John Peters Humphrey Fellowship Application

The Canadian Council on International Law awards annually up to three John Peters Humphrey Student Fellowships in the field of International Human Rights Law or International Organization.

The application process for Academic Year 2026-2027 is OPEN.
Application Deadline: January 20, 2026

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2026-2027 Contest

The CCIL will award up to three fellowships to enable selected individuals to begin or continue graduate studies at a reputable academic institution in Canada or abroad. Priority will be given to individuals who are entering or about to enter graduate studies. At least one fellowship may be awarded to an individual enrolled in a master's program (or equivalent).

The John Peters Humphrey Fellowship is awarded annually in September and is worth up to $20,000 CDN, with a maximum of $10,000 CDN for tuition and fees and a $10,000 CDN stipend for living expenses.

Only the portion of tuition fees not covered by one or more other scholarships will be covered. Recipients will be informed about the possibility of accepting other awards or teaching (or other) positions on a full or part-time basis during the award period.

The exact value of the award, in Canadian dollars, will be determined by the CCIL Executive Committee, based on the tuition and annual living expenses specific to the recipient's chosen program of study, and on the advice of those administering the award program.

Eligibility Criteria

The following individuals may apply for a John Peters Humphrey Fellowship:

individuals who have graduated or will soon graduate from a Canadian law school;
individuals who are studying in a graduate program at a Canadian law school;
persons studying in Canada in one of the political science disciplines (or the equivalent) in a graduate program.

They must be in a position to begin within the next few months or to continue a full-time graduate program in the field of international human rights law or international organization.

Recipients may apply for a one-year extension in a subsequent contest, subject to the requirements at that time.

Key Dates

Fall 2025 - Application process opens.

January 20, 2026 - Application process closes.

April 2026 - Applicants notified.

FAQ's

Application Process

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application package is complete. An incomplete application will NOT be submitted to the Selection Committee.

All materials must be received by the CCIL Secretariat (via email or by mail) and postmarked by the application deadline. Failure to do so will result in the application being incomplete and therefore rejected.

Helpful Hints

Once the application process has begun, start requesting to have your 3 letters of reference and your official transcripts sent to the CCIL by the application deadline. Because these documents are sent directly by the referees and the institutions, you may not have control over the timing and you do not want to miss the submission deadline.

Official Transcripts - Specific Instructions
Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended must be sent directly to the CCIL by the institution via email (PDF) or mail (duly postmarked) or forwarded in a sealed envelope to the applicant to be included in the application package without modification. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted.

Official transcripts must be received by the CCIL no later than January 20, 2026.

Letters of Recommendation - Specific Instructions

Three letters of recommendation must be sent directly to the CCIL by the respondents. The letters must be written on the respondents’ institutional letterhead and signed (a digital signature is acceptable). The letter can be sent via email (PDF) or mail (duly postmarked) or forwarded in a sealed envelope to the applicant to be included in the application package without modification. Refer to page A-1 Guidelines for Referees.
Letters must be must be received by the CCIL no later than January 20, 2026.

CCIL's Email address

ccil-ccdi@intertaskconferences.com

CCIL mailing address:

John Peters Humphrey Fellowship
c/o The Canadian Council on International Law
275 Bay Street, Unit 200, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA, K1R 5Z5

For questions, please email the CCIL Secretariat at: ccil-ccdi@intertaskconferences.com