The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation represents much more than a Scholarship. We are a gateway for bold, cutting-edge doctoral researchers to become Engaged Leaders who have meaningful impact in their communities and institutions.
The Foundation fosters the development of Engaged Leadership skills through a three-year program centered on curriculum taught by Fellows and Mentors in settings that take Scholars outside of a traditional university setting. By working alongside others who have a diversity of perspectives and come from different backgrounds, Scholars learn leadership by stepping outside their comfort zone.
Beyond providing generous financial support the doctoral research of outstanding Scholars, we support the development of future Engaged Leaders who inspire innovative approaches as they blaze new trails in the Social Sciences and Humanities.
Eligibility Criteria
Are you ready to embark on a leadership development journey rooted in Brave Spaces?
To apply to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholarship, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- You must be registered or already accepted into or in year one or two (beginning year three in September 2024 or later) of a full-time doctoral program, and expected to complete your doctoral studies in 2027 or later.
- Your field of study is broadly related to the humanities or human sciences of direct relevance to the future of Canada; (please refer to the FAQ for more details and read up on past scholarship recipients)
- Your doctoral work must relate 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 a Canadian citizen studying at a Canadian or foreign institution, or a non-Canadian (permanent resident of Canada or foreign national) enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian institution.
Application Process
Go to Trudeau Foundation on fdnpetf.smartsimple.ca to apply
-
Are you ready to embark on a leadership development journey rooted in Brave Spaces? : Before beginning, make sure to read more about the Foundation’s programs and Brave Spaces.
-
Are you willing to learn from peers, Fellows and Mentors? The Foundation’s leadership curriculum, Brave Spaces: The Path to Engaged Leadership, is anchored by six key leadership concepts: audacity & resilience communication & sharing knowledge, creativity & innovation, diversity, collaboration and duty of service, and by fostering these key competencies and values, the leadership program seeks to develop three dimensions of Scholars’ leadership: leadership of self, leadership among others and leadership of systems. Fellows and Mentors support this leadership training as trainers, advisers and mentors.
-
Are you interested to learn more about the Charter of Rights & Freedom? For the three-year leadership program starting in 2024, this scientific cycle will be focused on the 40 years of the Charter.
-
Are you committed to improving your abilities in the Canadian official language with which you are less familiar and interested in becoming familiar with Indigenous Languages? The Foundation recognizes that knowledge of multiple languages is a hallmark of leaders and public intellectuals, and is a strength and advantage, both professionally and personally. The Foundation’s Policy on Language: BilingualismPlus outlines the Foundation’s support of its Scholars in Canada’s Official Languages – French and English – and in Canada’s Indigenous Languages. Read more about the Foundation’s BilingualismPlus policy here.
-
Do you believe in academic freedom, respectful dialogue, and open debate? The Foundation fosters a community of bold, cutting-edge researchers and community leaders who hold strong views and stand out in their respective fields, who explore, ask difficult questions, and discover new horizons as they blaze new trails. The Foundation openly encourages the free transmission and dissemination of knowledge and has enshrined this in a Code of Community Engagement. The Code informs successful engagement with a plurality of perspectives and encourage academic and intellectual freedom and open speech, while providing a framework for a positive and healthy environment for such exchanges.
-
Candidates are invited to join the Foundation for virtual information sessions on November 6, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. EST for the French session and at 12:30 p.m. EST for the English session. These information sessions will take place via Zoom, and you may attend by video or by phone if you prefer. Kindly let us know if you require ASL or LSQ sign interpretation by emailing
before October 30th. We will be glad to provide the service. Kindly note the following connection details:
-
Monday, November 6, 2023 – 1.5 hour French session for Scholar candidates at 10:00 a.m. EST:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87202749985?pwd=ZKiArIdUx83ac081JGuP0mbTAPNZqT.1
-
Monday, November 6, 2023 – 1.5 hour English session for Scholar candidates at 12:30 p.m. EST:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85218704377?pwd=rurpFWJZaFNNepJCs5TxTX6CUTRgXC.1
-
Register for an account: When the competition opens, register for an account on the Foundation’s application portal. If you already have an account from a scholarship competition prior to 2022, you will need to create a new application.
-
Fill out the application: Once your registration is complete, you will be able to create an application for the 2024 Scholarship Competition. In order to complete your application, you will need to provide:
-
Demographic information: The Foundation gathers demographic information for statistical purposes, in order to fulfill its commitment to diversity and inclusion. This information will only be used by the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation.
-
Essay Questions: Provide answers (200 to 400 words) to four essay questions.
-
Doctoral Projects and Themes: Provide information on your doctoral project, with answers ranging from 200 to 400 words in length.
-
Referees: Enter the name and email address of two referees in the boxes provided. At least one of them must be an academic referee who is able to comment on your university academic performance. Refer to “Get recommendations” below for more details.
-
Language Skills, Post-secondary Education, Achievements and Experience: Provide information on your language skills, your post-secondary education, your achievements – including scholarships, fellowships, awards, publications, conferences, extracurricular and volunteer activities – as well as your relevant work experience.
-
Upload Transcripts: Upload transcripts for all your post-secondary education, except information related to CEGEP in Quebec, should you have attended CEGEP in Quebec.
-
Read and understand the Foundation’s policies: All candidates are asked to acknowledge that they have read and understood key policies of the Foundation. Throughout the three-year program, all Scholars are asked to read, understand and comply with these policies: Policy on the Prevention of Harassment and Violence and Code of Community Engagement.
-
Get recommendations: Once you have entered the name and email address of your referees in the space provided in the application form, an email will automatically be sent to the referees, asking them to complete a predetermined referral form directly on the Foundation’s application portal. Referees must complete the predetermined referral form, which includes both narrative answers and numerical evaluations. We are no longer asking referees to upload their reference letter in PDF format on our application portal. We advise that you follow up with your referees to ensure they submit the completed form on time, by December 1, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
-
PETF selection process:?All eligible candidates who submit a completed application by December 1, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. EST will go through a rigorous selection process. Shortlisted candidates (Round One) will be contacted in February 2024 and invited to virtual group interviews. Finalists (Round Two) will then be invited to meet for individual interviews with members of the selection committee in person in March 2024.
