diff --git a/.github.com/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github.com/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..918d427ee4f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github.com/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+ - [ ] closes #xxxx
+ - [ ] tests added / passed
+ - [ ] passes ``git diff upstream/master | flake8 --diff``
+ - [ ] whatsnew entry