Bourses de la Montagne: preparing tomorrow’s leaders

In 5 seconds Besides funding research, the scholarships provide professional development, mentoring and networking opportunities to help doctoral students prepare for the job market.
A community of Bourse de la Montagne recipients is taking shape on UdeM campuses.

In an increasingly complex and challenging world, it’s essential to train leaders with the solid academic background and professional competencies to galvanize others to effect change.

In Canada, doctoral graduates are often underutilized, particularly in business. To change this, in 2024 the Office of the Vice-Rector for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies of Université de Montréal established the Bourse de la Montagne scholarship program.

Each scholarship provides substantial funding—$25,000 per year for three years—and helps recipients develop the professional skills to become agents of change, starting from the moment they enter the workplace.

Eight essential skills

In addition to supporting research, the scholarships enable graduates to build eight essential skills for success in their future jobs: leadership; communication; collaboration; management; integrity and responsible conduct; professional autonomy; creativity and innovation; and digital, media and information literacy

They develop these skills through courses and networking activities offered by UdeM’s Les Saisons des ESP professional development program.

Another key component of the scholarship is mentoring. Each student receives an individual development plan based on a skills self-assessment and discussions with a mentor who has a PhD and extensive professional experience outside academia.

This wide-ranging development program helps students broaden their perspectives, clarify their professional goals, identify the necessary skills and competencies to increase their employability, and network ahead of their future integration into professional circles.

 

Over 40 recipients so far

The Bourses de la Montagne program continues to grow. After supporting 23 doctoral students in 2024, including a number of international students, 19 more were recently added for 2025, bringing the total to over 40 recipients.

Providing this funding and such comprehensive professional development is a major undertaking for Université de Montréal, one that relies on the combined efforts of its faculties and key partners, along with the support of alumni and donors.

“For the second year in a row, we’ve been fortunate to count on a growing number of alumni who generously give their time to mentor students,” said Simona Maria Brambati, director and associate vice-rector of graduate and postdoctoral Studies. “We hope this strong alumni engagement, together with donor support, will continue in the years to come.”

While most Bourses de la Montagne scholarships are open to projects in all disciplines, with excellence the sole criterion, some donors earmark their support for research in a specific field. For example, the Bourse Famille Thérèse and Daniel Cosma will fund four mental-health projects in 2026. 

Simona Maria Brambati, director and associate vice-rector of graduate and postdoctoral Studies at Université de Montréal

Not simply a scholarship

“More than any specific research topic, we’re looking for doctoral students who embody our vision—experts with deep knowledge and a broad perspective, capable of taking the lead in solving the major challenges facing society,” said Brambati. “The Bourse de la Montagne isn’t just a scholarship; it’s about building your leadership and fueling your ambition to transform the world around you.”

Now a small community of Bourse de la Montagne recipients is taking shape on UdeM campuses.

“When the 2025 recipients were announced, members of the 2024 cohort were eager to find out who they were and whether any of them were in their department – they wanted to meet them,” said Brambati. “It’s wonderful to see. This program forges bonds, fuels collaboration and cultivates a network of future leaders ready to drive societal change.”

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