Doctoral • 3-year leadership program • Up to $50,000 stipend + $20,000 research/travel per year
Canada • PhD (research-oriented) • First or second year at time of selection
The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation (PETF) Scholarship is a prestigious, three-year leadership and research award for outstanding doctoral candidates whose work aligns with one or more of the Foundation’s four themes: Human Rights & Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada & the World, and People & their Natural Environment. Below you’ll find the value & benefits, eligibility, the 2026 competition timeline, and a step-by-step application plan with writing and referee tips.
What you get (Value & benefits)
Funding (3 years)
- Up to $50,000 per year for tuition and living costs.
- Up to $20,000 per year for research, networking, and travel (also supports Foundation programming and language learning).
- Minimum guaranteed stipend component even when holding other awards; PETF adjusts for other funding but still provides the annual research/travel allowance.
Leadership community
- Immersive, three-year Engaged Leadership Program with masterclasses, policy seminars, and field events.
- Mentorship & networking with PETF Fellows and Mentors across sectors, plus lifelong alumni network (>500 members).
Fields are broad: the Foundation welcomes interdisciplinary projects; STEM/business/health applicants can be competitive if their research questions clearly relate to the four themes above.
Who can apply (Eligibility)
Enrollment status
- At the time of selection, you must be in the 1st or 2nd year of a full-time, research-oriented doctoral program (PhD or equivalent) that leads to a thesis or equivalent scholarly output.
- Professional doctorates are not eligible unless part of a joint degree with a substantial research component.
Citizenship & location
- Canadian at a Canadian university.
- Canadian at an international university.
- International student at a Canadian university.
- Not eligible: international students at international universities.
Disciplinary fit
- Research situated in, or clearly tied to, the humanities, social sciences, or human sciences with direct relevance to the future of Canada.
- Must align with Human Rights & DignityResponsible CitizenshipCanada & the WorldPeople & their Natural Environment
References & integrity
- Exactly three referees: thesis supervisor; another academic; one non-academic.
- Referees submit via the portal. Applicants are expected not to use AI tools to draft their application materials.
New since 2026 cycle: final-year master’s students are not eligible to apply; you must already be in year 1 or 2 of your doctorate by the time of selection.
2026 Competition Timeline (all times Eastern)
| Milestone | Date & Time (ET) | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Applications open | Sep 9, 2025 — 9:00 a.m. | Portal goes live; create/update account and begin forms. |
| Referees deadline | Nov 12, 2025 — 9:00 p.m. | All three letters must be attached before you can submit. |
| Application deadline | Nov 17, 2025 — 4:00 p.m. | Submit completed file via PETF portal. |
| Next-round notifications | Week of Jan 26, 2026 | If advanced, you’ll provide extra documents for Stage 2 reading. |
| Interview invitations | Feb 20, 2026 | Selected candidates receive in-person interview details. |
| Final interviews | Mar 10–13, 2026 | Round 2: selection committee in-person interviews. |
| Scholars announced | Apr 10, 2026 | Public announcement of the 2026 PETF Scholars. |
One direct application only: PETF no longer requires (or accepts) university nominations; apply directly via the Foundation portal.
How to apply (step-by-step)
- Open your portal account and read the “how-to” guide. Set personal deadlines one week before the official ones.
- Map your research to the four themes. Write a one-paragraph “theme fit” statement with: research question → why it matters for Canada → which theme(s) it serves.
- Draft the statement of purpose (aim for clarity over flourish): problem, contribution, method, impact beyond academia, and how PETF’s leadership program accelerates your goals.
- Line up three referees early (supervisor, other academic, non-academic). Share your CV + 1-page brief with bullet points under “academics, research, leadership, community, language”.
- Prepare a clean CV (2–4 pages). Use outcomes: papers (accepted/under review), conferences, datasets/tools, policy briefs, community roles, awards.
- Complete the online forms & uploads. Check for required fields and character limits. Keep names, degrees, and dates consistent with transcripts.
- Quality check: print to PDF and read aloud; verify references are attached; verify your time zone vs. ET; then submit.
- Interview prep (if shortlisted): 10 concise stories showing leadership, curiosity, and openness across differences; one 60-second research elevator pitch; one “policy relevance” example.
Essays that win (structure you can copy)
Research statement (4 moves)
- Problem & stakes: the concrete issue and who it affects (Canada/world).
- Your question & method: what you’ll test, measure, interpret.
- Original contribution: what you add that others cannot.
- Use & impact: policy, practice, or community pathways for uptake.
Leadership narrative (3 scenes)
- Scene: describe a real context with constraints.
- Action: the choice you made; who you mobilized; what changed.
- Growth: what you learned; how you listen and engage across differences.
Integrity: PETF expects candidates not to use AI tools to prepare applications. Write in your voice; specific details beat generic claims.
Reference letters (exactly three)
1) Thesis supervisor
- Confirms intellectual potential, feasibility, and supervision plan.
- Mentions publications, data, or fieldwork progress to date.
2) Another academic
- Speaks to coursework, methods training, teaching, or lab/group work.
- Ideally from a different vantage than the supervisor.
3) Non-academic
- Illustrates leadership, character, and engagement beyond campus.
- Community leader, NGO, government, industry, or Indigenous organization.
Timing: ask 6–8 weeks ahead; send a one-page brief with your theme-fit statement and bullet points they may cite. The letters must be uploaded inside the portal by the referees before the references deadline.
Scholar CV tips (2–4 pages)
- Lead with research outputs: papers (journal/conference), preprints, code/data; include DOIs/URLs.
- Impact lines: “informed municipal bylaw X”; “dataset reused by 12 labs”; “cited in parliamentary brief”.
- Community & leadership: roles, mentorship, outreach; quantify scale (audience, volunteers, funds raised).
- Languages: current level in French/English; any Indigenous language learning.
- Awards & funding: list value, term, purpose; PETF will adjust for overlaps but transparency helps.
How selection works
- Eligibility & completeness check after the deadline.
- Stage 1 reading by committees; a subset advances.
- Stage 2 reading (additional materials requested for those advanced).
- In-person interviews with selection committee (no virtual option this cycle), then final Board approval.
- Announcement of Scholars and onboarding to the leadership program.
Avoid these common mistakes
- Writing a great research proposal but not tying it to at least one PETF theme.
- Submitting without all three references attached.
- Confusing professional doctorates with research-oriented PhDs (ineligible unless joint with substantial research).
- Generic leadership claims with no action → result evidence.
- Waiting until the deadline day (time-zone errors and busy servers cause last-minute failures).
FAQs (quick)
How much funding is it?
Up to $50,000/year (tuition + living) plus up to $20,000/year (research/travel/language), for three years. PETF makes adjustments if you hold other awards; the annual research/travel allowance is still provided.
Am I eligible in year 3 of my PhD?
No. For the 2026 cycle, applications are accepted only from year 1 or year 2 doctoral students during the selection process.
Do I need to be bilingual?
No. Bilingualism is encouraged but not required; PETF supports language learning.
Do I apply through my university?
No. Apply directly through the Foundation portal. University nomination is not required.
What happens if I work part-time?
Part-time work (≤20 hours/week) is allowed; full-time employment is not compatible with the Scholarship.
• Always verify final dates and rules on the Foundation’s official pages before submission.