Trudeau Foundation Scholarship

1. Trudeau Foundation Scholarship

2. Trudeau Foundation: Background Independent and non-partisan Canadian charity Established in 2001 as a memorial to the former Prime Minister In 2002, the Government of Canada endowed the Foundation with a donation of $125 million following a unanimous vote in the House of Commons In addition, the Foundation benefits from private sector donations in support of specific initiatives Through the Scholarship, Fellowship, Mentorship and Public Interaction programs, the Foundation supports outstanding individuals who make meaningful contributions to critical social issues

3. Trudeau Foundation: 4 Themes Human Rights & Dignity “ The aim of life in society is the greatest happiness of everyone, and this happiness is attained only by rendering justice to each person” Pierre Elliott Trudeau, 1958 Responsible Citizenship “Responsibility must extend to all space and through all time. It must extend into the future not just for months or years, but for decades” Pierre Elliott Trudeau, 1974 Canada in the World “The role of leadership today is to encourage the embrace of a global ethic” Pierre Elliott Trudeau, 1974 People and their Natural Environment “To ensure nature's continued beauty, we are asked not to suffer, but we are asked to be reasonable” Pierre Elliott Trudeau, 1974

4. Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship The scholarship provides a generous stipend and comprises a substantial yearly allowance for research and travel, which helps support audacious interdisciplinary research and original fieldwork. This award offers the opportunity to interact within an exceptional community of leaders and committed individuals in every field of the social sciences and humanities. Moreover, each Trudeau Scholar is paired with a distinguished Trudeau Mentor selected among the most eminent Canadian practitioners in all sectors of public life. Scholars also participate in events organized by the Foundation and may request financial and logistical support to hold their own workshops. Every year, over 150 scholarship applications from PhD students at Canadian and foreign universities undergo a rigorous selection process. Fifteen scholarships are awarded every year.

5. Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship: Eligibility • Applicants must be: • Be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant applying to a • doctoral program in the social sciences and humanities • or registered full-time in the first or second year of such • a program at a Canadian universityOR Be a Canadian citizen applying to a doctoral program in • the social sciences and humanities or registered full- • time in the first or second year of such a program at a • foreign universityOR Be a foreign national [with a preference for candidates • from the developing world] applying to a doctoral • program in the social sciences and humanities or • registered full-time in the first or second year of such a • program at a Canadian university • Present a research project linked to one of the four • themes of the Foundation • Be nominated by a university

6. Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarship: Application • A complete application package consists of the following: • Completed and printed application form (filled out by • using Adobe Acrobat) • Three letters of reference: • two from academic referees, principally concerning • academic achievements, • AND • one from a non-academic referee, concerning the non- • academic aspects of the application. The letters of • reference must be signed and clearly indicate the name • and contact information of the referee • Transcripts of all post-secondary studies, including • CEGEP transcript for candidates who attended CEGEP in • Quebec • Letter of nomination signed by a high-ranking official of • the institution (provided by Dean of Graduate Studies if • the selection committee chooses your application to go • forward)

7. Tips for choosing referees • and • Writing the proposal

8. Selecting Referees (3 – 2 academic, 1 non-academic) • Choose wisely: • Who can speak to your strengths: • A faculty member who had taught and advised many students. • A faculty member who can speak to your strengths because: • They know your work (remind them) • They know your research area and can assess it in relation to the selection criteria (give them the 4 themes) • A faculty member who had time and inclination to do a good job. • For the non-academic referee: • A person who has known you for at least 2 years • A person who can speak to your strengths in relation to the evaluation criteria. (give them a summary statement of the evaluation criteria, the four themes, the Trudeau website, and a draft of your personal statement)

9. Choose early: • Making the job easier for your referees will ensure that your reference is completed in a timely manner. Be sure to: • 1) Ask your referees soon (tonight!) • 2) Set a deadline (at least 2 weeks in advance of the real deadline – allow ‘nag’ time) • 3) Provide each referee with a copy of your CV/Resume or examples of your accomplishments, a draft of your personal statement, professional biography and the longer description of your project. • 4) Provide them with a detailed description of the Trudeau Foundation, its goals, and the 4 themes into which you will have situated your work.

10. Selection Criteria: Have a track record of academic achievements on par with the highest standards of the world’s most prestigious doctoral scholarship programs Possess exceptional skills that will enable the Scholar to engage in lively exchange with other researchers Intend to work in an area related to one or more of the Foundation’s four themes and have an expressed desire to contribute to public dialogue A link to one or more of the Foundation themes is a basic requirement for the Trudeau Scholarship. The Trudeau Foundation’s themes are Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada in the World, and People in their Natural Environment.

11. About your research: Parts of the Application: • Under “Current or Proposed Doctoral Research” there is space for: • Name of the Project • Short Summary of the Project (short paragraph) • Longer Description of the Project (2-3 paragraphs) • Methodological Approach (single paragraph) • About you: Parts of the Application: • Personal Statement (2 pages) – aim to “describe your study objectives and career goals, while reflecting on how a Trudeau Scholarship will help you attain those objectives and goals. Please also reflect on a person or event that greatly influenced your personal philosophy or approach and attitude towards academic study.” In the assessment of your application, your statement will be heavily weighted. • Professional Biography (1 page) - needs to include both professional and personal, community-oriented achievements/activities – see samples on Trudeau website

12. What we can do today: Get started with writing the Personal Statement (the most important part of the Trudeau Scholarship Application Right Now! Take 5 minutes and write the first sentences of the Personal Statement. Demand the reader’s attention. Link you, your proposed research and your accomplishments / promise as a scholar to at least one of the four themes. Turn to the person next to you and exchange your writing – get feedback (5 minutes). Make a plan for writing over the next few weeks and determine who you will approach for assistance.

13. Submit your complete application package to your Faculty Dean by Wednesday, November 7th Important Deadlines

14. Thank you and Good Luck!