The International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Studies Centre has launched its 2027 Research Grant Programme for PhD students and early-career academics. The call supports research on Olympism, the Olympic Movement, the Olympic Games and their social, cultural and historical dimensions, with applications due by 22 September 2026.
Key facts
- The programme is open to PhD students and early-career academics in the humanities and social sciences.
- Successful applicants can receive up to USD 6,000.
- Applications must be submitted in French or English.
- The deadline is Tuesday, 22 September 2026.
- The programme can support a research and study visit to the Olympic Studies Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland.
What does this mean for students and early-career researchers?
For PhD candidates and early-career academics working on Olympic-related topics, the grant offers funding and access to the Olympic Studies Centre’s collections in Lausanne. The programme is designed to support scholarly research, including projects that may use primary sources, historical archives and other specialised Olympic materials.
Who can apply?
Two groups are eligible: current PhD students and early-career academics, including academic staff and postdoctoral fellows who completed their doctorate or equivalent highest degree in or after 2024. PhD applicants must remain enrolled for the full duration of the grant, and early-career academics must hold a university appointment for the same period.
Eligible research must have a humanities and/or social sciences perspective and include Olympism, the Olympic Movement or the Olympic Games as at least one research focus. The project should also show a clear contribution to the candidate’s doctoral thesis for PhD applicants.
How much funding is available?
Successful applicants will receive a research grant of up to USD 6,000. The final amount awarded is decided by the Grant Programme Selection Committee after reviewing the application in full.
What documents are required?
Applicants must submit the official application form, proof of registration or university appointment covering the grant period, and a signed letter of recommendation on institutional letterhead from a supervisor or mentor. If the project involves interviews, surveys, fieldwork or other human-subject methods, a university ethics committee approval certificate is also required when applicable.
The Olympic Studies Centre also asks applicants to follow its guidelines on artificial intelligence tools and disclose any use of AI in preparing the application.
Why does the programme matter?
The Olympic Studies Centre says the initiative is intended to support the next generation of scholars in Olympic studies and foster excellence in Olympic-related research. The centre’s collections, including primary sources and IOC historical archives, can help researchers deepen work on Olympism, sport and contemporary society, and the cultural and historical impact of the Olympic Games.
Frequently asked questions
When is the deadline?
The deadline for applications is Tuesday, 22 September 2026.
Which languages are accepted?
Applications and supporting documents must be submitted in either French or English, the two official languages of the Olympic Movement.
