Frequently Asked Questions | Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation

About the scholarship program

Does the Foundation offer Scholarships other than at the doctoral level? 

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship program is for students at the doctoral level only. The Foundation does not offer funding for undergraduate or Master's programs. However, you can apply if you are in your last year of your Master’s program or the first two years of your doctoral program.

Is the Scholarship valid for three or four years? 

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship is a three-year program. Scholars are expected to participate in Foundation events and activities over the course of the three years. Often, even after the three years, the community of Scholars will continue connecting. Our alumni program is more than 500 people strong.

What if I graduate before the end of the three-year program?

Great to hear that you have been able to finish your program. It is unusual that Scholars finish before the end of the three years, but it may exceptionally happen. The Scholarship cannot apply for post-graduate studies and will end upon termination of the doctoral studies.

What does the Scholarship cover?

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholars receive:

Up to $50,000 per year for three years to cover tuition and reasonable living expenses to support Scholars to focus on their doctoral studies and the Foundation's programs.
Up to $20,000 per year for three years, as a research, networking, and travel allowance related to the Scholar's doctoral research and the Foundation’s programs.
Membership in a vibrant community of Scholars, Mentors, and Fellows, all of whom are leaders in their respective disciplines and sectors, and lifelong membership in the Foundation’s alumni network.

If I am selected as a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholar, may I accept other awards? Does the Foundation have a policy on the cumulation of awards?

Many of our Scholars are outstanding and have successfully applied for several Scholarships. We are very proud to get such an outstanding group of doctoral researchers. However, we are also conscious to recognize that doctoral students should not be able to receive the monetary equivalent of several large scholarships. Usually, the amount of the Trudeau Foundation Scholarship is adjusted, depending on the amount received from other organizations, institutions or universities. Scholars are obliged to annually declare all additional sources of income, including scholarships. All Scholars will receive the Annual Travel Allowance of $20,000 and all Scholars will receive at minimum $25,000 of the stipend.

The Foundation does not differentiate whether the Scholar is studying abroad or in Canada. For a Scholar studying abroad and receiving an external award in a non-Canadian currency, the Foundation converts this funding in Canadian dollars to establish the amount of this external award.

The Foundation does not differentiate either where the Scholar is studying to adjust the stipend.

Can I work if I hold a Scholarship with the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation?

Scholars may work part-time and continue to fully benefit from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship. That includes work on campus as research assistants, teacher assistants, lecturers and other on-campus, academic, part-time roles.

Please note that full-time employment would render a Scholar ineligible for the scholarship, regardless of whether they are also a full-time student.

What happens if I need to take a leave of absence from my studies (e.g. parental leave, professional leave, etc.)?

We understand that life happens! Foundation Scholars may pause their Scholarship for parental, medical, personal, or professional leave for a maximum of one year, notably in circumstances where they are temporarily not a registered full-time doctoral student. Note that Scholars are not employees of the Foundation. The Foundation cannot pay parental leave.

The funds are put on hold until the Scholar returns to their university and is once again registered as a full-time doctoral student. The Foundation considers each situation differently and may propose different options for Scholars to re-enter the leadership programming upon their return.

If I am named a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholar, what is the process for receiving the Scholarship funds?

If selected by the Application and Nomination Review Committee (ANRC) and approved by the Board of Directors as a Scholar, and once you have signed your funding agreement and provided the supporting documentation, you will officially be eligible to begin receiving the Scholarship: a stipend and annual travel and language learning allowances.

The annual stipend is paid in three installments per year.

About the scholarship program application process

What is the deadline for application to the competition? 

The 2025 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Scholarship Competition will open on September 9, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. EST. Candidates must now apply directly to the Foundation through its online application portal. The final deadline to submit applications to the Foundation is November 25, 2024 at 4 p.m. EST.

Do I need to let my university know that I want to apply?

No, although your university may ask you to let them know that you are applying, that you have applied, or that you have been shortlisted in the selection process. In contrast with previous years, the Foundation no longer requires that applicants be officially nominated by their university to be considered for the Scholarship.

All eligible candidates who submit completed applications by the November 25, 2024 deadline at 4 p.m. EST will be reviewed and assessed by the Foundation.

Please note that your university will be notified, should you advance to the different steps of the selection process.

Where can I find the application form?

The application form can be found by registering with and logging into the Foundation’s application portal.

