Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships 2027 for study in Canada

Application Deadline: October 2nd, 2026

Applications are now open for the 2027 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships. The Scholarship is looking for students with an outstanding academic record who demonstrate exceptional potential to advance knowledge and address the major challenges facing Canada and the world.

Successful candidates stand out through the quality of their research, their academic excellence, as well as their intellectual curiosity, ambition, leadership potential, commitment to society, and desire to create meaningful impact beyond academia.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation PhD Scholarship, you must meet the following eligibility requirements.

To be eligible, you must be one of the following:

• 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.

International students residing outside Canada or enrolled at a university outside Canada are not eligible

Your field of study must be broadly related to the humanities or social sciences and address issues that are relevant to Canada’s future. Your PhD research must align with at least one of the Foundation’s four themes:

• Human Rights and Dignity
• Responsible Citizenship
• Canada and the World
• People and their Natural Environment

Stage of Study

At the time of application, you must be:

• in the first year of a PhD program; or
• in the second year of a PhD program.

Candidate Profile

he strongest applications typically demonstrate:

• Academic excellence, supported by an outstanding academic record.
• A compelling research project that addresses issues shaping Canada’s future.
• A strong commitment to making a positive impact, demonstrated through initiatives, collaborations, or achievements.

A willingness to engage in dialogue, interdisciplinary collaboration, and knowledge sharing.

Letters of Reference

You must provide three letters of reference

• One from your PhD supervisor.
• One from another academic referee.
• One from a referee outside academia.