In this guest blog, Daniel, a Geography and French undergraduate student at the University of Exeter, reflects on his experience with the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship.
My name is Daniel, and I’m in my final year at the University of Exeter, where I study Geography and French. In 2025, I travelled to Canada as part of the Mitacs Globalink Research Internship (GRI) programme. I spent three months in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and I had an amazing experience. I worked with Dalhousie University’s School of Planning, contributing to an ongoing research project on solar energy policy.
I was initially nervous about travelling to Canada, as I had never lived abroad or even visited the country before! After my first week, I found myself settling in much quicker than expected, adjusting to the rhythm of the place I’d be spending my summer in. When it came time to leave, I realised how much my time in Canada had changed me for the better.
My experience of academic research
My project involved analysing ‘Solar City’, a local government programme aiming to provide financial assistance for homeowners to install solar panels. My day-to-day work was more qualitative in nature, and involved designing an interview guide, recruiting participants and conducting in-depth interviews. My key aim was to find out how accessible and equitable this programme was for households in Halifax.
I worked in an office five days a week, something which I appreciated as I tend to thrive under a more structured environment. Also, having my own dedicated space to conduct research was something I came to appreciate over the duration of my internship, as it helped me to focus. The view helped too; my office looked out over downtown Halifax and the harbour.
I was based in the CLEAN (Climate Local Energy Action Network) Lab, and I really enjoyed getting to know my team. Our office was very international, and I really valued getting to collaborate with people from around the world. It was also reassuring to know I had people to turn to for help if I felt a little lost (or in my case, struggling with software).
I’d had some experience conducting independent research in my second year of university, but I gained a lot more confidence after my time in Halifax. I also felt it prepared me well for my dissertation, as the research process for this closely mirrored my internship.
The highlight of my project was carrying out interviews with members of the public. I talked to Nova Scotians about their experiences with installing solar panels, talking about the positives and negatives of rooftop solar. My interviewing skills may have been a little rusty at first, but I refined them with each participant, and I really enjoyed adapting and changing my line of questioning in real time.
Since I was based at the School of Planning, I read through some books about urban planning and design during my lunch breaks, which there were plenty of in the office. I had never considered a career in these fields before, and now I’m hoping to apply for a master’s degree in either urban planning or urban design in 2027.
Reflecting on my time in Canada
After my internship ended, I flew to Manitoba to visit my relatives. It was really interesting to see another part of the country, especially as I’d become so used to my daily routine in Halifax. I really enjoyed spending time by Lake Winnipeg (and enjoying the lack of hills there). I made many friends during my time in Canada, and I still keep in touch with lots of them. I found the experience to be incredibly social and welcoming.
I was surprised by how many projects Mitacs offered to humanities and social science students, as I (incorrectly) assumed the programme was more geared towards STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects. This couldn’t be further from the case, and I highly encourage those from a variety of disciplines to apply. I think that qualitative, human-centred research has never been more crucial in this age, and I’m very grateful to Mitas for giving me the opportunity to carry out research that I am genuinely passionate about.
I nearly didn’t apply for the Mitacs GRI 2025 intake, as I worried I wouldn’t be accepted. I’m glad I had the confidence to apply, as working abroad made me realise how much of the world there is to see. If you are considering applying for the Mitacs GRI, I highly encourage you to do so. Unfortunately, getting the opportunity to carry out research as an undergraduate is rare, and the Mitacs GRI is a great way to gain this experience while living in a completely new place!
Our project is expected to be published later in 2026, which I very much look forward to.