February 1, 2026 - On January 20, the Government of Canada launched the Scholarships and Education Exchanges for Development Phase 2 (SEED-2) for students from the Indo-Pacific region including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of which the Philippines is a member. The program is an expansion of Global Affairs Canada’s initial SEED program.
The program aims to attract students interested in conducting short-term study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions in areas that contribute to the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including poverty reduction and alleviating hunger.
To be eligible for the program, the applicant must be from the Indo-Pacific region, enrolled full-time at a post-secondary institution in an eligible country and is paying tuition fees to that institution at the time of application and for the duration of the exchange. Those who hold or have a pending application for Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, already a student or a scholarship recipient in Canada or have previously received a scholarship in the initial SEED program are not qualified.
Canadian post-secondary institutions interested in hosting students must be a designated learning institution (DLIs), waive tuition fees for scholarship recipients and centralize all applications through their international education office. DLIs are schools approved by the provincial or territorial governments to host international students.
Scholarship value and duration under SEED-2 vary based on academic level (undergraduate or graduate) and length of study or research. Successful candidates may use scholarship funds towards visa or work/study permit fees, airfare, health insurance, living expenses, ground transportation, and books and supplies in support of their study or research.
Interested parties may only apply through the DLIs and the deadline for the DLIs to submit on behalf of eligible candidates is March 24, 2026.
About the Author
Rachel Ramos-Reid started writing for magazines and newspapers when she was still a junior at the University of the Philippines’ Communication degree program majoring in Journalism. She continued to write in a public relations/corporate communications capacity in various private and government offices until moving out of the country in 1997 to work as Programme Officer for the arts and culture branch of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO-SPAFA) in Bangkok, Thailand. At the end of her term, Rachel found herself immigrating to Canada in the year 2000 and again searching for new beginnings.
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