FIG Foundation - Building a Sustainable Future

Grants and Fellowships

Current open grants

The FIG Foundation will sponsor and award Young Surveyor Grants in support of FIG Congress 2026 and FIG Young Surveyors Conference

Applications for young surveyors grants to the 2026 FIG Congress 2026 and FIG Young Surveyors Conference are now open, until 5 December 2025 at 17:00 GMT.

Read more and apply here

Closed grants

FIG Young Surveyors 4th African Regional Meeting
27-28 October 2025, Mombasa, Kenya

The FIG Foundation will sponsor and award Young Surveyor Grants in support of the FIG Young Surveyors 4th African Regional Meeting and 10th ISK African Regional Conference. A total of 4 grants will be awarded. DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION IS 31 JULY 2025.

Each of the grants will include:

• Travel costs (e.g. airfare)
• Accommodations (6 nights)
• Registration fee
• Reimbursement of cost of visa (if required)
• Per diem of 50 USD (5 days)

This is a Regional Grant Offering and Only Open to Eligible Young Surveyors from the Africans Region.

>— Note: prior recipients of an FIG Foundation grant are not eligible to apply <—

FIG FOUNDATION DEFINITION OF YOUNG SURVEYOR: A YOUNG SURVEYOR OR STUDENT OF SURVEYING 35 YEARS OR YOUNGER

Apply here

Application for funds to attend and participate in the FIG Young Surveyors 2nd Americas Regional Meeting

17-18 October 2025, Minneapolis, Minnesota USA.

Each grant includes:

• Travel costs (e.g. airfare)

• Accommodation (3 nights)

• Registration Fee

• Reimbursement of Cost of Visa (if required)

• Per Diem of 50 USD (3 days)

Deadline to apply: 30 April 2025 (to allow for time to apply and make appointment for visa application). This is a Regional Grant Offering and Only Open to Eligible Young Surveyors from the Americas Region.  

Apply here

The FIG Foundation would like to invite all Young Surveyors to apply for funds to attend and participate in FIG Working Week 2025

6-10 April 2025, Brisbane, Australia

FIG Working Week 2025 is an exciting week-long conference that brings the international community of surveying and spatial professionals together to discuss key challenges of our time within the surveying profession with fellow peers. Engage in meaningful conversations during unique networking opportunities and social activities throughout conference.

Each of the grants will include:

• Travel costs (e.g. airfare) Accommodation and meals
• Registration Fees
• FIG Gala Dinner
• Reimbursement of Cost of Visa (if required)
• Per Diem of 50 Euros (6 days)

This is a Global Grant Offering and Open to All Eligible Young Surveyors Worldwide

—-> Note: prior recipients of an FIG Foundation grant are not eligible to apply <—-

FIG FOUNDATION DEFINITION OF YOUNG SURVEYOR: A YOUNG SURVEYOR OR STUDENT OF SURVEYING 35 YEARS OR YOUNGER

Apply here

Application for Funds to Attend and Participate in the FIG Regional Conference 2024

Kathmandu, Nepal  

The FIG Foundation has decided to provide a number of grants in support of young surveyors attending the FIG Regional Conference 2024 - Kathmandu, Nepal.

Grants available:

• 20 registration fee for national participants

• 3 travel grants for regional countries

These grants are available to all young surveyors who meet the definition of a young surveyor as defined below. To qualify for the funds, you must meet the requirements to be Young Surveyors as FIG defines:

• Young Surveyors (YS) Surveyors aged 35 years or under Students of surveying and all related studies Young Surveying Professionals (YSP)

• Young Professionals of surveying and all related studies within 10 years of graduation from a Bachelor or Masters degree

Apply For national participants. Deadline for application: 2 September 2024

Apply For regional paticipants. Deadline for application: 20 September 2024

Application for Funds to Attend and Participate in the 7rd FIG Young Surveyors European Meeting in Romania 

The FIG Foundation has decided to provide a number of grants in support of young surveyors attending the 7rd FIG Young Surveyors European Meeting. These grants are available to all young surveyors who meet the definition of a young surveyor as defined below. To qualify for the funds, you must meet the requirements to be Young Surveyors as FIG defines:

• Young Surveyors (YS) Surveyors aged 35 years or under Students of surveying and all related studies

• Young Surveying Professionals (YSP) Young Professionals of surveying and all related studies within 10 years of graduation from a Bachelor or Masters degree

Apply Deadline for application: 30 August 2024

2022 FIG Foundation PhD Scholarships

The FIG Foundation will be providing scholarships of up to 4,000 euros plus possible funding for conference travel to PhD students. Applicants shall:

1. be studying for a PhD degree and registered solely in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying[1] in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy[2],
2. have had a paper accepted by a peer reviewed international journal based on their doctoral research project; applicants should be the lead author, and the paper should be co-authored with their supervisor,
3. should not have submitted their final thesis at the application deadline.

