Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation PhD Scholarship Program (Canada)

Deadline: 02-Oct-2026

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation PhD Scholarship supports outstanding doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences whose research addresses important issues affecting Canada’s future. The scholarship is open to Canadian citizens studying at Canadian or international universities and international students enrolled at Canadian universities, subject to the program’s PhD-stage eligibility requirements. The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation PhD Scholarship Program supports doctoral students whose research contributes to the understanding of major social, political, environmental, and global issues relevant to Canada. The program is designed to develop future leaders who combine academic excellence with intellectual curiosity and a commitment to creating meaningful impact beyond academia. Scholarship applicants must demonstrate that their doctoral research connects with at least one of the Foundation’s four themes. Applicants’ doctoral research must align with at least one of the following themes: Applicants should clearly explain how their research connects with one or more of these themes. The scholarship is open to specific groups of doctoral students, including: Applicants should carefully verify the current year’s eligibility rules before applying, as program requirements and definitions may vary between application cycles. The program is intended for doctoral research in the humanities and social sciences. Eligible research should also have a clear connection to one or more of the Foundation’s themes: The program therefore looks beyond academic specialization alone and considers the broader relevance of the applicant’s research to society and Canada’s future. The program aims to nurture doctoral scholars who demonstrate: Applicants should present their research not only as an academic project but also in terms of its potential relevance to communities, institutions, policymakers, or society. The application requires three letters of reference.

The references must include:

The combination of academic and non-academic references allows applicants to demonstrate both their research capabilities and their broader engagement or potential societal contribution. Applicants should make the connection between their doctoral research and the Foundation’s themes easy to understand.

Key preparation steps include:

Applicants should avoid:

A strong application can benefit from a clear and consistent narrative connecting the applicant, doctoral research, Foundation theme, and potential societal contribution.

Applicants should:

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation PhD Scholarship is designed to support doctoral researchers whose work extends beyond academic inquiry to address important questions facing Canada and the wider world. By emphasizing academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, thematic alignment, and broader societal engagement, the program seeks to help develop researchers and future leaders capable of contributing to public life and meaningful social change. It is a doctoral scholarship program supporting outstanding students in the humanities and social sciences whose research addresses issues relevant to Canada’s future. Eligible applicants include Canadian citizens studying at Canadian or international universities and international students enrolled at Canadian universities, subject to the program’s eligibility requirements. Applicants must generally be in the first or second year of their PhD program at the time of application. Research must be in the humanities or social sciences and align with at least one of four themes: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the World, or People and their Natural Environment.

Three letters are required: one from the PhD supervisor, one from another academic referee, and one from a referee outside academia.

Yes. International students enrolled at Canadian universities can apply, provided they meet the program’s other eligibility requirements. Applicants should clearly explain their doctoral research, its connection to one or more Foundation themes, its relevance to Canada’s future, and its potential contribution beyond academia. The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation PhD Scholarship supports early-stage doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences whose research engages with major issues relevant to Canada’s future. Applicants should focus on strong academic research, clear thematic alignment, meaningful societal relevance, and the required combination of academic and non-academic references. For more information, visit Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.