Four scholarships are awarded annually to students in their final two years of study. 

These scholarships are brought to you in partnership with FICS, the International  Federation of Sports Chiropractic. 

FICS donation to each recipient free registration for the online learning of the International Certificate in Sports Chiropractic (ICSC) valued at CHF 2,500.00, an honorary position on a FICS commission for 12 months, and a cash prize of CHF 500.00.

By accepting this award students will play an active part in the FICS commission, by attending four virtual meetings per year, which are conducted via Zoom meeting room, contributing their ideas within meetings, following through on any tasks they agree to assist with from meetings, being open to different ways of thinking, being accessible to the commission chair and respond to emails. The cash prize is transferred to the student’s nominated bank account.

Students applying for one of the four student scholarships must be enrolled full-time at an accredited/recognised chiropractic institution, graduating in or after the year of the award.. 

One scholarship is awarded annually to a student in their early years of studies.

This scholarship is awarded to one student annually.  The emerging student award recognises a sports chiropractic student who has not yet reached their final two years of study. This will be open to all students enrolled full-time in a chiropractic program, not in the final two years of their studies. The recipient of this award will receive a cash component of  CHF 1,000.00, which will be transferred directly to the recipient’s educational institution to use for their tuition and learning aid purposes. The recipient will be assigned a mentor to encourage engagement with the organisation and to ensure that the recipient is assisted in their sports, chiropractic, and leadership development.  

Students applying for the emerging student award must be enrolled full-time at an accredited/recognised chiropractic institution with two or more years left before they complete their studies.

Read more below.

Each year scholarship applications open at the end of August and close on 31 October - 5 pm CT (Central Standard Time UTC-5). No late applications will be accepted. 

Students are encouraged to submit their applications early.

Once your application is received, we will acknowledge receipt within One business day (24 business hours).  If you do not receive an thatmail receipt, it is your responsibility to follow up. FICS takes no responsibility for submissions which were not received.

QUESTION AND ANSWERS: 

Q: I applied last year and was unsuccessful. Can I apply again?
A: Yes you certainly can apply again.

Q: Can I apply for both the emerging scholarship and the full scholarships?
A: If you are in this unique situation where you might fit in both categories, FICS will consider your application for both.

Q: There are two types of scholarship? How do you know which scholarship I am applying for?
A: There is only one application form. On the application form, we ask you for your year of graduation. This is the field that FICS use to determine which scholarship category you best fit within. If you fall on that border, we may consider your application in both the open and emerging scholarship category.

Q: What if I come from a University that is not recognised by CCEI? Can I still apply?
A:  NO: Students applying for consideration for one of the student scholarships must be enrolled full time at an accredited/recognised CCEI chiropractic institution, graduating in or after the year of the award.  CLICK HERE: to check CCEI accredited Chiropractic Institution

Q: What if I miss the submission date? will you still accept my application?
A: These scholarships open in late August, early September annually giving students two months to prepare their application. No late applications are accepted. 

Download this application form and save it to your computer. Please fill in electronically.

FICS_Student_Scholarship_Application.

ESSAY – 600–750 WORDS

Maximum score: 10 points

The recommended essay length is between 600 and 750 words. A small amount of flexibility is permitted; however, applicants should aim to remain within the stated range. Essays exceeding the maximum word count by more than 5% may receive a two-point deduction.

Formatting Requirements

The header on every page must include: the applicant’s full name; and the title of the essay. Applicants are encouraged to use the header function in Microsoft Word to ensure this information appears consistently on every page.

Originality and Referencing

The essay should primarily reflect the applicant’s own opinions, experiences, and perspective on the importance and future of sports chiropractic.

Applicants may refer to published research, articles, or the work of others to support their ideas. All sources must be appropriately acknowledged and referenced. Information drawn from other sources should be correctly paraphrased rather than copied directly.

The essay should demonstrate a clear balance between supporting evidence and the applicant’s own original analysis, ideas, and professional aspirations.

An example essay and the judging criteria are provided as guidance.