More information including how to write a grant proposal

Deadine: 1 June 2022

2022 FIG Foundation PhD Scholarships

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 4,000 euros. Applicants shall:

1. be studying for a PhD degree and registered solely in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. must have had a paper accepted by a peer reviewed international journal based on their doctoral research project; applicants should be the lead author, and the paper should be co-authored with their supervisor,
3. should not have submitted their final thesis at the application deadline.

Applications are to be sent to fig.foundation@fig.net with “FIG Foundation PhD Scholarship Application” shown in Subject Line. Applicants are not to contact Foundation directors individually. Decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into during or after the competition.

Deadline for first round documentation: 31 March 2022

2021 FIG Foundation PhD Scholarships

The FIG Foundation will be providing scholarships of up to 4,000 euros plus possible funding for conference travel to  PhD students.

Applicants shall:

1. be studying for a PhD degree and registered solely in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying[1] in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy[2],
2. have had a paper accepted by a peer reviewed international journal based on their doctoral research project; applicants should be the lead author, and the paper should be co-authored with their supervisor,
3. should not have submitted their final thesis at the application deadline.

2020 FIG Foundation PhD Scholarships

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 4,000 euros.

Applicants shall:

1. be studying for a PhD degree and registered solely in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. must have had a paper accepted by a peer reviewed international journal based on their doctoral research project; applicants should be the lead author, and the paper should be co-authored with their supervisor,
3. should not have submitted their final thesis at the application deadline.

Applications are to be sent to fig.foundation@fig.net with “FIG Foundation PhD Scholarship Application” shown in Subject Line. Applicants are not to contact Foundation directors individually. Decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into during or after the competition.

Recepient: Kehinde Hassan Babalola, Nigeria, Division of Geomatics, Dept of Architecture, Planning & Geomatics. University of Cape Town, South Africa

The Aubrey Barker Fund and the FIG Foundation Grant

The Aubrey Barker Fund and the FIG Foundation are seeking applications for grants of up to 20,000 euro (spread over two years) with the objective of building the capacity of academic institutions teaching surveying in developing countries, and of providing support in teaching and developing their curriculum more effectively.

Recipient: Dr. Trias Aditya, Indonesia, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

2020 FIG Foundation Academic Research Grants

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 40,000 euros spread over three years.

Applicants shall:

1. be based in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. have an established record of published research - at least two articles in good quality internationally recognised peer reviewed journals serves as a useful guideline, and
3. have experience in managing postgraduate students.

Grants will be awarded to a focussed research project. The grant holder is expected to conduct the bulk of the research themselves (it is not a research manager’s grant), but at the same time the development of highly qualified personnel (HQP) should be a major component of the project. Postgraduate students should be full time students, and this grant should provide financial support for their degree studies. However, the principal investigator should be intimately involved in the work.

• Associated information for documentation and requirements

2019 FIG Foundation PhD Scholarships

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 4,000 euros.

Applicants shall:

1. be studying for a PhD degree and registered solely in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. must have had a paper accepted by a peer reviewed international journal based on their doctoral research project; applicants should be the lead author, and the paper should be co-authored with their supervisor,
3. should not have submitted their final thesis at the application deadline.

Applications are to be sent to fig.foundation@fig.net with “FIG Foundation PhD Scholarship Application” shown in Subject Line. Applicants are not to contact Foundation directors individually. Decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into during or after the competition.

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2019

2019 FIG Foundation Academic Research Grants

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 40,000 euros spread over three years.

Applicants shall:

1. be based in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. have an established record of published research - at least two articles in good quality internationally recognised peer reviewed journals serves as a useful guideline, and
3. have experience in managing postgraduate students.

Grants will be awarded to a focussed research project. The grant holder is expected to conduct the bulk of the research themselves (it is not a research manager’s grant), but at the same time the development of highly qualified personnel (HQP) should be a major component of the project. Postgraduate students should be full time students, and this grant should provide financial support for their degree studies. However, the principal investigator should be intimately involved in the work.

• Associated information for documentation and requirements

Deadline for applications: 1 March 2019

2018 FIG Foundation PhD Scholarships

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 4,000 euros.

