This opportunity is available to:

• Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents
• Must have a valid passport
• Must be able to obtain the necessary Visas to visit Greenland and the USA (more below)
• Undergraduate, Master’s and Doctoral students in any discipline
• You must be enrolled in a study program at the time of application and maintain active student status through December 2025.
• Applicants from Northern regions and Indigenous communities are strongly encouraged to apply, with preference given to ensure diverse perspectives in Arctic research.
• Applicants should demonstrate a genuine interest in Arctic research; a proven background or experience in this field will be considered a strong asset.

You are required to provide the name of a reference in the Application Form and are responsible for requesting that your reference submit a letter of recommendation directly to Memorial University’s Internationalization Office, which is coordinating submissions on behalf of the review committee.

• The letter must be sent by your supervisor or another faculty member to goabroad@mun.ca only. Please ensure it is not sent to any other email address listed in this document, on our website, or elsewhere.

Accommodations, including meals, and all travel costs are fully covered.

Students are responsible for any additional expenses, such as personal clothing, equipment, and gear required for the trip. (While we will have a small supply of extra clothing on board, it will not be enough to outfit all participants.) Students are also responsible for the cost of a mandatory medical examination.

Here are some things you will need to bring (and will need to purchase yourself):

• Sleeping bag (and possibly a pillow if you need it).
• Comfortable clothes for working that can withstand a bit of wear.
• Warm and windproof clothing for cold watches on deck.
• Solid rain gear, both jacket and pants.
• Good shoes: sneakers and waterproof shoes or rubber boots.
• Gloves, hat, warm socks, and a scarf/neck warmer
• Warm inner layers; wool is recommended.
• Towels and toiletries.
• Camera and binoculars
• Personal medications, contact lenses with lens solution, etc., for the entire voyage.
• Unexpected costs incurred during travel (in the case of flight delays, etc., be prepared to cover the costs of cabs or anything not covered by the airline. More information on this to come soon). 

Normally, visas are not required for Canadian citizens to enter Greenland or the United States. However, processes can change and it is the responsibility of all accepted applicants to review the governmental information related to entry prior to departure.

Students with permanent residency status in Canada may have to obtain visa(s), depending on the country from which your passport is issued.

For more information, please visit:

• Visa Requirements for Foreigners Visiting Greenland
• Visa Requirements for Foreigners Visiting the United States

Depending on the portion of the journey you participate in, you may need a visa for Greenland (for Leg 1 and Leg 2) as well as a visa that will allow you to enter the United States (for Leg 2).

Please review your specific visa scenario before applying for the expedition.

The research on board is quite diverse. The research topics include the following: 

• Assessment of fish and zooplankton populations
• Biodiversity assessment using physical sampling, morphological and molecular (environmental DNA) analyses
• Biotechnology: exploring marine bioactive compounds
• Understanding changes in sea ice thickness
• Technology: safe and sustainable operations in remote areas with demanding weather conditions
• Arctic Memoryscapes: documenting changes in Arctic coastal and underwater heritage
• Information literacy by integrating Indigenous knowledge, experiential learning, and Extended Reality technologies
• Ocean literacy: understanding and stewardship of marine environments through integrating diverse knowledge systems and emotional literacy
• Documenting, revitalizing, and integrating management and conservation practices of Indigenous peoples
• Creative futures thinking using experiential learning and worldbuilding through the course running on-board
• International relations: interplay between the Arctic and Arctic local and Indigenous societies with global political, economic, security processes
• Arctic linguistic landscapes
• Didactics: students’ perspectives on teaching and learning processes in collaborative interdisciplinary project work
• Epidemiology and impact of diet transitions in Indigenous populations
• Health studies: impact of onboard watch system on health and wellness of OOII participants

In terms of clothing, you should bring:

• Warm and windproof clothing for cold watches on deck; it often gets windy and wet at sea, and temperatures in the area can be around 0 degrees Celsius. Therefore it can get very cold standing watch or manning the helm!
• Comfortable clothes for "working" that can withstand a bit of wear.
• Solid rain gear, both jacket and pants.
• Good shoes: sneakers and waterproof shoes or rubber boots.
• Gloves, hat, warm socks, and a scarf/neck warmer
• Warm inner layers; wool is recommended.
• Casual clothes for when you are on land.
• Slippers for inside.

An example packing list will be provided to successful applicants. 

We will bring a drone for tagging icebergs. 

For doing other types of drone work, we would need to obtain research licences beforehand, and therefore we cannot guarantee that this will be possible.

Yes, you can bring a camera, if it fits in your allotted 70L locker/duffel bag.

When the ship arrives in Nuuk on the 3rd of August, it will remain in the harbour for two nights before leaving on August 5th. During this time, you are welcome to visit Nuuk. However, in general, there are no planned, day-long excursions. 

We plan for an Open Ship day on the 4th, where we will welcome the community in Nuuk. Moreover, you will join a survival-suit training in Nuuk before the ship leaves the port.

Applicants should demonstrate a strong connection to Arctic research and a deep commitment to Arctic sustainability. We seek individuals who are not only academically accomplished but also possess the personal qualities needed to thrive in a dynamic, immersive exchange experience. Ideal candidates will be:

• Motivated and Adaptable: Passionate about Arctic research and capable of adjusting to challenging, evolving environments.
• Academically Excellent: Proven scholarly performance as evidenced by your transcripts and academic record.
• Leadership-Oriented: Possessing the initiative and independence necessary to drive projects and contribute meaningfully to group endeavors.
• Resourceful and Competent: Able to creatively solve problems and handle unforeseen challenges with integrity and skill.
• Assertive and Open-Minded: Ready to engage actively, share insights, and embrace diverse perspectives in a collaborative setting.

Applicants will be evaluated based on a comprehensive review of their Statement of Interest, university transcripts, CV, and a work sample. Your Statement of Interest should clearly articulate your connection to Arctic research, your motivations for applying, and your long-term goals in this field. Together, these materials will help the review committee determine your readiness to fully benefit from and contribute to this unique Arctic research experience.

The medical certificate usually expires after 2 years. 

We require a seafarer’s medical certificate. You can find doctors that can issue these here: https://sjomannsleger.sdir.no/  

There is only one provider in St. John’s. If this is not a possibility for you, get in touch with Yasemin or Saga

at UiT, and they can verify whether your medical certificate can be accepted. 

Your reference should primarily be able to speak to your academic abilities, but if they have knowledge of your extracurricular abilities (as a result of field work, excursions, and so on), they are certainly welcome to discuss that, as well, as it is also relevant to the program.

No experience regarding the Arctic or sailing is expected. The most important thing is having good teamwork skills and being able to live under modest conditions for a month! But, if you have experience, please include it somewhere in your application!