Sport Participation Research Initiative: 2026-27 competitions
2026-10-17T20:00:00
A joint initiative between SSHRC and Sport Canada
| Overview | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Funding streams | Doctoral scholarship supplements | Postdoctoral award supplements | Insight Grants supplements |
| Value | $10,000 in addition to the value of the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Doctoral | $10,000 in addition to the value of the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award | Up to $15,000 in addition to the value of the Insight Grant |
| Duration | 12 months | 12 months | 2 to 5 years |
| Application deadline | Directly to SSHRC: October 17, 2026 Through a Canadian institution with a quota: Contact your institution for its deadline. |
September 10, 2026 | October 1, 2026 |
| Results announced | July 2027 | July 2027 | July 2027 |
| Apply | Via the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Doctoral competition | Via the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award competition | Via the Insight Grant competition |
On this page
- Description
- Value and duration
- Eligibility
- Application process
- Merit review
- Regulations, policies and related information
- Contact information
Description
The joint Sport Participation Research Initiative (SPRI) supports the objectives of the The Canadian Sport Policy by funding eligible doctoral students, postdoctoral researchers and postsecondary institution-affiliated researchers. These students and researchers conduct research on enhancing participation in sport—and its outcomes—in Canada.
Program objectives
The SPRI has two broad objectives:
- to promote Canadian research that will develop a better understanding, based on empirical evidence, of Canadians’ participation in sport, in order to better inform programs and policies; and
- to build Canada’s capacity to conduct research on and related to participation in sport, specifically in the target areas described below.
To help achieve these objectives, all SPRI grant and award holders are expected to engage in knowledge mobilization activities.
Target areas
The SPRI partners invite proposals that address the broad objectives and focus on one or more of the following target areas:
- Participation: Research that supports the development, and increases the number and diversity of athletes, volunteers, coaches, officials and leaders.
- System performance: Research that supports the effective performance of the sport system’s structures, processes and interventions.
- Values and ethics: Research that supports and/or evaluates/monitors safe, ethical and values-based design and delivery of sport policies, programs and services.
- Major games and events: Research that analyzes impacts on and outcomes for communities and Canadians as legacies (social, cultural, economic) of major games and events.
- Economic and social development: Research that supports sport for development outcomes in Canadian communities.
Funding mechanisms
The initiative offers three separate funding mechanisms to support research on participation in sport in Canada.
Doctoral scholarship supplements
Applicants for a Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Doctoral who indicate their interest on the application form and who are working in one or more of the target areas will be considered for an SPRI doctoral scholarship supplement.
Only applications recommended for funding by SSHRC are referred to Sport Canada. Those who already hold a SSHRC-funded doctoral award or scholarship are ineligible to apply for this supplement.
If interested in this supplement, contact fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca.
Postdoctoral award supplements
Applicants for a Canada Postdoctoral Research Award who indicate their interest on the application form and who are working in one or more of the target areas will be considered for an SPRI postdoctoral award supplement.
Only applications recommended for funding by SSHRC are referred to Sport Canada. Postdoctoral researchers who already hold a SSHRC-funded postdoctoral award or fellowship are ineligible to apply for this supplement.
If interested in this supplement, contact fellowships@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca.
Research grant supplements
The SPRI partners seek to stimulate short- and long-term research in sport participation in Canada by increasing the funding available through the Insight Grant funding opportunity.
The initiative is designed to complement, not replace, existing SSHRC support for sport participation research offered through the Insight Research program.
Value and duration
Doctoral scholarship supplements
SPRI doctoral scholarship supplements are held for 12 months and are worth up to $10,000, in addition to the annual value of the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Doctoral.
Postdoctoral award supplements
SPRI postdoctoral award supplements are held for 12 months and are worth up to $10,000, in addition to the annual value of the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award.
Research grant supplements
SPRI research grant supplements—worth up to $15,000—are available to successful Insight Grant recipients, in addition to the value of their grant. The supplements are intended to finance knowledge mobilization activities.
Eligibility
Proposals can involve any disciplines, thematic areas, approaches or subject areas eligible for SSHRC funding. See the guidelines on subject matter eligibility for more information.
