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What is the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholarship?

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholarship (also referred to as the Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship) is a prestigious Canadian scholarship program managed by the Trudeau Foundation. It aims to support exceptional doctoral-level scholars whose research aligns with one or more of the Foundation’s four central themes:

• Human Rights & Dignity

• Responsible Citizenship

• Canada and the World

• People and their Natural Environment
  

The scholarship is more than just funding — it seeks to build a community of engaged leaders, offering mentorship, networking, leadership training, and opportunities for public engagement alongside financial support.

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Key Benefits & Coverage

Here are the main benefits of the scholarship:

• Up to CAD $50,000 per year for up to three years to cover tuition and living expenses.

• An additional allowance of up to CAD $20,000 per year (for three years) for research, networking, travel, leadership training or language learning.

• Eligibility may expand the “up to” amount: some sources list “up to CAD $60,000 per year (including a travel allowance)”.

• Scholars become part of a dynamic community of “Scholars, Mentors and Fellows”, benefiting from lifelong membership and participation in events, masterclasses and public dialogues.

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Who is Eligible?

Academic Level & Program

• Applicants must be registered or accepted into a full-time doctoral (PhD) programme.

• For the 2026 competition, applicants must be in Year 1 or Year 2 of their doctoral programme at the time of application.

• Candidates in the final year of a Master’s programme are no longer eligible for the 2026 round.

Citizenship / Study Location

• Canadian students studying at Canadian universities or Canadian students studying abroad are eligible.

• International students (non-Canadians) who are enrolled in a doctoral programme at a Canadian institution are eligible.

• International students studying at non-Canadian institutions are not eligible.

Discipline & Research Theme

• The research must broadly fall into the humanities, social sciences or human sciences; the exact department isn’t strictly limited.

• Importantly, the doctoral work must relate to at least one of the Foundation’s four themes (see above).

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What About CGPA / English Test Scores?

While many scholarships list minimum CGPA or standardised test (e.g., IELTS/TOEFL) requirements, the Trudeau Foundation’s publicly-available documents do not specify a strict CGPA minimum nor a fixed English test score threshold. Rather, they require “outstanding academic achievement and a high level of intellectual ability.”

• CGPA: No official minimum is listed. Some unofficial sources (e.g., Facebook posts) suggest “minimum CGPA of 3.0 on a 5.0 scale or 2.5 on a 4.0 scale” but this appears unverified and is not in the official documentation.

• English test / language proficiency: There is no published requirement for a specific IELTS or TOEFL score. The FAQ states that fluency in both official languages (English/French) is not required; the applicant should however be willing to improve proficiency in the other official language.

Therefore: if you’re applying, treat these as guidelines to demonstrate academic excellence and strong communication skills, rather than strict numeric hurdles.

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Application Timeline & Key Dates (for 2026)

• Application opens: 9 September 2025 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

• Deadline to submit references: 12 November 2025 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

• Final application deadline: 17 November 2025 at 4:00 p.m. ET.

• Interviews for shortlisted candidates: March 2026 (approximately).

• Official announcement of Scholars: early April 2026.

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How to Apply – Step by Step

1. Create an account on the Foundation’s application portal via the website.

2. Complete the online application, including research proposal, personal statement, CV, transcripts, etc.

3. Submit three referees: one supervisor, one academic, one non-academic.

4. Upload official transcripts covering all post-secondary education.

5. Ensure your research aligns with one or more of the Foundation’s four themes.

6. Submit before the deadline. Late or incomplete applications are typically not considered.

7. If shortlisted, you may be invited for group or individual interviews.

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Selection Criteria – What the Foundation Looks For

Based on official documentation, applicants are evaluated on:

• Academic excellence and intellectual curiosity

• Leadership and engagement: involvement in community, volunteer work, extracurriculars.

• Willingness to engage with a plurality of perspectives (culturally, ideologically)

• Relevance of research to one or more of the four themes.

• Communication skills and ambition to disseminate knowledge for the greater societal good.

Note: Since there is no fixed CGPA or language test score, your application must show clear excellence and strength across all criteria.

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Tips for Applicants – How to Maximize Your Chances

• Start early: Give yourself enough time to craft a solid research proposal, gather strong references and reflect on your leadership/engagement story.

• Demonstrate impact: Don’t only describe your research topic — show how it matters for society, Canada and the world, and how you intend to translate research into action.

• Link to the Foundation themes: Explicitly connect your project to one or more of the four themes.

• Show evidence of excellence: While there’s no minimum CGPA listed, be prepared to show high academic achievement (e.g., transcripts, publications, conference presentations).

• Highlight leadership / engagement: Volunteer work, community involvement, interdisciplinarity or cross-cultural experience all help.

• Prepare for interviews: If shortlisted, you’ll likely face group and/or individual interviews; practice articulating your research, leadership story and vision.

• Language awareness: Even though fluency in both official languages isn’t required, the program encourages language improvement — mentioning your interest in bilingualism can be a plus.

• Multiple funding sources: Be aware that if you receive other major awards, this may affect the stipend amount.

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Common Misconceptions Clarified