The IOC Olympic Studies Centre Research Grant Programme 2027 offers a research grant of up to USD $6,000 to PhD students and early career academics conducting scholarly work on the Olympic Movement, its history and ideals, athletes, the Olympic Games, and their impact on contemporary society and culture. Administered by the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Studies Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland, the programme is open globally to current PhD enrolees in human or social sciences and to academic staff or postdoctoral fellows who completed their highest degree in or after 2024. Applications close on 22 September 2026.
Program Highlights
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Opportunity Type | Research Grant for PhD Students & Early Career Academics |
| Organising Body | IOC Olympic Studies Centre (OSC), International Olympic Committee |
| Mode | Research-based; option to visit IOC OSC collections in Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Duration | Refer to official notification |
| Location / Platform | Global (IOC Olympic Studies Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland) |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 September 2026 |
About the Program
The IOC Olympic Studies Centre Research Grant Programme was established in 1999 with a mandate to support rigorous academic inquiry into all dimensions of the Olympic Movement. Over more than two decades, the programme has directly supported more than 148 researchers from across the world, funding original scholarly research and, where relevant, facilitating access to the IOC’s collections in Lausanne — including primary sources and the IOC’s comprehensive historical archives.
The Olympic Studies Centre occupies a singular position in global sports scholarship. As the custodian of one of the world’s most extensive collections of Olympic documentation, it provides grant recipients with a research environment that no other institution can replicate. Consequently, the IOC Olympic Studies Centre Research Grant Programme is regarded among the most prestigious funding mechanisms available to academics working in the fields of Olympism, sports history, and the socio-cultural dimensions of major international sporting events.
Furthermore, the 2027 edition of the programme continues this tradition by inviting fresh academic perspectives on the Olympic Games and their evolving relationship with contemporary society. The Grant Programme Selection Committee evaluates every element of the application before determining the final award amount, which may reach up to USD $6,000 per successful applicant.
Eligibility Criteria
Academic Qualification
- Current enrolment in a PhD degree programme within the human and/or social sciences is required for student applicants — the research must encompass Olympism, the Olympic Movement, or the Olympic Games as at least one focus area.
- Academic staff members and postdoctoral fellows who have completed their doctorate or equivalent highest degree — including a master’s degree, depending on the field — in or after 2024 are eligible as early career academics.
- No nationality or geographic restriction is stated — the programme is open globally.
Experience & Other Conditions
- Research focus must be directly related to the Olympic Movement, its history and ideals, athletes, the Olympic Games, or their impact on contemporary society and culture.
- The grant amount awarded is determined by the Grant Programme Selection Committee based on the full merits of the application — the maximum is USD $6,000.
- Where relevant to the research, grant recipients may visit the IOC Olympic Studies Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland to consult its collections and historical archives.
Benefits & Funding
| Component | Amount / Detail |
|---|---|
| Research Grant | Up to USD $6,000 per successful applicant |
| Grant Determination | Final amount decided by the Grant Programme Selection Committee based on all application elements |
| Archive Access | Where relevant, opportunity to visit the IOC Olympic Studies Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland to consult primary sources and historical IOC archives |
Selection Process
- Download and complete the official application form from the IOC Olympic Studies Centre website.
- Submit all required application materials by 22 September 2026.
- Full review of all application elements by the Grant Programme Selection Committee.
- Final grant amount determined and awarded by the Selection Committee — refer to the official notification for result timelines.
How to Apply
- Visit the official IOC Olympic Studies Centre grant page at the IOC website.
- Download the official application form provided on the grant page.
- Complete the application form with accurate details about your PhD programme or early career academic position and your research focus on the Olympic Movement.
- Compile all supporting documents required by the application form.
- Submit the completed application before the deadline of 22 September 2026 — late submissions will not be considered.
Application Fee: No application fee is stated in the official notification. Refer to the official IOC OSC website for confirmation.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 12 May 2026 |
| Application Start Date | Refer to official notification |
| Last Date to Apply | 22 September 2026 |
Important Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Download Application Form | Download |
| Official Notification | Official Notification |
| Official Website | Click here |
Contact
Organising BodyIOC Olympic Studies Centre (OSC), International Olympic Committee
LocationLausanne, Switzerland
Further DetailsSpecific helpdesk phone, email, and grievance contacts are not stated in the official notification. Refer to the official IOC Olympic Studies Centre website for support and enquiries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the IOC Olympic Studies Centre Research Grant Programme 2027?
The IOC Olympic Studies Centre Research Grant Programme is open to two groups: current PhD students enrolled in human or social science programmes with a research focus on Olympism, the Olympic Movement, or the Olympic Games; and early career academics — including academic staff members and postdoctoral fellows — who completed their doctorate or equivalent highest degree in or after 2024. The programme is global, with no restriction on nationality.
What is the maximum research grant amount, and how is it determined?
The maximum grant award is USD $6,000. The final amount allocated to each successful applicant is determined by the Grant Programme Selection Committee following a comprehensive review of all elements submitted in the application — it is not a fixed sum and varies per recipient.
Can grant recipients visit the IOC archives in Lausanne, Switzerland?
Where relevant to the research project, successful applicants are given the opportunity to visit the IOC Olympic Studies Centre in Lausanne, Switzerland to consult its collections, including primary sources and the IOC’s historical archives. This access is one of the distinguishing features of the programme and is particularly valuable for researchers working on Olympic history and documentation.
What research topics are supported by the IOC Olympic Studies Centre Research Grant Programme?
The programme supports scholarly research on the Olympic Movement and its history and ideals, the athletes, the Olympic Games, and the impact of these on various aspects of contemporary society and culture. Research must encompass at least one of these themes as a primary or secondary focus area.
What is the application deadline, and how should applications be submitted?
The deadline for submission is 22 September 2026. Applicants must download the official application form from the IOC Olympic Studies Centre website, complete it with full details of their research focus and academic status, and submit it along with all required supporting documents before the stated deadline. No late applications will be considered.