IOC Olympic Studies Centre PhD Students and Early Career Academics Research Grant Programme

Benefits & funding

• Research grant of up to USD 6,000, with the exact amount set by the Selection Committee based on the project.
• Paid in two instalments: 50% on signing the grant contract and 50% on receipt of the final research report.
• Covers research expenses directly tied to the project: economy-class travel and living costs (including for consulting the IOC Historical Archives and OSC collections in Lausanne), translation of essential materials, web hosting and content development, software not provided by the university, and data-collection costs.
• Up to USD 1,500 of the grant may go to knowledge-mobilisation activities (publication fees, conferences, podcasts, blogs).
• Selected grantees may arrange a research visit to the OSC in Lausanne, scheduled between February and December 2027.
• Does not cover: applicant salary or insurance, tuition and study fees, institutional overheads, hardware (laptop, camera, etc.), or any expense incurred before the grant start.

Eligibility

• PhD students enrolled in a doctoral programme in the humanities and/or social sciences, with Olympism, the Olympic Movement or the Olympic Games as at least one research focus; must remain enrolled for the whole grant period, and the project must clearly contribute to the doctoral thesis.
• Early Career Academics: academic staff and postdoctoral fellows who completed their doctorate or equivalent highest degree (including a master’s, depending on the field) in or after 2024, and who hold a university appointment covering the grant period.
• Applications and all documents must be submitted in French or English, the two official languages of the Olympic Movement.
• Open to applicants of any nationality; the OSC welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds and regions.
• Not eligible: previous grant holders of this programme; collective applications; topics in the natural sciences (e.g. biomechanics, physiology, medicine, neurosciences); and topics falling exclusively under other sports bodies such as International Federations or the International Paralympic Committee.

Application process

1. 1
   Prepare the official application form, following the OSC’s instructions and tips for completing it.
2. 2
   Gather supporting documents: proof of PhD enrolment or of a university appointment (on institutional letterhead), a signed letter of recommendation from your supervisor (PhD) or mentor (ECA), and — where the project involves human subjects or fieldwork — an ethics-committee approval certificate.
3. 3
   Disclose any use of AI tools in preparing the application, per the OSC’s AI guidelines.
4. 4
   Submit the complete file, including the recommendation letter, to the OSC by 22 September 2026, 23:59 CEST.
5. 5
   Eligible candidatures are confirmed by 6 October 2026; results are announced by the end of December 2026.

Program timeline

1. Online information session (optional)

   Jun 23, 2026

2. Second online information session (optional)

   Sep 1, 2026

3. Application deadline (23:59 CEST)

   Sep 22, 2026

4. Eligibility confirmation emailed to applicants

   Oct 6, 2026

5. Results announced (by end of December 2026)

   Dec 31, 2026

6. Research visits to the OSC in Lausanne scheduled

   2027-02 to 2027-12

7. Final research report due

   Dec 31, 2027