Apply for a scholarship, study remotely and contribute to the FIA’s global movement against online abuse in sports whilst earning a master’s degree from Dublin City University.
Apply nowThe Reality of Online Abuse in Sport
Sport is an integral part of society – its very essence is that it should remain a free, open and inclusive environment.
Harassment towards our athletes, personnel, officials, volunteers and fans has reached deplorable levels; we aim to expose and eliminate this online abuse in sports by uniting together.
Discover our mission statement by downloading our white paper here.
During the 2022 World Athletics Championships, female athletes received 60% of all online abuse via Twitter and Instagram (World Athletics, 2022)
Online hate speech has increased by 20% in the UK since 2020 (Ditch the Label Research, 2021)
Sporting events have been increasingly identified as significant flashpoints for online abuse and hate (Kearns et al., 2022)
Stand United With Us Against Online Abuse in Sport
Founded in 1904, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile, is the governing body for world motor sport and the federation of the world’s leading mobility organisations, connecting 243 international motoring and sporting entities from 147 countries.
The FIA University (FIAU) is the education and research arm of the FIA, whose mission is to support the FIA’s strategy of being a knowledge-led organisation. The FIAU provide courses to enhance the competencies of FIA members and personnel, whilst publishing empirical research to inform policy and strategy.
As the independent charitable arm of the FIA, the FIA Foundation supports motor sport safety and development, invests in member charities, and champions global public policies related to road safety, sustainable mobility, and climate action.
Dublin City University (DCU) Business School is an innovative, internationally focused institution, offering globally ranked master’s degrees with a mission to transform lives and societies through their imperative research.
The UAOA x FIA scholarship could be your stepping stone!
The FIA is committed to fostering equality, diversity, and inclusion. We’re searching globally for talented researchers who are passionate about combatting online abuse in sport. We’re actively seeking individuals from Africa, Asia, Europe, MENA, Oceania, North and South America, who bring unique reference frames and diversify our research approach.
Without you, achieving global success would not be possible. In order to support your studies, with the FIA Foundation’s support, we are offering scholarships to two more dedicated individuals across 2026-2028.
These scholarships, each valued at an average of EUR 10,000, will cover your entire study costs for a Master’s by Research (MPhil) with Dublin City University. The part-time program spans two years and begins on the 1st of September 2026.
On this course, you will focus on cutting edge research related to combatting online hate speech within sports. Your assignments and learning will be carried out in English, whilst working remotely under the guidance of a specialist academic advisor.
INDICATIVE RESEARCH TOPICS
We welcome innovative and interdisciplinary proposals on online abuse in sport. The
themes below are indicative rather than exhaustive, and applicants are encouraged
to develop original research ideas aligned with the mission of United Against Online
Abuse.
■ Abuse Patterns
Triggers, trends, and flashpoints across sports and platforms
■ Athlete and Stakeholder Wellbeing
Impacts on mental health, performance, and careers
■ Inequality
Gender, race, and discrimination in digital sport spaces
■ Governance
Policy, regulation, and safeguarding responses
■ Fan Cultures
Drivers of toxic behaviour and online communities
■ Prevention
Campaigns, education, and intervention strategies
■ Methods
Data-driven and innovative research approaches
This means you can stay in your home country or move around the world – you have complete control! Are you ready to join us in this cause?
Download our English brochure to learn more.
Begin your journey with the UAOA Coalition, FIA and DCU Business School
The application process is open to all eligible candidates. We have extended applications which are open until early Summer 2026. We’ve also made the process straightforward:
We encourage you to read through our detailed application guide to ensure a smooth application process. Ready to start your journey? Send us an email at uaoa@fia.com
Start your application - The research proposal
Send us an email at uaoa@fia.com to take the first step towards your Master’s degree and making a significant contribution to combat online abuse in sports.
Note that for research proposals, we typically require five sections:
Total research proposal should not exceed 4 x A4 typed pages (1.5 spaces, Times New Roman font).
All proposals must be submitted in English, with your name and contact email address on the cover sheet.