Applicants shall:

1. be studying for a PhD degree and registered solely in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. must have had a paper accepted by a peer reviewed international journal based on their doctoral research project; applicants should be the lead author, and the paper should be co-authored with their supervisor,
3. should not have submitted their final thesis at the application deadline.

Applications are to be sent to fig.foundation@fig.net with “FIG Foundation PhD Scholarship Application” shown in Subject Line. Applicants are not to contact Foundation directors individually. Decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into during or after the competition.

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2018

2018 FIG Foundation Academic Research Grants

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 40,000 euros spread over three years.

Applicants shall:

1. be based in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. have an established record of published research - at least two articles in good quality internationally recognised peer reviewed journals serves as a useful guideline, and
3. have experience in managing postgraduate students.

Grants will be awarded to a focussed research project. The grant holder is expected to conduct the bulk of the research themselves (it is not a research manager’s grant), but at the same time the development of highly qualified personnel (HQP) should be a major component of the project. Postgraduate students should be full time students, and this grant should provide financial support for their degree studies. However, the principal investigator should be intimately involved in the work.

• Associated information for documentation and requirements

Deadline for applications: 31 March 2018

2016 FIG Foundation PhD Scholarships

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 30,000 euros spread over three years.

Applicants shall:

1. be studying for a PhD degree and registered solely in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. must have had a paper accepted by a peer reviewed international journal based on their doctoral research project; applicants should be the lead author, and the paper should be co-authored with their supervisor,
3. should not have submitted their final thesis at the application deadline.

Applications are to be sent to fig.foundation@fig.net with “FIG Foundation PhD Scholarship Application” shown in Subject Line. Applicants are not to contact Foundation directors individually. Decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into during or after the competition.

• Associated information for documentation and requirements

Deadline for applications: 1 March 2016

2016 FIG Foundation Academic Research Grants

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 30,000 euros spread over three years.

Applicants shall:

1. be based in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. have an established record of published research - at least two articles in good quality internationally recognised peer reviewed journals serves as a useful guideline, and
3. have experience in managing postgraduate students.

Grants will be awarded to a focussed research project. The grant holder is expected to conduct the bulk of the research themselves (it is not a research manager’s grant), but at the same time the development of highly qualified personnel (HQP) should be a major component of the project. Postgraduate students should be full time students, and this grant should provide financial support for their degree studies. However, the principal investigator should be intimately involved in the work.

• Associated information for documentation and requirements

Deadline for applications: 1 March 2016

Application for Funds to Attend and Participate in the 2015 FIG Working Week & 3rd FIG Young Surveyors European Meeting

The FIG Foundation has decided to provide a number of grants in support of young surveyors attending the 2015 FIG Working Week and 3rd FIG Young Surveyors European Meeting. These grants are available to all young surveyors who meet the definition of a young surveyor as defined below (regardless of where you live).

To qualify for the funds, you must meet the requirements to be Young Surveyors as FIG defines:
Young Surveyors (YS)

• Surveyors aged 35 years or under
• Students of surveying and all related studies

Young Surveying Professionals (YSP)

• Young Professionals of surveying and all related studies within
• 10 years of graduation from a Bachelor or Masters degree

Apply - Deadline for application: 25 March 2015

2015 FIG Foundation PhD Scholarships

The FIG Foundation will be providing scholarships of up to 4,000 euros to PhD students.

Applicants shall:

1. be studying for a PhD degree and registered solely in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. must have had a paper accepted by a peer reviewed international journal based on their doctoral research project; applicants should be the lead author, and the paper should be co-authored with their supervisor,
3. should not have submitted their final thesis at the application deadline.

Applications are to be sent to fig.foundation@fig.net with “FIG Foundation PhD Scholarship Application” shown in Subject Line. Applicants are not to contact Foundation directors individually. Decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into during or after the competition.

• Associated information for documentation and requirements

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2015

2015 FIG Foundation Academic Research Grants

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 30,000 euros spread over three years.

Applicants shall:

1. be based in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. have an established record of published research - at least two articles in good quality internationally recognised peer reviewed journals serves as a useful guideline, and
3. have experience in managing postgraduate students.

Grants will be awarded to a focussed research project. The grant holder is expected to conduct the bulk of the research themselves (it is not a research manager’s grant), but at the same time the development of highly qualified personnel (HQP) should be a major component of the project. Postgraduate students should be full time students, and this grant should provide financial support for their degree studies. However, the principal investigator should be intimately involved in the work.

