UEFA Medical & Anti-Doping Post-Doctoral Fellowship (UEFA MRGP – Post Doctoral)
UEFA Medical & Anti-Doping offers Post-Doctoral Fellowships for early-career researchers studying medical and anti-doping topics in European football. Current PhD students may instead be interested in the UEFA Medical and Anti-Doping PhD Research Costs Grant.
Programme Overview
The UEFA Medical and Anti-Doping Post-Doctoral Fellowship supports early-career researchers in conducting high-quality research on medical and anti-doping topics relevant to European football. The research is embedded in one or more UEFA member nations, and its findings are shared with UEFA and its 55 member associations to inform practice and policy.
Up to three Fellowships of up to €50,000 per annum, inclusive of any employer on-costs, covering salary, equipment and study-related travel: two one-year Fellowships of up to €50,000 each (1 July 2027 – 30 June 2028) and one two-year Fellowship of up to €100,000 (€50,000 per annum; 1 July 2027 – 30 June 2029). One Fellowship is available in each of the following topics, all of which focus on the developing player in the 2027/28 call:
- Medical research in men’s football, focusing on the developing player (two-year Fellowship);
- Medical research in women’s football, focusing on the developing player (one-year Fellowship);
- Anti-doping-related research in football, focusing on the developing player (one-year Fellowship).
Applicants must have passed their PhD viva on or after 1 July 2025, or have submitted their thesis by 1 July 2027 and expect to pass the viva by 30 November 2027. They must be supported by a self-selected supervisory/mentor team that includes members affiliated with institutions in at least two UEFA nations.
Please read the UEFA Medical & Anti-Doping Post-Doctoral Fellowship Regulations and Declaration for full details to terms and conditions.
Quick view
Faq
- Who Early-career researchers within two years of their PhD viva (evidenced periods of family-related leave, illness or caring responsibilities are excluded from the two-year limit). Applicants must be based at a football club, national association, university or other research institution in a UEFA nation.
- When Annually. The call opens on 16 November 2026; the application deadline is 11 January 2027, 17:00 CET.
- How Long One or two years, as set for each topic in the call, full-time or part-time.
- Where Part-time or full-time research carried out at the host institution, with supervisors/mentors working in at least two UEFA nations.
- Funding Up to €50,000 per annum, inclusive of any employer on-costs (up to €50,000 for a one-year Fellowship; up to €100,000 for the two-year Fellowship), for salary, equipment and study-related travel.
- Number of awards Up to three Post-Doctoral Fellowships (two one-year and one two-year). Total allocation: up to €200,000.
- Selection All applications are first checked for completeness and eligibility, and are scored using the published evaluation sheets. Two stages. In the 1st stage, each application is scored by at least two jury members, and the ten highest-scoring applications per topic are additionally scored by a member of the UEFA Medical & Anti-Doping Unit. All applicants receive scores and feedback, and up to five applicants per topic are invited to resubmit with recommended amendments. In the 2nd stage, resubmitted applications are scored by at least one jury member and at least one member of the UEFA Medical & Anti-Doping Unit, and the financial plan is reviewed by UEFA Procurement.
- Language English
Important dates
- 16 Nov 2026 Call opens
- 11 Jan 2027 Application deadline
- 05 Mar 2027 1st-stage scores and feedback to all applicants; up to five applicants per topic invited to resubmit with recommended amendments
- 01 Apr 2027 Resubmission deadline
- 14 May 2027 Offers
- 28 May 2027 Deadline for accepting offers
- 29 May 2027 29 May – 30 June 2027: Preparation period (e.g. visa, ethics application, employment arrangements)
- 01 Jul 2027 Fellowship starts
- 01 Jan 2028 Interim meeting (all Fellowships)
- 30 Jun 2028 Final report and outcome presentation (one-year Fellowships)
- 01 Jul 2028 Second interim meeting (two-year Fellowship)
- 01 Jan 2029 Third interim meeting (two-year Fellowship)
- 30 Jun 2029 Final report and outcome presentation (two-year Fellowship)
Programme Outcomes
- Opportunity for early-career researchers to conduct research embedded in European football
- Funding for salary, equipment and study-related travel
- Regular contact with UEFA Medical & Anti-Doping, including monthly catch-ups
- International recognition and a supervisory/mentor network spanning two or more UEFA nations
Roadmap
Applications open via the UEFA online portal.
Only complete applications are accepted. They must be submitted in English via the online portal with the supporting documents and the signed Declaration to UEFA.
All applicants receive their scores and feedback. Up to five applicants per topic are invited to resubmit with recommended amendments.
Invited applicants submit their amended applications for second-stage review.
Successful applicants receive an offer, which must be accepted by 28 May 2027.
The Fellowship begins at the host institution.
All Fellows update UEFA Medical & Anti-Doping on their progress.
Fellows submit a final report and present their outcomes.
The Fellow updates UEFA Medical & Anti-Doping on their progress.
The Fellow submits a final report and presents their outcomes.
