IOC Olympic Studies Centre Research Grant Programme 2027: PhD Students and Early Career Academics Invited to Apply

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Olympic Studies Centre (OSC) has officially launched the 2027 PhD Students and Early Career Academics Research Grant Programme, providing an important research opportunity for emerging scholars whose academic work focuses on Olympism, the Olympic Movement, the Olympic Games, athletes, and the broader social and cultural impact of sport.

The programme is designed to support researchers at an early stage of their academic careers by providing funding that can contribute to the development and completion of scholarly research. It can also provide eligible researchers with an opportunity to access the extensive academic and historical resources held by the IOC Olympic Studies Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Since the programme was established in 1999, more than 148 researchers from around the world have benefited from the initiative, receiving grants that have supported their research activities and, where appropriate, enabled them to visit the Olympic Studies Centre and consult its specialised collections.

For researchers working in the humanities and social sciences, particularly those examining the Olympic Games and their relationship with contemporary society, this programme represents a significant opportunity to advance academic research while gaining access to one of the world’s major collections of Olympic-related knowledge.

Opportunity Overview

The 2027 PhD Students and Early Career Academics Research Grant Programme is intended for postgraduate researchers and early-career academics undertaking research related to the Olympic world.

The programme focuses on scholarly research concerning areas such as:

• Olympism and its ideals
• The Olympic Movement
• The Olympic Games
• Olympic history
• Athletes and their experiences
• Sport and contemporary society
• Sport and culture
• The social impact of the Olympic Games
• The cultural significance of Olympism
• Historical, political, economic or social dimensions of the Olympic Movement
• Other relevant topics within the human and social sciences that incorporate Olympism, the Olympic Movement or the Olympic Games as a research focus

The programme therefore goes beyond research that examines sporting competitions themselves. It can be relevant to academic projects exploring how the Olympic Movement interacts with wider questions concerning society, culture, history and contemporary life.

What Is the IOC Olympic Studies Centre?

The IOC Olympic Studies Centre is an important research and knowledge centre dedicated to Olympic studies. It provides researchers with access to specialised collections, academic publications, historical materials and other resources relating to the Olympic Movement.

Researchers interested in learning more about the centre and its activities can visit the IOC Olympic Studies Centre official website.

The centre’s resources can be particularly valuable for scholars who require historical documents, academic literature, official Olympic publications and archival material to strengthen their research.

Who Can Apply for the 2027 Research Grant Programme?

The programme is specifically targeted at current PhD students and early-career academics.

There are two principal categories of eligible applicants.

1. Current PhD Students

Current postgraduate students may apply if they are enrolled in a PhD degree programme within the human and/or social sciences and their research incorporates at least one of the following as a research focus:

• Olympism
• The Olympic Movement
• The Olympic Games

This means that applicants do not necessarily need to be studying a programme titled “Olympic Studies.” Instead, their research should have a meaningful connection to one or more of these areas.

For example, a PhD project could potentially examine the social impact of the Olympic Games, the historical development of the Olympic Movement, the relationship between Olympism and society, the cultural significance of major sporting events, or another appropriate topic within the human and social sciences.

2. Early-Career Academics and Postdoctoral Fellows

Academic staff members and postdoctoral fellows can also be eligible.

To qualify under this category, applicants must have completed their doctorate or equivalent highest degree in or after 2024.

The eligibility provisions also recognise that the highest relevant qualification may vary depending on the academic field. In some fields, this may include a master’s degree as the equivalent highest degree.

This makes the programme particularly relevant to researchers who have recently completed their advanced academic qualifications and are beginning to establish their independent research careers.

What Can the Grant Support?

One of the most valuable aspects of the programme is its connection with the IOC Olympic Studies Centre’s research infrastructure.

Researchers who receive support can use the opportunity to advance their scholarly work and, where relevant, visit the Olympic Studies Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland to consult its collections.

This can be particularly useful for projects requiring access to primary sources, historical documentation and specialised Olympic literature.

The programme has therefore provided more than simply financial assistance to researchers. Its connection to the Olympic Studies Centre can also help scholars engage with resources that may be highly relevant to their research questions.

Access to the Olympic World Library

Researchers interested in Olympic studies can also explore the Olympic World Library (OWL), the IOC’s specialised library catalogue dedicated to Olympic knowledge.

The collection contains more than 42,000 official and academic publications, making it a valuable starting point for researchers looking for literature and documentation related to Olympic studies.

The Olympic World Library can help researchers identify relevant academic and official publications when developing their literature reviews, theoretical frameworks and research background.

The availability of such a specialised collection can be particularly valuable for PhD researchers who need to demonstrate a strong understanding of existing scholarship and historical developments within their research areas.

IOC Historical Archives

In addition to the library resources, researchers can access information about the IOC’s historical archives through the Olympic Studies Centre.