• Associated information for documentation and requirements

Deadline for applications: 31 March 2015

Young Surveyors from Europe are invited to apply for a joint FIG Foundation and FIG Young Surveyors fund

2014 FIG Foundation Academic Research Grants

The FIG Foundation will be providing research grants of up to 20,000 euros spread over two years.

Applicants shall:

1. be based in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying¹⁾ in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy²⁾
2. have an established record of published research - at least two articles in good quality internationally recognised peer reviewed journals serves as a useful guideline, and
3. have experience in managing postgraduate students.

Grants will be awarded to a focused research project. The grant holder is expected to conduct the bulk of the research themselves (it is not a research manager’s grant), but at the same time the development of highly qualified personnel (HQP) should be a major component of the project. Postgraduate students should be full time students, and this grant should provide financial support for their degree studies. However, the principal investigator should be intimately involved in the work.

Deadline for applications: 31 March 2014

2014 FIG Foundation PhD Scholarships

The FIG Foundation will be providing scholarships of up to 4,000 euros to PhD students.

Applicants shall:

1. be studying for a PhD degree and registered solely in a surveying/geomatics academic programme that teaches surveying in a country listed by the World Bank as a low-income, lower-middle or upper-middle income economy,
2. must have had a paper accepted by a peer reviewed international journal based on their doctoral research project; applicants should be the lead author, and the paper should be co-authored with their supervisor,
3. should not have submitted their final thesis at the application deadline.

Applications will be judged on the quality of the application and need. In the event that two excellent applications are judged to be of equal quality, applications from low-income and lower-middle income countries will be preferred.

Applications are to be sent to fig@fig.net with “FIG Foundation PhD Scholarship Application” shown in Subject Line. Applicants are not to contact Foundation directors individually. Decisions are final. No correspondence will be entered into during or after the competition.

Deadline for applications: 1 February 2014

2014 FIG Foundation Young Surveyors Fellowship

The FIG Foundation Young Surveyors Fellowships will provide funding for individuals to cover the costs to attend and participate in the 2014 FIG Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, including attendance at all FIG Young Surveyors events during the congress.

The XXV FIG Congress will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 16-21 June. In addition to congress events young surveyors sessions will be organised and contribute to the networking of young surveyors internationally, to introduce young surveyors to the FIG Congress and FIG community, and to provide for the opportunity to learn more and share the young surveyors’ vision for the future of FIG.

Completed information and submissions must be received by the FIG Office at fig.foundation@fig.net on or before 1 December 2013. Late applications will not be accepted.

2012 FIG Foundation Young Surveyor Conference Fellowships

The 2012 FIG Working Week to be held in Rome, Italy, will be the first FIG Working Week to host an additional Young Surveyors Conference immediately prior to the main Working Week events. The FIG Young Surveyors Conference will be held on the 4-5 May 2012, hosted by the National Council of Italian Surveyors, whist the full Working Week will run from 6 – 10 May. The aim of the additional young surveyor sessions will be to further the network of young surveyors internationally, to introduce young surveyors to the wider Working Week, and to learn more of the young surveyor vision for the future of the FIG.

FIG Foundation has decided to cover up to four (4) Fellowships, to cover the costs of travel, accommodation during the FIG Young Surveyors Conference and FIG Working Week and conference registration. Fellowships include attendance at the FIG Foundation Dinner, the FIG Gala Dinner and Commission dinner.

The 2012 FIG Foundation Young Surveyor Conference Fellowships will provide funding for individuals to cover the costs to attend and participate in the 2012 FIG Working Week in Rome, including attendance at the FIG Young Surveyor Conference.

Deadline for applications: 1 December 2011 (extended deadline)

The FIG Foundation Fellowship and Awards for FIG Congress 2010

The FIG Foundation, an independent body within the FIG family which raises and disburses funds for the development of the surveying profession and surveyors, announced the FIG Foundation Fellowship and Awards for the FIG Congress 2010.

Unfortunately, there were no award winners this year.

The FIG Foundation Grant 2010

The FIG Foundation announced the FIG Grant 2010. The purpose of the Foundation is the funding of educational and capacity building projects and scholarships. The FIG Foundation considered applications for funding from individuals, groups and institutions in accordance with the FIG definition of the surveyor. In particular, the Directors have decided that, in this call for applications, preference will be given to applications in the subject areas of:

• Commission 2 - Professional Education
• Commission 6 - Engineering Surveys
• Commission 8 - Spatial Planning and Development

One grant was appointed for 2010.