World Aquatics is delighted to invite applications for the 2026-27 World Aquatics Scholarship Programme, providing financial and technical support to athletes with internationally recognised achievements who lack access to high-performance training in their home countries.

Launched in 2014, the programme has transformed the careers of hundreds of athletes across the globe, and this year it reaches a new milestone.

A Historic First: High Diving Scholarships Available for the First Time

The 2026–27 programme makes history with the introduction of High Diving scholarships, a first in the programme's 12-year history. This landmark addition underlines World Aquatics' commitment to the growth and global development of all aquatic sports around the world.

Orlando Duque, High Diving Technical Committee Chairperson and 2013 World Champion, stated; 

“This new scholarship programme is a game changer. It gives emerging high divers the stability and support they need to focus on performance and represent their countries at the highest level.”
By Orlando Duque

In total, the entire Scholarship Programme targets:

  • 100 Swimmers
  • 20 Open Water Swimmers
  • 20 Divers
  • 10 Artistic Swimming Duets
  • 20 Water Polo players
  • 6 High Divers

Continental representation and gender equality will be prioritised to ensure a diverse and inclusive cohort.

What the Scholarship Provides

Athletes in Swimming will be placed at one of World Aquatics' world-class Training Centres, located in Antibes (France), Bahrain, Thanyapura (Phuket, Thailand) and Bond University on the Gold Coast (Australia), while Diving athletes will be based at Toronto (Canada) and Open Water swimmers at Azura Florida Aquatics (Davie, USA) or Antibes.

Athletes at Training Centres receive full board accommodation, access to top-tier training facilities and coaching, support participating in competitions, insurance coverage, a personal pocket money allowance and various personal development opportunities. Athletes based in Bahrain also benefit from study opportunities at the University of Technology Bahrain, covered as part of the scholarship.

Water Polo scholarship holders will be placed at first and second division clubs across Europe in Spain, France, Croatia and Greece, where they will benefit from regular high-level competition, specialised coaching and additional development opportunities.

Artistic Swimming duets and High Divers will see the athletes and their National Federations choose their own training location and programme, supported by a scholarship grant.

Swimming, Diving and Open Water Swimming scholarships run for two years, commencing 1 September 2026 and running through to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Scholarships in Artistic Swimming, High Diving and Water Polo are awarded on a one-year basis.

Eligibility

To be considered, athletes must be current national team members who have represented their country at international level and are preparing to compete at upcoming World Aquatics Championships and the Olympic Games. Age limits, national ranking requirements, and qualifying competition criteria apply for each discipline, with sport-specific details available in the programme guide.

Priority will be given to candidates with the greatest need, and to whom the scholarship will create the most meaningful opportunity to reach their full potential.

How to Apply

National Federations are invited to submit their online applications by no later than 30 April 2026. A separate application must be submitted for each nominated athlete, using the discipline-specific links below:

For full details, eligibility requirements and sport-specific criteria, please refer to the official 2026–27 World Aquatics Scholarship Programme document. For any questions, please contact the World Aquatics Development Unit at development@worldaquatics.com.

Don't miss this opportunity to train with the best and take your performance to the next level ahead of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.