MELS Student Mobility Bursary program
The Ministère de l'Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport (MELS) established the Student Mobility
Bursary Program, which provides special limited funding to universities, so they may in turn provide financial
assistance to their eligible students who are participating in full-time student exchange programs located at various
educational institutions elsewhere in Canada, and around the world. The Mobility Bursary program is unique; no other
provinces offer any assistance programs of this kind.
To be eligible for the MELS Student Mobility Bursary program, students must:
- be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident;
- be recognised as a Quebec Resident at their home University according to MEQ definitions;
- be enrolled full-time in a Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral program;
- meet the Grade Point Average requirement for their Faculty;
- have received acceptance from Host Institution;
- have received approval from Concordia.
The MELS has set the following maximum monthly rates for the Mobility Bursary program:
- Up to but not exceeding $1,000.00 per month for student exchange studies in the United States, Japan,
Australia, New Zealand, and the countries of Western Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, England, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland),
- Up to but not exceeding $750.00 per month for student exchange studies in all countries not listed above,
as well as other provinces in Canada.
MELS Mobility Bursary funds are not available to domestic students who are visiting other
educational institutions in the Province of Québec.
In all cases where a student is not on sojourn for a full month, normally at the beginning and / or
the end of their study sojourn (for example, 17 days out of a 31-day month), the maximum allowable bursary amount will
be pro-rated downwards according to the actual number of sojourn days for that month. Furthermore, no Mobility Bursary
funds will be made available to students for any days / months that exceed the eight-month funding limit set by the MELS
Universities participating in the Mobility Bursary Program are required to observe and apply the various
MELS policies which govern this assistance program. Under the regulations of the MELS, students are entitled to participate in
student exchange programs with Mobility Bursary funding for up to but not exceeding a cumulative total of 8 (eight) months per
level of study (e.g. 8 months at the Bachelor level, another 8 months at the Master’s level, and a final 8 months at the Doctoral
level).
In all cases where students’ exchange programs last longer than the allowed 8 month total, the Financial Aid
and Awards Office is obligated to terminate Mobility Bursary funding once the 8 month limit is reached. No extensions are possible
under any circumstances.
For detailed information about applying to go on a student exchange program with or without Mobility
Bursary funding, please visit the website of the Concordia International Office at http://international.concordia.ca/
Applications for student exchange programs with MELS Student Mobility Bursary funding assistance are subject
to review and approval by students' Faculties / Schools, with support from the Concordia International Office. Approved
applications are forwarded to the Financial Aid and Awards Office for calculation of bursary entitlements and disbursement
scheduling. The Financial Aid and Awards Office will notify recipients of their bursary allotment and expected payment
schedule after their Mobility Bursary file has been received and processed.
The MELS Student Mobility Bursary Program is intended as financial assistance to help defray normal costs
associated with a Student Exchange Program. However, Student Mobility Bursary Funds are not intended to be a student's sole
financial resource while participating in their Student Exchange program. Depending on the location of the host institution,
Student Mobility Bursary funds may cover all or only a part of the student's monthly expenses.
Students are strongly advised to research the costs of attendance at their host institution, as well as
the cost of living at their desired destination - such information is usually obtainable from the host institution. Students
going on exchange programs are strongly advised to plan their expenses and possible supplemental income sources very carefully,
well in advance of departure.
Mobility Bursary funding entitlements are variable, and are calculated by the Financial Aid and
Awards Office based on their host institution countries, and also the start and end dates of their exchange programs.
MELS Student Mobility Bursary funds are made available to recipients by the Financial Aid and Awards Office on a monthly-
installment basis during their exchange programs.
Recipients of Mobility Bursary funding must register full-time at their host institutions in accordance
with instructions provided to them by the Concordia International Office prior to departure. Failure to register full-time
in accordance with these instructions will result in the recipient being required to immediately reimburse some or all of
the Mobility Bursary funding that was issued to them.