Scholarship • Canada

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship is one of Canada's most prestigious PhD funding programmes, supporting up to fifteen scholars per year who are pursuing doctoral research in the humanities and social sciences at a Canadian university. The scholarship provides up to CAD 50,000 per year for tuition and living expenses, plus up to CAD 20,000 per year for research travel, networking, and language learning, for a maximum of three years, totalling up to CAD 210,000 per scholar. Open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents studying anywhere in the world, as well as international students enrolled at a Canadian university, the programme requires that doctoral research relate to at least one of the Foundation's four central themes: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the World, or People and their Natural Environment. Beyond the financial award, scholars join a vibrant, lifelong community of more than 500 alumni Scholars, Mentors, and Fellows, with structured leadership training, an annual summer school, and direct mentorship from leaders across Canadian public life. Candidates must be in the first or second year of a full-time PhD program at the time of application; those in their final year of a Master's degree are not eligible. The 2027 competition opens 9 September 2026 and closes 17 November 2026 at 4:00 PM EST. Applications are submitted directly through the Foundation's online portal, with no university nomination required, though candidates should inform their academic department of their intent to apply.