The Canada School of Public Service (CSPS), the learning provider for federal public servants, invites graduate students from across the country to take part in the National Student Paper Competition (NSPC). Participants analyze current Government of Canada priorities and recommend innovative solutions to senior officials.
Why participate?
- Network and share innovative ideas with the federal public service.
- The top five authors present their papers to senior executives.
- The grand prize is a mentorship package of four sessions over four months with senior public servants.
Key details
- Application period: November 9, 2026, to February 1, 2027.
- Hosted by: Canada School of Public Service (CSPS).
- Purpose: To recognize and amplify significant public administration-relevant work by Canadian graduate students.
- Partners: Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA) and Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS).
How to apply
- Write a 1,500-word paper analyzing current Government of Canada priorities.
- Seek the support of a professor or supervisor in your department, program or faculty.
- Your professor or supervisor then completes the online application form and submits three versions of the paper.
For faculty and program directors
Your support is essential, as only a student’s supervisor can submit an application. We invite you to share this opportunity with your students.
For more information, visit the NSPC webpage or contact CSPS at nspc-cneu@csps-efpc.gc.ca.