Doctoral scholarship supplements
Besides meeting the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Doctoral eligibility requirements, applicants for a doctoral scholarship supplement must be working in one or more of the target areas and be affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution that holds institutional eligibility.
Postdoctoral award supplements
Besides meeting the Canada Postdoctoral Research Award eligibility requirements, applicants for a postdoctoral award supplement must be working in one or more of the target areas and be affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution that holds institutional eligibility.
Research grant supplements—applicants and participants
Applications can be submitted by an individual researcher or a team of researchers (consisting of one applicant/project director and one or more co-applicants and/or collaborators) who are working in Canada in one or more of the target areas. Applicants must be affiliated with a Canadian postsecondary institution that holds institutional eligibility at the time of application. Researchers who maintain an affiliation with a Canadian postsecondary institution, but whose primary affiliation is with a non-Canadian postsecondary institution, are not eligible for applicant status.
A researcher who currently holds an SPRI grant cannot submit a new SPRI application as the applicant. A researcher cannot submit an application for an SPRI grant and another application for an Insight Grant as the applicant in the same competition.
All applicants must comply with the other eligibility criteria for an Insight Grant.
Research grant supplements—institutions
Grant funds can only be administered by an eligible Canadian postsecondary institution. Institutions proposing to administer a grant awarded under this funding opportunity must hold or obtain institutional eligibility.
Institutions must contact institutional.eligibility@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca to begin the institutional eligibility application process, or if they have questions about institutional eligibility.
Research grant supplements—monitoring
Grant holders will be expected to report on the use of grant funds, on funded activities undertaken during the grant period, and on outcomes. Successful applicants will be informed of reporting requirements upon receiving their notice of award.
Application process
Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements for this stream of funding must apply through the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Doctoral, Canada Postdoctoral Research Award or Insight Grant funding opportunities by selecting the “Sport Participation Research Initiative” option from the drop-down menu in their application form.
Applicants must also provide a one-page justification that explains how their proposed research project is related to the initiative’s program objectives and to one or more of the SPRI target areas.
Merit review
Doctoral scholarship and postdoctoral award supplements
Each application for an SPRI doctoral scholarship or postdoctoral award supplement is first reviewed by the relevant SSHRC merit review committee. Only successful applications will be referred to the SPRI Relevance Committee.
Research grant supplements
Each application for an SPRI research grant supplement is first reviewed by the relevant SSHRC merit review committee. Only successful applications will be referred to the SPRI Relevance Committee.
The SPRI Relevance Committee is made up of the Sport Canada research coordinator and members of the academic community. This committee assesses whether the research will contribute to efforts that will enhance sport participation in Canada. The committee must form a consensus on whether the proposed research adequately meets the funding opportunity’s objectives and target areas. Therefore, applications must specify how the proposed research applies to the SPRI’s program objectives and target areas.
The SPRI Relevance Committee’s decisions cannot be appealed.
| Funding opportunity | Review by SSHRC merit review committees | Review by SPRI Relevance Committee | Results announced | SPRI grant / award start date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Graduate Research Scholarship—Doctoral | March 2026 | June 2027 | July 2027 | January 2028 |
| Canada Postdoctoral Research Award | January 2026 | June 2027 | July 2027 | January 2028 |
| Insight Grants | February 2027 | June 2027 | July 2027 | January 2028 |
Regulations, policies and related information
SSHRC reserves the right to determine the eligibility of applications, based on the information included. SSHRC also reserves the right to interpret the regulations and policies governing its funding opportunities.
For descriptions of SSHRC terms, see Definitions of terms.
Doctoral scholarship and postdoctoral award supplements
All scholarship and award applicants and holders must comply with the policies, regulations and guidelines governing scholarship and award applications and with the regulations set out in the Tri-Agency Research Training Award Holder’s Guide.
Research grants
All applicants and grant holders must comply with the policies, regulations and guidelines governing grant applications and with the regulations set out in the Tri-agency Guide on Financial Administration.
Contact information
For more information:
Email: research@sshrc-crsh.gc.ca
Toll-free: 1-855-275-2861