Emerging Leaders in the Americas Program
Call for applications for the 2025-2026 academic year is now open. Canadian institutions must apply on behalf of eligible candidates by March 18, 2025, 11:59 p.m. EDT.
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. Students wishing to pursue short-term studies or research in Canada should review the eligibility criteria and contact their institution’s international office for application details. Canadian institutions are responsible for submitting applications on behalf of eligible candidates.
Eligibility
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).