Can I send my own application directly to the Foundation? 

Students can apply for the scholarship through its application portal.

In contrast with previous years, universities are no longer required to hold an internal selection process and nominate a limited number of their preferred candidates.

How do I apply?

First, go to the Foundation’s application portal. On the landing page of the portal, you may toggle the page in either English or French, which will also change the language of the application form.

If you are not already registered on the Foundation’s new platform, you must register by clicking “Register here” and completing the eligibility criteria questions and ensuing registration information. Once complete, you will receive an email with a link to set up your username and password. The email should arrive within five minutes. If you do not receive this email, please refresh your inbox, and check your spam folder.

Once you have logged in, you will be brought your personal Dashboard on the Foundation’s portal. You may return to your Dashboard at any time during the process by clicking on “Home” in the top right corner of your window.

Once within the portal, please complete the mandatory questions in your Profile. If you respect the eligibility criteria, you will be asked to complete the other sections of your Profile. To exit your Profile, click Next or return to your Dashboard.

To begin an application form for the 2025 Scholarship competition, click on “Funding Opportunities” and then “Apply Now”.

You can save a draft of your application and return to it until the application deadline. Please avoid submitting at the very last minute since the system may be overloaded.

Please make sure to click ”Submit ” once you have completed your application, uploaded your transcripts and received notifications that your referees submitted their referral form.

All eligible candidates who submit a completed application by deadline will go through a rigorous selection process. Shortlisted candidates (Round one) will be contacted at the end of January 2025 and invited to group interviews. Finalists (Round two) will be invited to individual interviews in March 2025.

How do I know when my file is complete and ready for submission?

You have completed an application form (minimum requirement is completing all mandatory questions).
You have received notifications that all your referees submitted their reference form.
You uploaded your transcripts.

You are ready to submit your application!

How do I know if my application was submitted?

You will receive a confirmation email with your application in PDF.

In addition, in your personal Dashboard on the portal, one application should be listed as “Submitted” under “Applications”.

Which transcripts should be submitted? 

Please upload transcripts covering your entire post-secondary education in one PDF document. Candidates who attended CEGEP in Quebec should not include their CEGEP transcripts. Official transcripts are not required for your application, but you may be asked to provide official copies if your application is successful.

Does the Foundation provide a format for reference letters? 

The reference form contains a limited number of questions about the candidate. We ask candidates to provide three reference letters in total, one of which should ideally come from the PhD supervisor; at least one of there references should come from outside of Academia.

We are no longer asking referees to upload their reference letter in PDF format on our portal. The referral forms must be completed by the referee on the application portal prior to the application deadline. Please note that candidates will not be able to submit their application without three submitted and completed referral forms.

The Foundation may contact referees for additional information and confirmation.

Will I be notified about the status of my application?

Once your application is fully submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. Afterwards, only applicants selected as semi-finalists are notified of the status of their application.

If you are selected as a semi-finalist, you will be invited to participate in group interviews via videoconference. These interviews are an opportunity for semi-finalists to connect with one another, meet the Foundation staff, and gain a better understanding of the Foundation and its programs. Candidates selected for semi-final interviews will be contacted in end of January 2025.

About eligibility

Are applications from non-Canadian students accepted? 

If applicants are studying at a Canadian university, non-Canadian students (permanent residents or foreign nationals) are eligible.

Are Canadians studying at a non-Canadian university eligible? 

Yes. Canadians studying at a non-Canadian university are eligible for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship. 

Am I eligible to apply for a Scholarship if I am already enrolled in a doctoral program? 

Yes, you are eligible if you are in year one or two of a full-time doctoral program at the time of application.

Am I eligible to apply for a Scholarship if I have applied, or will apply, to a doctoral program but have not started it yet?

At the time of application, you must:

Be in the process of completing a Master’s program (completed no later than summer 2025)
Be in the first year of a doctoral program
Be in your second year of a doctoral program

Which disciplines does the Foundation consider to be social sciences and humanities?

The Foundation recognizes that many doctoral students are working on research projects that are interdisciplinary and qualify as advanced research in the social sciences and humanities, regardless of their faculty or department affiliation.

