Research & Policy Grant for Early Career Researchers (2026 Call): €20,000 grant

€20,000 grant | 12-month research period | Apply by 31 March 2026

The International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), in partnership with the European Commission (DG EAC), has launched the first call of the Research & Policy (R&P) Grant for Early Career Researchers. This new annual program supports high-quality, policy-relevant secondary research using IEA’s international large-scale assessment (ILSA) datasets—including TIMSS, PIRLS, ICCS, and ICILS.

The grant aims to strengthen research capacity, deepen the connection between research and policymaking in the European Education Area (EEA), and foster international collaboration around foundational skills, digital well-being, equity, and democratic citizenship.

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What the Grant Offers

• €20,000 lump-sum grant per project
• 12-month research period
• Priority access to IEA summer training in Hamburg (2026)
• Expert methodological and thematic support from IEA & DG EAC
• Opportunity for policy engagement and dissemination at the European level
• Optional short research visits to IEA Hamburg or International Study Centers (self-funded)

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Research Themes

Projects must use IEA study data and focus on one of four priority themes:

1. Foundational Skills in Primary Education

Reading, mathematics, and science achievement (Grade 4), learning dispositions, early disadvantage, and teaching practices.

2. Digital Well-being & Social Media

Links between ICT use, digital literacy, academic outcomes, and healthy digital behavior.

3. Equity & Social Inclusion

Disparities linked to socioeconomic background, migration, language, disability, and geography; inclusive school climates; systems achieving both excellence & equity.

4. Democratic Values & Citizenship

Civic knowledge, democratic attitudes, student participation, and how schools build democratic resilience.

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Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a PhD candidate or have earned their first doctoral degree within the last 5 years
  (or hold a Master’s with <10 years research experience)
• Propose a project with clear policy relevance to EU basic skills development
• Demonstrate ability to conduct quantitative secondary analyses
• Secure the support of one supervisor with relevant expertise
• Be proficient in English
• Be able to participate in required training meetings in Hamburg/Brussels
• Meet all six eligibility conditions listed in the full call

Open to researchers of all nationalities.

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Application Requirements

Submit electronically via the IEA Grant Platform:

• Structured research proposal (summary, background, research questions/hypotheses, data & methods)
• CV and publication record
• Degree certificate or proof of doctoral enrollment
• Supervisor support letter
• Host institution letter (if applicable)

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Selection & Timeline

Proposals will be reviewed by a joint academic committee from DG EAC & IEA based on:

1. Scientific quality & policy relevance
2. Data use & methodological rigor
3. Feasibility & work plan
4. Researcher expertise

Only 4 projects will be funded (one per theme, if eligible).

Key Dates

• Call opens: 3 February 2026
• Deadline: 31 March 2026, 23:59 CET
• Results notified: by 15 June 2026
• Training in Hamburg: August–September 2026
• Draft results to EC: by 30 April 2027
• Project completion: 30 June 2027
• Publication embargo ends: 31 October 2027

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How to Apply

Apply here
More information
Contact: rpgrant@iea.nl

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