At Youth Works Hub, we went through this scholarship and its full timeline so you know exactly who qualifies, what it funds, and the multi-step deadlines before the 2 October 2026 eligibility screening cut-off. The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Scholarship supports outstanding doctoral students in the humanities and social sciences whose research addresses issues shaping Canada's future, combining a substantial multi-year stipend with mentorship and a national network.
What the Foundation 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, their intellectual curiosity, ambition, leadership potential, commitment to society, and desire to create meaningful impact beyond academia.
The Field and the Four Themes
📚 Your field of study must be broadly related to the humanities or social sciences and address issues relevant to Canada's future, aligning 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.
🎓 Exploring other funded study routes in Canada? See The Lester B. Pearson Award for International Undergraduates in 🇨🇦 Canada → https://youthworkshub.org/21038
Who Can Apply
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.
📆 At the time of application, you must be in the first or second year of your PhD programme.
What Makes a Strong Application
🏅 Academic excellence supported by an outstanding academic record.
🔬 A compelling research project that addresses issues shaping Canada's future.
🤝 A strong commitment to positive impact, shown through initiatives, collaborations or achievements, and a willingness to engage in dialogue, interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge sharing.
📄 Three letters of reference: one from your PhD supervisor, one from another academic referee, and one from a referee outside academia.
🏆 Interested in a global platform for changemakers? Take a look at the One Young World Leading Scholarship 2026 in 🇿🇦 South Africa → https://youthworkshub.org/20069
What the Scholarship Provides
💶 According to Youth Works Hub's review, the scholarship provides an annual stipend of up to CAD $50,000 for three years (covering studies and living costs), plus a research and travel allowance of up to CAD $20,000.
🤝 Beyond the funding, scholars gain mentorship, experiential learning (meetings, masterclasses, seminars and fieldwork), an interdisciplinary network of Mentors, Fellows and Scholars, and access to a community of more than 500 alumni.
🎯 Up to sixteen scholarships are awarded each year.
The Two-Step Process and Key Dates
📝 The process has two steps: you first complete an eligibility screening form; only applicants whose eligibility is confirmed can access the full application form. Applications that do not meet the eligibility criteria are not reviewed.
📅 The key 2027 dates are:
🔹 2 October 2026 — deadline to request eligibility confirmation.
🔹 Weeks of 5 and 12 October — mandatory information sessions.
🔹 30 October 2026, 9:00 a.m. ET — deadline for receipt of all three references.
🔹 6 November 2026, 4:00 p.m. ET — deadline to submit the complete application.
📧 Questions go to scholarship2027@trudeaufoundation.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Who is eligible? Canadian students at a Canadian or overseas university, or international students enrolled at a Canadian university; those residing outside Canada or enrolled abroad (if not Canadian) are not eligible.
❓ What stage of PhD? First or second year of your doctoral programme.
❓ What field? Humanities or social sciences, aligned with one of the four themes.
❓ What does it pay? Up to CAD $50,000/year for three years, plus a research and travel allowance of up to CAD $20,000.
❓ What's the first deadline? The eligibility screening request by 2 October 2026, with the full application due 6 November 2026.
Deadline
⏳ 02 October 2026 (eligibility screening; full application due 06 November 2026)
Links
🔗 Confirm eligibility / apply: https://fdnpetf.smartsimple.ca/
🔗 Eligibility criteria: https://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/become-a-scholar/
You'll find more doctoral scholarships and funded research opportunities, explained in plain language, on Youth Works Hub.
