The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship for 2026 is a fully financed, three-year leadership program for international students who want to get their doctorate at a Canadian university .
This highly regarded scholarship can pay up to $70,000 each year for three years, for a total of up to $210,000, as well as substantial leadership training and travel opportunities.
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is giving these prestigious scholarships to outstanding doctoral candidates who show great leadership potential, academic excellence, and a strong desire to work on issues that are very important to Canada's future.
The program offers more than just typical academic support It also offers leadership training, mentorship, and chances to get involved in community and public policy projects that matter Chosen scholars join a large network of leaders from many different fields.
Also, apply for the University of Calgary Graduate Fellowship 2026
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is one of Canada's best places to train leaders who are willing to take on difficult social problems. The foundation's main goals are to promote human rights and dignity, responsible citizenship, Canada's place in the world, and people and their natural environment. The scholarship program is meant to help doctorate students whose research is related to these topics and who show promise of becoming leaders in their professions at the national and international levels
Why do you want to get the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship? It is a life-changing chance to improve both academic skills and leadership skills through a bilingual, interdisciplinary, and hands-on leadership program Scholars get a lot of money to help them, but they also get to work with famous fellows, go to foundation events and institutes, and meet with community leaders and officials.
Summary of the scholarship
- Level of Study: Doctoral (PhD)
- Institution(s): Any Canadian university
- Study in: Canada
- Fields of Study: Social sciences and humanities, with research that is related to one or more of the Foundation's four topics
- Time of the program: 3 years
- Number of Awards: About 12 to 15 scholarships each year
- Deadline: November 17, 2025 (for the 2026 competition)
- Most of the time, reference letters are due November 12, 2025
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Coverage for Scholarships
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship gives its winners a lot of great privileges, like as
- Annual Stipend: $50,000 a year for three years to help with living costs
- Research and Travel Allowance: $20,000 a year for research, fieldwork, conference travel, and networking
- Leadership Training: Full funding for participation in the Foundation's leadership programs
- Mentorship: Pairing with distinguished Foundation Mentors
- Network Access: Membership in the Foundation's community of Scholars, Fellows, and Mentors
- Language Training: Help with learning French or English if necessary
- Foundation Events: Full funding for participation in Foundation institutes, retreats, and events
You should also apply for Qassim University Scholarship 2025 in Saudi Arabia
Requirements to be eligible for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholarship
To qualify for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship, candidates must fulfill the subsequent requirements
- Citizenship: You must be a Canadian citizen studying at a Canadian or foreign institution, or a permanent resident or foreign national enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian institution Click here to check eligibility
- Citizenship: International students at international universities are not eligible
- Academic Status: You must be in the first or second year of a full-time doctoral program in social sciences and humanities
- Research Alignment: Your research must clearly relate to one or more of the Foundation's four themes
- Leadership Experience: A history of leading and getting involved in the community
- Language Skills: Fluent in English or French and eager to learn both official languages
- Academic Excellence: Exceptional academic performance in previous courses
- Program Timing: You must be in the first or second year of your doctoral studies as of the application
Four Main Ideas of the Foundation
- Rights and Dignity of People
- The right to a fair trial
- The right to equality
- The right to be heard and understood
- Rights of refugees and migrants
- Inclusion and exclusion in society
- Being a Good Citizen
- Taking part in democracy
- Getting involved in your community
- Improving your community
- Having a voice in politics
- Being socially responsible
- Canada in the World
- International development
- Global governance
- Climate diplomacy
- Peace and security
- Foreign policy
- People and the Environment They Live In
- Adapting to climate change
- Environmental justice
- Managing resources
- Sustainable development
- Indigenous environmental knowledge
You should also look at the Portugal Government Scholarships 2025 as well
How can you apply for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholarship?
To apply for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship, please follow these steps
- Step 1: Check to see whether you are eligible and do some research to see if it fits
- Make sure that your doctoral research fits with at least one of the Foundation's themes
- Make sure you meet all the requirements to be eligible
Step 2: Get Your Application Ready
For your application, you will need to collect the following papers
- An application form that has been filled out
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities
- Proof of citizenship or immigration status
- Step 3: Fill out the Foundation Application
- Step 4: Choosing the Best
- The Foundation staff and selection committee look over the application for the first time
- Candidates who made the short list were invited to interviews (usually in February or March)
- The final choice will be made in the spring of 2026
- Step 5: Activating the Scholarship
- Candidates who are chosen will start their scholarships in May 2026
- Go to the Foundation's Summer Institute
- Start a three-year program to help you become a better leader
Criteria for Selection
The selection committee looks at candidates based on
- Academic Excellence (30%): Outstanding scholarly achievements and research potential
- Leadership Abilities (30%): Demonstrated leadership experience and future potential
- Engagement with Foundation Themes (25%): Clear connection to one or more thematic areas
- Communication Skills (15%): Ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences
Parts of the Leadership Development Program
- Foundation Schools
- Yearly meetings that bring together students, teachers, and companions
- Interdisciplinary talks about Foundation issues and workshops and seminars to help people learn new skills
- Program for Mentorship
- Working with experienced Foundation Mentors
- Meeting often and getting advice throughout the scholarship time
- Getting access to professional networks and knowledge
- Leadership that is involved
- Chances to get involved in the community and reach out to the public
- Taking part in policy discussions and public debates
- Learning how to share knowledge
- Duality of language
- Help in becoming fluent in both official languages
- Bilingual programming and events
- More ability to lead the country
Important Tips for Applying
- Start early—get ready 4–6 months before the deadline
- Clearly explain how your study fits with the topics of the Foundation
- Show that you can lead by giving specific examples and accomplishments
- Get excellent references from people who know your work well
- Make your application fit with the Foundation's mission
- Work on your interview abilities by getting ready to talk about your research and leadership ideas
- Get in touch with past scholars to find out how they did
Important Dates and Timeline
- September 9, 2025: The 2026 competition opens
- November 17, 2025: Deadline for applications
- Week of January 26, 2026: Notification for next round
- February 20, 2026: Interview notification
- The scholarship period starts in May 2026
OFFICIAL SITES
Visit the official website for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship to get all the details https://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/scholarship
For information on how to apply and other resources, go to https://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/apply
For specific questions, please email scholarship2026@trudeaufoundation.ca
Please note that the deadlines for applications and the requirements may vary Always check the official Trudeau Foundation website for the most up-to-date information There are a lot of people who want to win the scholarship, but only about 3–5% of them do