for relevant forms and deadlines. Once completed, please upload the completed OBW/ORA application to your McMaster research application. 

To apply for a research abroad placement through the McMaster Exchange Program, please refer to the following deadlines: 

  • Research Abroad (all programs): January 21, 2025 

Note: Students required to find a host supervisor independently should begin their search in October/November of the year prior. 

Independent Research Abroad 

An independent research experience is very similar to what you might encounter through one of the McMaster exchange partnerships; the main difference is the absence of an exchange partner as a possible facilitator, which can sometimes help students to secure the experience.

  • Students independently secure a research abroad placement at a foreign institution.  
  • May be entirely experiential or eligible for academic credit. 
  • For-credit research experiences follow the same tuition, grading, and academic regulations as a traditional Letter of Permission (LOP) study abroad program. 
  • Students must have a McMaster (home) referee/supervisor as support in the process.  
  • Final approval from the student’s Department Chair will be required prior to departure. 
  • Eligibility will be defined by the hosting institution. 
  • Note: For-credit experiences. Each McMaster faculty may have different requirements, eligibility, or conditions for LOP transfer credit. Please speak to your academic advisor for more information. Important note: The DeGroote School of Business (UG & MBA) does not currently offer international study abroad via LOP. 

There are three main steps when applying for an Independent Research Experience. 

  1. Apply for consideration at the host institution/organization. 
  2. For-credit research experiences: Apply for a Letter of Permission via your Faculty/Department. Instructions can be found via the Student Center in Mosaic or on the individual faculty website. 
  3. Once your placement has been secured, register your upcoming travel with McMaster and complete the necessary pre-departure steps. Email MacAbroad@mcmaster.ca to begin this process, at least 4 months prior to travel. 

An Independent Research Experience is arranged independently between a student and a hosting institution/organization. As each institution will have its own policies, procedures, and deadlines for visiting students (non-exchange), prospective research students are advised to seek out information on relevant deadlines well in advance. 

Students searching for international research opportunities may find these resources helpful. 

How to connect with us

Do you have questions about applying for exchange? Join the MS Teams community for prospective outbound exchange students in the 2025-26 academic year. Connect with global opportunities staff and students going through the application process. 

If you’ve attended one of our study abroad information sessions, but you still have questions, we have one-on-one advising to help you further explore your options. We can help with most questions, with the exception of your study plan.

  • For course-specific academic questions, you will need to meet with an academic advisor.
  • To meet with a member of the SSC Global team, book an appointment on OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Appointments > Global Opportunities.
  • Have quick questions? Attend our International student in-person drop-ins (International and Exchange Student Experience Hub MUSC B118)
    • Mondays and Thursdays: 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
    • Tuesdays and Fridays: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

For students considering a for-credit research experience, you need to understand how the courses you take abroad will fit with your McMaster degree requirements. Your academic advisor can help you understand the transfer credit process and where you should focus your course search. 

Exchange socials and peer advising 

Our socials occur each year and allow prospective, inbound and returned exchange students to connect. Many of these events and socials begin taking place during International Education Week. Check OSCARplus > Student Success Centre > Events for dates and registration, or join our yearly MS Teams group for updates. Check OSCARplus 

Exchange reports and blogs 

Read about study abroad student experiences by searching our student exchange reports or reading posts from our Stories From Abroad blog series. These reports and blogs are available year round! 

McMaster, International and eXchange Club (M.I.X.) 

M.I.X. is an MSU club made up of recently returned and outgoing McMaster exchange students, members of the larger McMaster community and international students. Meet other global-minded students in a fun, social setting. Link to MSU Clubs page.