Judging Criteria

0–2 points

The essay:

• provides an unclear or limited explanation of sports chiropractic;
• demonstrates little evidence of the applicant’s understanding of the profession;
• does not clearly explain the applicant’s career interests or motivation; and
• includes limited original thought, supporting evidence, or appropriate referencing.

3–6 points

The essay:

• clearly explains the applicant’s interest in pursuing a career in sports chiropractic;
• demonstrates a general understanding of the role and value of sports chiropractic;
• acknowledges interdisciplinary collaboration and its importance in athlete care;
• includes some appropriate supporting evidence or referencing; and
• presents the applicant’s own views, although these may require further development.

7–10 points

The essay:

• clearly communicates the applicant’s passion for working with athletes and developing a career in sports chiropractic;
• demonstrates a strong understanding of the role and importance of sports chiropractic;
• clearly explains the value of interdisciplinary collaboration and integrated athlete management;
• uses relevant, credible, and appropriately formatted references;
• presents thoughtful, original perspectives rather than relying heavily on referenced material;
• identifies challenges or opportunities within the profession; and
• proposes innovative ideas or practical solutions to support the future development and growth of sports chiropractic.

_________________

Example essay. This is provided as a guide to what the judges are looking for and needs to reflect a balance of any research referenced and the submitting students own work and opinion. 

The majority of modern research regarding the conservative management of neuromusculoskeletal injuries concludes that athletes achieve optimal outcomes when subjected to a combination of passive and active care.^1,2,3,4 After five years of university training, and with the additional certification of the ICCSP, sports chiropractors are in a skilful position to deliver quality care for athletes and active individuals. ⁵ Furthermore, the International Olympic Committee describes that the responsibility of the sports medicine profession is to care for the health and welfare of Olympic athletes, by treating and preventing injuries through medical examinations, nutritional advice, prescribing training programs and monitoring substance abuse.⁶ By contributing to a multi-disciplinary team, sports chiropractors are in an adept position to contribute to this responsibility.

Sports chiropractors can bring a multi-modal approach and utilise diverse techniques when treating athletes. Training sessions are an integral part of being an athlete, and sports chiropractors are in a suitable position to assist with warm-ups and cool downs, sport specific strength and conditioning, and the implementation of injury prevention programs. Whilst orthodox elite sporting organisations and programs have access to multi-disciplinary teams to carry out various components of an athlete’s management, minor sports with minimal funding, or local clubs funded by predominantly fundraising or player subscription, lack such expertise and guidance. In this circumstance, sports chiropractors can be greatly influential, and bear the ideal and appropriate skillset to be the chief health practitioner. By employing various techniques; including peripheral joint mobilisation/manipulation, spinal manipulative therapy, rehabilitation and exercise prescription, soft tissue techniques including instrument assisted, and other physiological therapeutic modalities such as taping and bracing, sports chiropractors can educate and facilitate injury prevention and management programs. These different techniques can be utilised not only for injury management, but additionally on game day and during competition to reduce pain, improve function and importantly assist performance. More specifically, the application of dynamic/active tape can be used to decrease load to an injured area⁷, performing proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation may increase range of motion⁸, and the mobilisation of peripheral joints with the prescription of specific exercise is known to improve joint position sense.^9,10 Along with assisting athletes as a sole practitioner during training and competition, sports chiropractors are able to contribute to the management of an athlete/sports team within a multidisciplinary environment which is a crucial component for working within larger scale sporting teams.

As more research is conducted into the effectiveness of multidisciplinary teams and interdisciplinary collaboration (IDC), it is becoming increasingly evident that optimal outcomes are produced when health professionals work intercollaboratively.¹¹ The inclusion of sports chiropractors on multi-disciplinary teams is not only beneficial for the athlete due to reasons previously described, but for the progression and future growth of the chiropractic profession. IDC assists to uphold patient centred care rather than focus on a particular profession, and allows for the blending of professional attributes, skills, and knowledge to achieve optimal patient care, satisfaction and outcomes.¹² Although IDC should be implemented across all health sectors and not only restricted to sports health, the realm of sports medicine provides an exemplary opportunity for coaches, team doctors, physiotherapists, sports chiropractors, exercise physiologists, exercise scientists, psychologists and other experienced allied health professionals to work in a multi-disciplinary environment to facilitate excellence in sporting perfomance.¹³ Working in a collaborative manner will ensure sports chiropractors are perceived as patient centred, evidence based practitioners who are willing to look beyond chiropractic research. Overall, IDC assists to develop a level of trust and respect from other health professions towards sports chiropractors, which may assist to shift perceptions of the current divided climate of the chiropractic profession as a whole.

