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UEFA Research Grant Programme (UEFA RGP)

The UEFA RGP is a prestigious grant programme designed for academics working in partnership with national associations to deliver research that improves strategic decision-making in European football.

Programme overview

The UEFA RGP has been established to support visionary research on European football. It is for anyone working on, or already holding, a PhD who is analysing European football from a variety of academic disciplines. Once completed, the research is shared with the 55 UEFA member associations and is used for growth and development purposes. Grant applicants must submit a recommendation letter from a UEFA member association, thus ensuring that their project is undertaken in line with contemporary issues and has the highest practical value possible.

In order to foster cooperation between its member associations and European universities, UEFA allows up to three researchers based in the territories of three different national associations to submit joint applications.

Each individual project selected by the UEFA Research Grant Jury is eligible for a grant of up to €15,000 and each joint project for a grant of up to €20,000 for a nine-month research period.

Discover every final report of the projects that received a UEFA research grant on UEFA Academy Online.

Important notice: Please note that as of 2023, research projects on medical topics are no longer accepted for the UEFA Research Grant Programme. Academics working on medical and health related research can apply to the UEFA Medical Research Grant Programme (UEFA MRGP), a specific scheme, tailor-made to medical topics and under the management of UEFA’s medical unit.

Contact us

Faq

  • Who Researchers at a university or equivalent institution with the support of a UEFA member association
  • When Annually. Next application deadline: March 2024
  • How Long 9 months’ research
  • Where Research carried out at home institution
  • Grant Individual grant of up to €15,000; Joint grant of up to €20,000
  • Number of grants Max. 5 grants per cycle (total allocation: €75,000)
  • Language English, French and German

Important dates

  • 15 Mar 2024 Application deadline 2024/25 cycle
  • 15 Jun 2024 Jury decision 2024/25 cycle

Takeaways

  • Opportunity for researchers to conduct their research in the best possible conditions
  • Access to both funds and data (from national associations and UEFA)
  • Gain international recognition
  • Opportunity for national associations and UEFA to access the latest research in order to further develop their own activities and projects

Final reports

Roadmap

1. Application deadline 15 March 2024

Application deadline for the UEFA Research Grant Programme

Please note that as of 2023, research projects on medical topics are no longer accepted for the UEFA Research Grant Programme. Academics working on medical and health related research can apply to the UEFA Medical Research Grant Programme (UEFA MRGP), a specific scheme, tailor-made to medical topics and under the management of UEFA’s medical unit.

Application deadline
2. Grant decision June 2024

Applicants are informed of the jury’s decision

Grant decision
3. Introductory meeting July-August 2024

Introductory meeting for the UEFA Research Grant Programme

Introductory meeting
4. Interim report 30 November 2024

Researchers submit interim report

Interim report
5. Final report 31 March 2025

Researchers submit final report

Final report
6. Presentation of final report May-June 2025

Researchers present final report to the RGP jury

Presentation of final report

What our students and experts say

Tom Webb
"As a recipient of a grant, I have benefited both academically and professionally from the process. The grant enabled me to engage with UEFA and the French and Dutch football associations as part of my programme of research, facilitating important findings into referee abuse, experience and training in different cultures and countries. Developing an under-researched subject area and furthering academic and professional understanding have been central to the grant programme and my research." Tom Webb Senior lecturer in sports management and development, University of Portsmouth
Niccolò Donna
"The UEFA Research Grant Programme is not just related to supporting academic research; it represents a fundamental strategic pillar for the development of football in Europe. For instance, the project supported by the Italian Football Association definitely helped to give a strong boost to the growth of women’s football in Italy and further afield. The research provided analysis and insights on governance, financial and organisational aspects of clubs promoting the women’s game internationally. The final outcomes had great strategic relevance for the definition of guidelines to further develop the sport, as well as evaluating the potential benefits to be derived from integration with professional men’s clubs." Niccolò Donna Head of development and social responsibility, Italian Football Association
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