HOW TO APPLY FOR
MODEL SENATE

So you’ve reviewed the time commitment and schedule, and you’ve decided that you want to apply for Model Senate! What’s next?

Logo of Model Senate on a Red Chamber background.

Applications for Model Senate 2026 are closed. To receive future updates and announcements, subscribe to the SENgage eNewsletter!

Eligibility

To be considered for this event, applicants must:

  • Be enrolled in a recognized Canadian university or college at the time of the event.
  • Be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of the event.
  • Complete and submit the application form and required documentation (CV, statement of intent, letter of support and proof of enrolment) by Monday, December 8, 2025.

Accessibility

We are committed to ensuring Model Senate is accessible for everyone. If you require a form of accommodation to apply to Model Senate (such as an alternative application format), please email SENgage@sen.parl.gc.ca.

Please note: The Model Senate selection process is competitive, and spaces are limited. While we encourage all interested students to apply, not all applicants will be selected. If you’ve applied for previous editions of Model Senate, please note that the application process has changed. Please review the application and follow all instructions carefully to ensure all requirements are met.

Documentation required

As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit the following documents:

  • Your CV (max. 2 pages), detailing your education, academic pursuits, professional experience or career aspirations and extracurricular activities.
  • A statement of intent (max. 500 words), explaining why you want to become a participant, what you hope to learn, and what specific skills you’d like to develop during Model Senate.
  • A letter of support from an academic, professional, organizational or community-based reference.
  • Proof of enrolment in a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution.

For your proof of enrolment, you can send any of the following documents issued by a recognized Canadian university or college:

  • Proof of registration, with or without the registrar’s seal (usually available to download for free on your institution’s online student portal).
  • Official proof of student status (verification of student status).
  • A PDF file or a screenshot of your proof of student status (this is acceptable only if it clearly shows your name, school and confirmation of registration for the 2025–2026 academic year).

Please note: Your application will not be considered complete until all requested documents are received. We recommend gathering all the necessary documents before starting the application process.

Evaluation of applications

Your application will be evaluated on the following criteria:

Willingness to learn

You demonstrate an eagerness to learn new things (e.g., about the Senate, parliamentary procedure, speech writing), regardless of your previous experience with mock parliaments or parliamentary procedure.

Link to studies and interests

You draw clear links between taking part in Model Senate and your academic program, career aspirations and/or personal interests (e.g., current affairs, regional issues, Parliament).

Quality of writing

You effectively and clearly convey your responses within the assigned parameters (e.g., +/- 500 words). The writing is free of spelling and grammar errors and written without the use of artificial intelligence (e.g., ChatGPT, CoPilot).

Attention to detail and organization

You adhere to all instructions outlined in the application process (e.g., naming convention) and submit all documents in a timely manner.

Remember: You do not need to be an expert on the Senate or on parliamentary procedure to apply for and participate in Model Senate!

Frequently Asked Questions

Browse through the frequently asked questions below for an answer to your query:

What are the eligibility criteria for Model Senate?

To be considered for this event, applicants must:

  • Be enrolled in a recognized Canadian university or college at the time of the event.
  • Be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of the event.
  • Complete and submit the application form and required documentation (CV, statement of intent, letter of support and proof of enrolment) by Monday, December 8, 2025.

Who can write my letter of support?

To complete your application to Model Senate, we ask that you submit a letter of support (also called a letter of reference) from an academic, work, organizational or community-based reference. Your reference should be someone who can speak to your work ethic and character. For example, this person could be a high school teacher, a university professor, a manager or supervisor at your workplace or someone who works at an organization you’ve volunteered for.

Please note: Your letter of support doesn’t need to have been drafted specifically for Model Senate. We will accept reference letters written for previous job, scholarship or model parliament applications during your time as a post-secondary student. If you are in your first year of post-secondary school, we will accept a reference letter from your final two years of high school.

Are there any fees associated with Model Senate?

No, there is no fee to apply for or participate in the event! That said, the Senate is not responsible for costs related to transportation, accommodation or additional meals for selected participants. A light breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided to participants on both sitting days.

Do I need to be bilingual to participate?

No. Just like in real Senate sittings and committee meetings, live French and English interpretation will be available to all participants. Documentation and live facilitated workshops will be offered in both official languages.

I applied for/participated in a previous edition of Model Senate. Can I apply again?

Yes. We’d love to see you again! You can reapply as long as you meet the eligibility criteria. If you’ve previously applied for Model Senate, you’ll notice that the application process has changed. Please carefully review the application and follow all instructions.

What is the time commitment for participating in Model Senate?

To be selected as a participant, you must be available for all scheduled Model Senate activities from Thursday, May 7 to Saturday, May 9, 2026. All activities will take place in person at the Senate of Canada Building in Ottawa, Ontario.

To prepare for the event, selected participants are also required to complete an online learning module, attend a virtual information session and, in some cases, draft and submit speaking notes. Please read the time commitment section for the details.

Will I have to redo the online learning module and information session if I participated in Model Senate 2025?

Yes. All selected participants will need to complete the online learning module and attend the mandatory virtual information session before Model Senate 2026.

Will I get to meet senators?

Yes, you will have the opportunity to meet with some senators and members of the Senate community.

Will food be provided to participants?

A light breakfast, lunch and refreshments will be provided to participants on both sitting days. Participants are also encouraged to bring their own snacks and reusable water bottle.

How can I prepare for Model Senate?

The online learning module and virtual information session are designed to help selected participants prepare for Model Senate. Speaking opportunities for the Senate sitting and committee simulations will be assigned in advance; depending on your assigned role, you’ll receive further guidance on how to prepare and submit speaking notes before the event. Please read the time commitment section for more information about what will be expected of you.

In the meantime, it never hurts to do a little research yourself! The Senate’s online publications are a great starting point. They cover the Senate’s work, its role within Parliament, the Red Chamber’s main players and the Senate of Canada Building.

We also suggest that you watch live and taped Senate sittings and committee meetings to study senators in action and familiarize yourself with how the Red Chamber operates.

Where can I learn more about the Senate of Canada?

If you’re hungry for more information about the Upper Chamber, check out the following resources:

How can I keep up to date with what’s happening at the Senate?

To get the latest news about the Upper Chamber, follow or subscribe to the Senate’s social media accounts (see below), and sign up for Senate committee alerts and the Senate eNewsletter.

We invite you to join our Senate Network for Young Professionals on LinkedIn.

Engage with us on these platforms using the hashtags #SenCA and #SENgage in your posts!

Whom should I contact if I have more questions about Model Senate?

If you have any further questions, please email us at: SENgage@sen.parl.gc.ca. We recommend you add this email address to your safe senders list so you don’t miss any Model Senate emails!

To contact SENgage, please email us at: SENgage@sen.parl.gc.ca