Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation PhD Scholarship 2027 in Canada

Application Deadline: October 2, 2026

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation PhD Scholarship 2027 is an opportunity for outstanding doctoral students whose research focuses on important issues affecting Canada and the world.

The Foundation seeks candidates with academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, leadership potential, commitment to society, and the ambition to create meaningful impact beyond academia.

Successful Scholars receive significant financial support for their doctoral studies, as well as opportunities to join a network of Scholars, Mentors and Fellows.

Scholarship Details

  • Scholarship: Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation PhD Scholarship 2027

  • Country: Canada

  • Study Level: PhD

  • Sponsor: Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

  • Eligible Applicants: Canadian and eligible international students

  • Application Deadline: October 2, 2026

Scholarship Benefits

Successful candidates may receive:

  • Up to $50,000 CAD per year for 3 years to support tuition and living expenses.

  • Up to $20,000 CAD per year for 3 years for research, networking and travel related to the doctoral project and Foundation activities.

  • Membership in a community of Scholars, Mentors and Fellows.

  • Lifelong membership in the Foundation’s alumni network.

This means the scholarship can provide up to $70,000 CAD per year in combined stipend and allowance support, subject to the Foundation’s terms and conditions.

Fields of Study

The applicant’s field of study must be broadly related to the humanities or social sciences and address issues relevant to Canada’s future.

The proposed PhD research must align with at least one of the Foundation’s four themes:

  1. Human Rights and Dignity

  2. Responsible Citizenship

  3. Canada and the World

  4. People and their Natural Environment

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible, applicants must fall into one of the following categories:

  • A Canadian student enrolled at a Canadian university;

  • A Canadian student enrolled at a university outside Canada; or

  • An international student enrolled at a Canadian university.

Important: International students who are living outside Canada or enrolled at a university outside Canada are not eligible for this scholarship.

PhD Study Requirements

At the time of application, applicants must be:

  • In the first year of a PhD program, or

  • In the second year of a PhD program.

Applicants should also demonstrate strong academic performance and a compelling research project with potential to contribute to society.

What the Foundation Looks For

The strongest candidates typically demonstrate:

  • Academic excellence and an outstanding academic record.

  • A strong and convincing research project addressing issues relevant to Canada’s future.

  • Leadership potential and commitment to making a positive impact.

  • Intellectual curiosity and the ability to engage in meaningful dialogue.

  • Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.

  • A commitment to creating impact beyond academia.

Required Reference Letters

Applicants are required to provide three letters of reference:

  • One from the applicant’s PhD supervisor.

  • One from another academic referee.

  • One from a referee outside academia.

Applicants should therefore begin contacting their referees early to ensure that the letters are submitted before the relevant deadline.

Important Application Dates

Applicants should take note of the following dates:

  • September 1, 2026: Eligibility verification form opens.

  • October 2, 2026: Deadline to submit an eligibility verification request.

  • October 30, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. ET: Deadline for reference letters to be received.

  • November 6, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET: Deadline to submit the complete application.

Main Deadline: October 2, 2026

The October 2 deadline concerns the eligibility verification request. Applicants who proceed further must also meet the later deadlines for references and the complete application.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should begin by reviewing the eligibility requirements and completing the eligibility verification process through the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.

Applicants should prepare their research proposal and supporting information carefully and ensure that their referees have sufficient time to submit their letters.

For the latest application instructions and official information, applicants should consult the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation’s official scholarship page.

Deadline for eligibility verification request: October 2, 2026

Important: This scholarship is specifically targeted at eligible PhD students whose research fits the Foundation’s humanities/social sciences focus and at least one of its four themes. International applicants must be enrolled at a Canadian university to be eligible.

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