StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scholarship
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship is one of Canada’s most generous doctoral awards — and deliberately more than a cheque. Since 2001 the Foundation has built a community of scholars, fellows and mentors around a single idea: train engaged leaders who can turn research into action for their communities, Canada and the world. Each year a small cohort of doctoral researchers is selected for a three-year program that combines substantial funding with leadership institutes, exchanges, networking events and one-to-one mentorship.
The money is structured in two parts. The stipend of up to $50,000 per year covers tuition and living expenses during doctoral research, while a separate allowance of up to $20,000 per year pays for research travel, networking, participation in Foundation events and improving knowledge of Canada’s official languages. Over three years the package can reach $210,000. Importantly, the Foundation adjusts rather than cancels: scholars who hold other funding still receive at least $25,000 of the stipend plus the full $20,000 allowance.
Eligibility
- Be in the first or second year of a doctoral program at the time of application.
- Work in the humanities and social sciences, broadly understood — candidates from business schools, public-health schools and law faculties are welcome where the research fits the themes.
- Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident studying at any university in the world, or an international student enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian university. International students at non-Canadian universities are not eligible.
- Have research related to at least one of the Foundation’s four themes: Human Rights and Dignity; Responsible Citizenship; Canada and the World; People and their Natural Environment.
- Be able to communicate effectively in English or French (the application is completed in one language throughout).
- There is no age limit, and dual nationals are assessed under the standard citizenship rules published by the Foundation.
Benefits
- Up to $50,000 per year for three years for tuition and living expenses.
- Up to $20,000 per year for three years for research travel, networking, Foundation events and official-language training.
- A three-year leadership program: institutes, exchanges and events with the Foundation’s fellows and mentors.
- Mentorship from accomplished professionals outside academia.
- Lifelong access to an alumni community of close to 600 scholars, fellows and mentors.
- Funding floor: scholars with other awards still keep at least $25,000 of the stipend plus the full $20,000 allowance.
Documents required
- Completed eligibility-verification form (step one of the 2027 process).
- Full online application to the Foundation, in English or French.
- Three references: your PhD supervisor, one additional academic referee, and one referee from outside academia. Referees may write in English or French and may live outside Canada.
- Transcripts for all post-secondary education (you are responsible for ensuring the complete package reaches the Foundation).
- Doctoral project description, essay responses on leadership and communication style, education and achievements record, and language-skills declaration.
- Confirmation that you have read the Foundation’s key policies.
How to apply
- Check the 2027 two-step processThe 2027 competition starts with an eligibility-verification form; only confirmed candidates can open the full application. That screening step closed on 2 October 2026.
- Attend the mandatory information sessionEligible applicants are required to join an information session during the weeks of 5 and 12 October 2026.
- Line up three referees earlyAsk your supervisor, an academic referee and a non-academic referee well ahead of time — all references must arrive by 30 October 2026 at 9:00 a.m. ET, and letters are submitted through the portal, not by email.
- Complete the full applicationFill in the Foundation’s online form in one language (English or French), upload transcripts and project materials, and submit by 6 November 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
- Apply directly to the FoundationSince the 2020 competition there is no department or university nomination stage — every eligible applicant applies directly, and universities may later be asked to confirm academic standing.
FAQs
Almost certainly not. The 2027 competition uses a two-step process and only candidates whose eligibility was confirmed can access the full application. If you missed the screening, use this page to prepare for the 2028 competition instead.
Yes, if you are enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian university. International students at universities outside Canada are not eligible; Canadian citizens and permanent residents may study anywhere.
The stipend of up to $50,000 per year is meant to cover tuition and living expenses together; the separate $20,000 annual allowance covers research, travel and networking costs.
The Foundation interprets the fields broadly — candidates from business, public health and law are considered where their research clearly fits one of the four themes.
No. You need to communicate effectively in either English or French, and you complete the whole application in one of the two languages.
About fifteen scholars are selected each year through group interviews followed by individual interviews with the selection committee.
Verified 23 Oct 2026: trudeaufoundation.ca (official, crawled 23 Oct 2026) — 2027 application window 1 Sep to 23 Oct 2026, direct application, no university nomination quota; gradstudents.carleton.ca (43 days ago) — stipend up to $50,000/yr + up to $20,000/yr research allowance, references and full-application deadlines; opportunitiesforyouth.org (Sep 2026) — two-step process, eligibility verification deadline 2 Oct 2026, references 30 Oct 2026 9:00 a.m. ET, complete application 6 Nov 2026 4:00 p.m. ET, three referees (supervisor, academic, non-academic); greatyop.com — $25,000 stipend floor with other funding, Canadian/international enrolment rules, four themes; yorku.ca + enews.sgs.utoronto.ca — up to $210,000 total, ~15 scholars/yr. Queue title "Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholarship 2025" retitled to the live 2027 competition; the 2025 and 2026 editions are closed.
