Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships 2027 ($60,000 per scholar)

• In the first or second year of a full-time PhD programme at the time of application
• Research broadly in the humanities or social sciences, connected to at least one of the Foundation's four themes
• Canadian citizen studying at a Canadian or foreign institution, OR a non-Canadian (permanent resident or foreign national) enrolled in a doctoral programme at a Canadian institution

Who is not eligible: non-Canadian doctoral students enrolled at a university outside Canada — international applicants must already be studying at a Canadian institution to qualify.

What you need to apply

• An eligibility screening form, completed first, before the full application unlocks
• Three letters of reference: one from your PhD supervisor, one other academic referee, and one referee from outside academia
• Attendance at a mandatory information session

Position yourself

The Foundation explicitly looks beyond academic excellence to leadership potential and a willingness to make research accessible outside academia — your non-academic referee's letter matters more here than it would for a typical academic scholarship, so choose that person deliberately rather than as an afterthought.

What to do if you are not eligible

If you're a non-Canadian PhD student studying outside Canada, this specific scholarship isn't accessible to you regardless of your research's strength — look instead at funding tied to your actual host country or institution.

This is a two-step process. First, complete a short eligibility screening form by 2 October 2026. Only applicants confirmed eligible can access the full application. Mandatory information sessions run the weeks of 5 and 12 October 2026. All three references are due by 30 October 2026, and the complete application by 6 November 2026.

Application tip

Don't skip the eligibility screening step or leave it to the last day — it's a hard gate before you can even see the full application, and missing the 2 October deadline for it ends your chance regardless of how strong your later application would have been.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply in my third year of my PhD?
No — eligibility is specifically for first- or second-year doctoral students.

Does my research have to be exclusively about Canada?
No, but it must connect meaningfully to at least one of the Foundation's four themes, which include broader global and environmental questions, not only Canada-specific ones.

Other opportunities for African undergraduates and recent graduates: browse the full, current list on our Opportunities & Updates page.

Official application: apply directly through the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation's own page. STUF curates opportunities but does not control external selection, so confirm every detail on the official source before applying.