Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Fellowship

INTRODUCTION

The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation inaugurated a new Fellowship Program for the nomination of 2026 Fellows in September 2025. Canadian universities expressed to us clearly their preference for a Spring nomination process instead. Therefore, and starting in Spring 2026, the Foundation will move the nomination process for 2027 Fellows to Spring 2026 with a nomination deadline of May 15, 2026. The 2027 Fellows will start their mandate in January 2027. The Fellowship is a central tool in the Foundation’s 2025–2028 mission to support academic excellence, societal engagement, and increased intellectual outreach. The award is a public recognition of the Fellows’ outstanding academic achievements and a promise of future transformative contributions. Beyond the active three-year phase, the Foundation’s Fellowship remains an honorary lifetime appointment, encouraging ongoing ties between the Foundation and its alumni.

MAIN POINTS

The Foundation nominates up to four (4) Fellows per year, chosen among full professors at Canadian universities, for a mandate of three (3) years.

The Fellowship is of a total value of $300,000 per Fellow:

ô $70,000 as prize;

ô $50,000 as research grant; 

ô Up to $100,000 as possible additional research grant;

ô Up to one (1) year of teaching buy-out, with $80,000 in compensation paid to the university. 

The use of the research grant is governed by guidelines established by the Foundation, while ensuring a flexible program that stimulates and supports intellectual innovation. The Fellow’s home university has the option of retaining up to 10% for administrative costs on research grants, which will be paid directly to the Fellow’s home university. Annual reports on expenditures will be required. Candidates’ research must be linked to one or several of the four Foundation themes (Human Rights and Dignity; Responsible Citizenship; Canada and the world; People and their natural environment) and must integrate itself in the general field of humanities and social sciences.

For more information, please click here.

If you are interested in being nominated for one of these fellowships, please contact the Office of Research Services (ahacquo1@lakeheadu.ca) by April 1, 2026.