The historical archives can provide important material for scholars examining the development of the Olympic Movement, institutional history, Olympic events and other historical dimensions of Olympism.

Researchers can explore the IOC Historical Archives for further information.

For researchers undertaking historical or documentary research, these resources may provide valuable primary and contextual material that can complement conventional academic sources.

Grant Programme Selection Committee

Applications are assessed by a Grant Programme Selection Committee composed of academic experts internationally recognised for their involvement in Olympic studies, together with representatives of the Olympic Studies Centre.

The composition of the committee highlights the academic nature of the programme and the importance of the quality and relevance of applicants’ proposed research.

Applicants should therefore approach the application as a serious academic research proposal rather than simply submitting a general expression of interest.

A strong application should clearly demonstrate the academic value of the research, its relationship to Olympic studies and why the proposed research requires the support and resources associated with the programme.

How Applicants Can Strengthen Their Applications

Although applicants should follow the official programme rules and guidelines carefully, prospective candidates should pay particular attention to the connection between their research and the programme’s objectives.

1. Clearly establish the Olympic connection

The research should have a clear and meaningful relationship with Olympism, the Olympic Movement or the Olympic Games.

Applicants should avoid relying on a superficial reference to sport or the Olympics. The Olympic dimension should form a genuine part of the research focus.

2. Present a clear research question

A well-defined research question can help demonstrate the academic significance of the proposed project.

Applicants should be able to explain:

• What they are researching
• Why the subject matters
• What knowledge gap the research addresses
• How the research will contribute to existing scholarship
• What methods they intend to use
• What sources or materials are required

3. Demonstrate academic relevance

Applicants should clearly position their proposed project within the relevant human or social sciences discipline.

This could involve explaining how the research contributes to existing discussions in fields such as history, sociology, cultural studies, political studies, economics, communication, education or another relevant discipline.

4. Make effective use of available research resources

Where appropriate, applicants should explain how the collections and resources of the Olympic Studies Centre could contribute to their research.

If a project would benefit from consulting primary sources, historical archives or specialised Olympic publications, this should be articulated clearly in the application.

5. Follow the application instructions carefully

Applicants should consult the official rules and guidelines before preparing their submission. The programme’s requirements, documentation and submission procedures should be followed precisely.

The official IOC Olympic Studies Centre page provides the central source for programme information.

Application Rules and Guidelines

The programme has published official rules and guidelines to assist prospective applicants.

Researchers should read these documents carefully before completing their application. The guidelines are particularly important because they provide the formal requirements governing the programme and the application process.

The official programme documentation should be treated as the authoritative source when determining eligibility, preparing application materials and submitting correspondence.

Application Form

Eligible researchers are required to complete the relevant application documentation provided for the programme.

Applicants should ensure that all requested information is supplied accurately and that their research proposal is presented clearly and professionally.

Before submission, candidates should check their application against the official requirements to ensure that no required component has been overlooked.

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications to the 2027 PhD Students and Early Career Academics Research Grant Programme is Tuesday, 22 September 2026.

All application files and related correspondence should be sent to the Olympic Studies Centre before the deadline.

Deadline: 22 September 2026

Researchers should avoid waiting until the final day to submit their applications. Preparing a competitive academic application can require considerable time, particularly where a research proposal, supporting documents or institutional information must be reviewed before submission.

Online Information Sessions

The Olympic Studies Centre is also offering two online information sessions for researchers intending to apply.

These sessions can be particularly useful for prospective applicants who want to better understand the programme and clarify aspects of the application process.

Researchers considering an application should consult the official programme rules and guidelines for information about these sessions and how they can participate.

Who Qualifies for This Opportunity?

The main qualifying groups are

1. Current postgraduate students enrolled in a PhD programme within the human and/or social sciences.
2. PhD students whose research incorporates Olympism, the Olympic Movement or the Olympic Games as at least one of their research focuses.
3. Academic staff members who have completed their doctorate or equivalent highest degree in or after 2024.
4. Postdoctoral fellows who completed their doctorate or equivalent highest degree in or after 2024.
5. Applicants whose relevant highest qualification may be a master’s degree where the programme recognises a master’s as the equivalent highest degree for the relevant field.

Countries and Continents: Who Can Apply?

The programme is described as having benefited researchers from all over the world, and the information provided does not specify a restriction to particular countries or continents.

Therefore, the opportunity is international in scope, rather than being presented as a programme limited to a specific geographic region.

Researchers from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Oceania and other parts of the world can therefore consider applying, provided they satisfy the academic eligibility requirements.

For applicants in Africa, including researchers from Kenya and other African countries, the key consideration is not geographical location but whether the applicant meets the programme’s academic and research requirements.

However, prospective applicants should always check the official programme rules for the definitive eligibility requirements before submitting an application.

Race or Ethnicity Requirements

The information provided for the programme does not identify race or ethnicity as an eligibility restriction.

