Canada‑Asia Young Professionals Fellowship Program 2025‑26

Omran Aburayya
Jul 31
3 min read

If you are a young Canadian professional or graduate student aged between 22 and 30 with a passion for Asia and a desire to advance Canada–Asia relations, the Canada‑Asia Young Professionals Fellowship Program 2025‑26 is a fully funded opportunity you won’t want to miss. Applications are officially open, and the deadline is 11:59 p.m. PT on Sunday, August 10, 2025

🎓 Fellowship Summary

Location: Remote participation, with a two‑day in-person retreat at APF Canada headquarters in Vancouver, Canada
Host Institution: Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada), a leading Canada–Asia research and policy think-tank
Duration: Mid‑September 2025 to June 2026 (approx. nine months)
Level: Graduate students or young professionals
Target Group: Canadians (citizens or permanent residents) aged 22–30 at program start (circa September 16, 2025)
Fields of Focus: Degrees in political science, international relations, Asian studies, economics, law, business, or related fields; plus proven interest in contemporary Asia and Canada–Asia relations
Value & Coverage: No tuition fee; travel and accommodation costs for Vancouver retreat covered by APF Canada
Schedule Commitment: ~3 hours per week; virtual sessions once or twice monthly (60 minutes each), plus a two-day in‑person retreat in early May 2026
Application Deadline: Sunday, August 10, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. PT
Program Start Date: Mid-September 2025; concludes June 2026
Eligibility To: Canadian citizens or permanent residents aged 22–30, with relevant academic background and interest in Asia

🎓 Program Overview

This nine-month, non-residential fellowship is delivered almost entirely online. Fellows join the program virtually, meeting once or twice per month for 60‑minute sessions focused on:

Key issue briefings on Canada–Asia relations and Asia’s strategic importance
Expert Q&A sessions with scholars and practitioners
Group discussions among fellows
Workshops to hone written and oral communication tailored to Canada–Asia analysis

A highlight of the program is the two-day retreat in early May 2026 at APF Canada’s Vancouver office, where fellows meet in person, network with staff and stakeholders, and build community – with travel costs covered by the foundation.

Expected commitment is modest: an average of about three hours per week, balancing other studies or professional obligations

🎁 Benefits

Fellows will:

Deepen understanding of Canada’s strategic positioning regarding Asia
Engage with experts and policy-makers on timely Asia–Canada issues
Join a national cohort of like-minded young professionals
Improve communication skills, especially on public-facing analysis
Attend a fully funded retreat in Vancouver for direct networking opportunities

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

Be Canadian citizens or permanent residents
Be aged 22 to 30 around mid‑September 2025
Hold or be pursuing a degree in ➤ international relations, political science, business, economics, law, Asian Studies, or a related field
Demonstrate interest in contemporary Asia and Canada–Asia relations (via academics, professional/volunteer, or lived experience)
Be available for twice‑monthly virtual meetings (60 minutes each)
Commit to attending the in‑person retreat in Vancouver in early May 2026 (travel funded by APF Canada)
Note: applicants from diverse backgrounds (racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic, ability, etc.) are strongly encouraged; accommodations are available if required during application or fellowship period

📝 Application Procedure

Submit a single MERGED PDF via the APF Canada BambooHR portal by August 10, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Include:

Current CV
Official or unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions
Two-page cover letter, structured as follows:
- Page 1: Introduce yourself and explain what you hope to gain; highlight any personal context not captured elsewhere
- Page 2:
  - Identify one recent or current event in Asia (over the past 40 years) that interested you and explain its importance to Canadians
  - Identify two other issues you’d like to explore, why they matter, and 2–3 guiding questions you’d pursue about each
References: Name, title, and email for two referees (academic or professional)