That said, applicants are eligible as long as their research topic relates to one or more of the Foundation’s founding Four Themes: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the World, and People and their Natural Environment. The Foundation will not assess the eligibility of individuals' research topics by email or over the phone. Applicants do not need to be a doctoral student of a faculty or department normally associated with social sciences and humanities; we also welcome applicants from engineering, business, health sciences and pure and applied sciences that can demonstrate how their research topic relates to one or more of the Foundation’s four themes.

Does my research project have to be linked to the Four Themes of the Foundation?

Yes. You must link your research to one or more of the Foundation’s Four Themes in order to be considered for the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship. These themes are: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the World, and People in their Natural Environment. Learn more about the Four Themes. 

While I am in my doctoral degree, can I study part-time?

Only students studying full-time in a doctoral program are eligible to receive a Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship.

Applicants must be registered or accepted in a full-time doctoral program at the time they submit their application.

Is there an age limit?

No.

Is there a grade requirement?

Applicants must provide evidence of their strong academic performance and intellectual capacity. We will look for evidence of this throughout your application, including in transcripts and referrals.

Do I need to be fluent in both English and French to receive the Scholarship?

No, you do not need to be fluent in both official languages to receive the Scholarship. However, all Scholars who are not fluently bilingual in both Official Languages (English and French) are encouraged to take steps through formal or informal training to improve their proficiency in the Official Language with which they are less familiar.

Indigenous successful applicants are encouraged to improve their knowledge of their chosen Indigenous language.

Scholars may use their Annual Travel Allowance to cover any costs for language learning.

About referees

How many references must be provided? Three

1. PhD Supervisor

2. Another academic referee

3. A non-academic referee (cannot be a family member)

Specificities about referees

What if my PhD supervisor has not been chosen OR does not know me well enough yet?

If this is the case, you may choose to ask a previous supervisor or another professor to act as a referee. Please ensure that the chosen person can share their perspective of your scholarly pursuits. We would highly suggest you make a note of this in your application in the Essay Section - ‘Special Circumstances’.

What do you mean by another academic referee?

This can be anyone that can speak to your academic progress. We are looking for someone who knows you as a student, a scholar, a researcher.

What do you mean by non-academic referee?

This can be anyone who knows you outside the world of academia. This person can speak to your character, your engagement and/or your commitment to working with others.

Can I ask a family member to act as a referee? NO.

Can you give me anymore advice about choosing my referees?

We are asking applicants to choose referees that can speak to the different aspects of themselves (scholar/academic/student and human being involved in their community). We want people who can give us a better of who you are as a scholar, a research partner, as a volunteer.

Does my referee have to answer in the same language as the one used to complete my application?

No. Your referee can answer in either French or English, and this notwithstanding what language is used in your application form.

Do my referees have to submit letters of reference?

No, you must include the names and email addresses of your referees in your application form. They will receive an email and be asked to register. Once this is done, they will have access to a specific reference form that must be filled out. Similarly to your application form, the reference form must be saved as they go. There is NO AUTO-SAVE of information.

Do my referees have to fill out the entire form in one sitting?

No, referees can choose to keep their reference form as a draft and work on it over the course of a few days. When done, they must SUBMIT their reference form.

What format is used for the reference forms?

Referees will be asked to answer specific questions.

What types of questions are asked in the reference form?

Referees are asked to speak about your academic progress (if applicable), your engagement (academic/non-academic) and other questions about your character. Amongst other things. There are specific prompts to ensure what type of information is shared.

When do the reference forms need to be submitted? November 20, 2024, at the latest.

Can we have more than three referees? No, we ask for three. No more, no less.

Can I ask someone who does not reside in Canada to be a referee? Yes.

About the selection and interview process

What language is used during the interviews? 

The group interviews and individual interviews will be held in English or French, or in both official languages of Canada, depending on the language skills and preferences of the candidate. 

What is the anticipated timeline for the selection process?

Please see the “2025 competition key dates” on the Become a Scholar page.

What should I expect during the group interviews?

Congratulations on making it to Round One of the selection process!

Your application stood out and the Foundation invited you to a group interview. Group interviews are meant to evaluate and identify candidates who best represent the Foundation’s values and selection criteria. For more details on the criteria and what we are looking for, please see the Become a Scholar page.

There are several group interviews slots in February 2025 and we try to accommodate candidates as much as possible on time zones.

There are usually up to 16 candidates in each group interview session. The group interview sessions begin with a presentation by the Foundation on its programs, followed by small group discussions and presentations to the greater group.