The eligibility criteria are primarily based on the applicant’s academic status, qualifications and research focus.

Consequently, applicants should focus on demonstrating that they meet the programme’s academic requirements rather than assuming that the programme is restricted to a particular racial or ethnic group.

Academic Fields Relevant to the Programme

Because the programme targets research in the human and social sciences, it may be relevant to scholars working across a variety of disciplines, provided that their research has an appropriate connection to Olympism, the Olympic Movement or the Olympic Games.

Potentially relevant areas may include:

• History
• Sociology
• Political science
• International relations
• Cultural studies
• Anthropology
• Economics
• Communication and media studies
• Education
• Sports studies
• Olympic studies
• Social sciences
• Humanities
• Other related human and social science disciplines

The decisive factor is not simply the name of the academic discipline but the relationship between the proposed research and the programme’s focus.

Another Research Grant Programme for Established Researchers

The IOC Olympic Studies Centre also offers another research opportunity for more established academics: the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme.

This programme is aimed at university professors, lecturers and research fellows who have completed their doctorate and hold an academic or research appointment.

Unlike the PhD Students and Early Career Academics Research Grant Programme, the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme is intended to promote advanced research by established researchers in the humanities and social sciences.

Its priority research fields are identified by the IOC every two years.

The call for applications for the 2027–2029 edition of the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme is expected to be issued in October 2026.

Researchers who are already established in academic or research positions may therefore wish to monitor the IOC Olympic Studies Centre research grant programmes page for further information.

Why This Research Grant Matters for Emerging Scholars

Research funding can be particularly important for PhD students and early-career academics because developing high-quality scholarly research often requires access to specialised literature, primary sources, archives, travel and other research resources.

The IOC Olympic Studies Centre programme offers an opportunity that combines research support with access to an internationally recognised Olympic knowledge centre.

For eligible scholars, the programme can therefore contribute to several aspects of academic development, including

• Advancing an existing PhD research project
• Supporting scholarly investigation into Olympic-related topics
• Accessing specialised Olympic publications
• Consulting historical and primary-source material
• Strengthening research based on archival evidence
• Developing deeper expertise in Olympic studies
• Connecting academic research with the history and ideals of the Olympic Movement
• Expanding the evidence base for academic publications and research outputs

The programme’s history of supporting more than 148 researchers since 1999 also demonstrates its longstanding role in supporting academic research connected to Olympic studies.

How to Apply

Researchers interested in the programme should begin by reviewing the official information provided by the Olympic Studies Centre.

A sensible application process would involve the following steps:

Step 1: Confirm your eligibility

Determine whether you are currently enrolled in a qualifying PhD programme or whether you fall within the early-career academic or postdoctoral category.

Step 2: Assess your research topic

Confirm that Olympism, the Olympic Movement or the Olympic Games forms at least one of the central research focuses of your project.

Step 3: Review the official rules

Read the programme rules and guidelines carefully before preparing the application.

Step 4: Prepare your application

Complete the official application form and prepare all required supporting information.

Step 5: Consider the Olympic Studies Centre resources

Determine whether the Olympic World Library, IOC historical archives or other OSC collections could contribute to your research and explain the relevance where appropriate.

Step 6: Attend an information session

Where possible, take advantage of the online information sessions offered to prospective applicants.

Step 7: Submit before the deadline

Ensure that the complete application file and related correspondence reach the Olympic Studies Centre before 22 September 2026.

APPLY HERE

Official Application and Further Information

Researchers should use the official IOC Olympic Studies Centre resources when applying and should avoid relying solely on third-party summaries for eligibility or application requirements.

For programme information and access to the relevant application resources, visit the IOC Olympic Studies Centre.

Applicants can also explore the Olympic World Library and the IOC Historical Archives as part of their research preparation.

Visit HERE for more information about the IOC Olympic Studies Centre Research Grant Programme 2027.

Key Details at a Glance

Conclusion

The IOC Olympic Studies Centre Research Grant Programme 2027 offers a valuable opportunity for PhD students and early-career academics seeking to advance research related to Olympism, the Olympic Movement and the Olympic Games.

Its combination of research support and access to specialised Olympic collections makes the programme particularly relevant to scholars in the humanities and social sciences who require high-quality academic, historical and primary-source material for their work.

The programme is international in scope and is aimed at researchers who meet the specified academic and research criteria, rather than being restricted to applicants from a particular country, continent, race or ethnicity.

With more than 148 researchers having benefited from the programme since its establishment in 1999, the initiative has a longstanding history of supporting scholarship in Olympic studies.

Eligible researchers should carefully review the official rules, prepare a strong and clearly focused research proposal, take advantage of the available information sessions and ensure that their complete application is submitted before the 22 September 2026 deadline.

For more global Grant opportunities, visit OFY HERE.