Eligibility criteria
- Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
- Graduate (master's and doctoral) students enrolled in a publicly funded Canadian university for at least one academic term during the 2025–2026 academic year, on a full-time or part-time basis
The NSPC initiative is committed to contributing to a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive Canadian public service. We strongly encourage the participation of students from equity-seeking groups, including graduate students with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ students and BIPOC students.
How to apply
If you are interested in participating in the NSPC, you should:
- Contact a professor or supervisor in your Canadian university program or faculty to sponsor and support you through the competition's application process.
- Submit the paper to the professor or supervisor for final approval.
- Once your professor or supervisor approves the final draft, they are to complete the online application form and submit three versions of your paper.
- The link to the submission portal will be available when the competition for 2025-2026 begins.
For more information on the specifics of how to apply, please refer to the application checklist tab.
Select your topic
The NSPC is designed to allow graduate students to share inspiring and innovative ideas on topics related to governance and the federal public service. Papers should focus on the current priorities and concerns of the Government of Canada. All submissions on any other issue relevant to the federal public service are also welcome. To understand our current priorities, see in particular:
More information is available on the websites of the Privy Council Office and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.
Each paper should be a forward-looking think piece that explores innovative ideas and approaches to help position Canada and Canadians for the coming decade through solutions delivered by the Government of Canada.
In determining the paper's topic, applicants may want to consider the following questions:
- What are your ideas about how to ensure that the federal public service is ready to meet the needs of the future?
- What are the major social, economic, technological and/or environmental challenges facing Canada in the next decade? What policy strategies should Canada pursue to address them?
- What emerging topics will have a significant impact on the federal public service and service excellence for Canadians?
- What would it take to move your idea from policy approval to implementation?
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Democracy
- Federalism in Canada
- Canadian sovereignty
- Values and ethics of public servants
- Indigenous rights, governance and reconciliation
- Digital government, artificial intelligence and data literacy
- Public service innovation
- Climate change, green economy and sustainable development
- Economic growth
- Foreign and interprovincial trade
- Optimization of government spending
- Cost of living and housing affordability
- Geopolitics and national security
- Sustainable immigration
- Sustainability of social programs
- Energy
Paper criteria
Submitted papers must meet the following technical requirements:
- A single-authored or co-authored paper, either in English or in French
- A new work or one adapted from an earlier original academic course or academic research work
- A maximum of 1500 words (excluding the cover page, bibliography, footnotes or endnotes, appendices or any tables, charts and figures)
- Paper uses a standard citation style
- It is highly recommended that the paper adheres to the following structure:
- Introduction and background (for example, past and current policy context)
- Policy options and recommendations
- Analysis and conclusion
- Submitted in each of the following three formats
- PDF, including:
- cover page with the paper's title and word count
- author's name and email address
- university and program of study
- name and institutional email address of professor or supervisor who is submitting the paper on behalf of their student
- MS Word
- Identical content to PDF version
- MS Word, including:
- cover page with only the title of the paper and the word count; do not include the author's name and university
Application checklist
- 1. Find a professor or supervisor from your university program or faculty to endorse the paper and provide necessary information. (See application form.)
- 2. Define a topic for the paper based on the competition criteria.
- 3. Review the paper to ensure it meets the guidelines:
- 3.1 The paper is a maximum of 1500 words, excluding the cover page, bibliography, footnotes/endnotes, appendices or any tables, charts and figures.
- 3.2 The paper follows the recommended structure (consult the paper criteria section).
- 3.3 The paper uses a standard citation style.
- 4. Submitting the paper: Three copies
- 4.1 A PDF version including:
A cover page formatted with cover page including title, author name, email address, word count, university, and author's university program. Name and institutional email address of professor or supervisor.
- 4.2 An MS Word version including:
A cover page formatted with cover page including title, author name, email address, word count, university, and author's university program. Name and institutional email address of professor or supervisor.
- 4.3 An anonymous MS Word version including:
A cover page with name of paper and word count only, omitting author's name and university.