Referencing

1. Sampsell E. Rehabilitation of the Spine Following Sports Injury. Clinics in Sports Medicine. 2010;29(1):127-156.
2. Miller J, Gross A, D'Sylva J, Burnie S, Goldsmith C, Graham N et al. Manual therapy and exercise for neck pain: A systematic review. Manual Therapy. 2010;15(4):334-354.
3. Javed M, Mustafa S, Boyle S, Scott F. Elbow pain: a guide to assessment and management in primary care. British Journal of General Practice. 2015;65(640):610-612.
4. Stochkendahl M, Kjaer P, Hartvigsen J, Kongsted A, Aaboe J, Andersen M et al. National Clinical Guidelines for non-surgical treatment of patients with recent onset low back pain or lumbar radiculopathy. European Spine Journal. 2017;27(1):60-75.
5. Pollard H, Hoskins W, McHardy A, Bonello R, Garbutt P, Swain M et al. Australian chiropractic sports medicine: half way there or living on a prayer?. Chiropractic & Osteopathy. 2007;15(1):14.
6. William JM, Dustin N. Organization and multidisciplinary work in an olympic high performance center in USA. Revista Médica Clínica Las Condes. 2012; 23(3)337-342. Retrieved from:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S071686401270319X
7. Long Z, Wang R, Han J, Waddington G, Adams R, Anson J. Optimizing ankle performance when taped: Effects of kinesiology and athletic taping on proprioception in full weight-bearing stance. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2017;20(3):236-240.
8. Wanderley D, Lemos A, Moretti E, Barros M, Valença M, de Oliveira D. Efficacy of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation compared to other stretching modalities in range of motion gain in young healthy adults: A systematic review. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. 2018;:1-21.
9. Kamali F, Sinaei E, Bahadorian S. The immediate effect of talocrural joint manipulation on functional performance of 15–40 years old athletes with chronic ankle instability: A double-blind randomized clinical trial. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. 2017;21(4):830-834.
10. Vasconcelos G, Cini A, Sbruzzi G, Lima C. Effects of proprioceptive training on the incidence of ankle sprain in athletes: systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2018;:026921551878868.
11. Mcdonald J, Cumming J, Harris M, Powell DG. Systematic Review of Comprehensive Primary Care Models. Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute. 2006. Available from: http://files.aphcri.anu.edu.au/research/full_report_ 18476 .pdf
12. Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative. A national interprofessional competency framework. 2010. Available from: http://www.cihc.ca/files/CIHC_IPCompetencies_ Feb1210.pdf
13. Reid C, Stewart E, Thorne G. Multidisciplinary Sport Science Team in Elite Sport: Comprehensive Servicing or Conflict and Confusion? Sport Psychologist [Internet]. 2004;18(2):204-17.

ESSAY: – 100–200 WORDS

Maximum score: 10 points

Provide a brief description of how you have contributed to the development or promotion of sports chiropractic within your college or the wider community.

Examples may include:

• participation in a student sports chiropractic council, National Chiropractic Sports Council, or FICS Student Club;
• volunteering at college, community, or sporting events;
• supporting athletes at games or competitions;
• contributing to published research, articles, newsletters, or educational material;
• promoting sports chiropractic through student or community activities; or
• any other relevant leadership, service, advocacy, or professional-development activities.

The recommended length is 100–200 words. A small amount of flexibility is permitted; however, submissions exceeding the maximum word count by more than 5% may receive a two-point deduction. Please include the title of the submission and your full name in the document header.

Judging Criteria

0–2 points: The submission:

• provides limited or unclear information about the applicant’s contributions;
• demonstrates little evidence of involvement in sports chiropractic activities; or
• does not clearly demonstrate an understanding of sports chiropractic or a commitment to working with athletes.

3–6 points: The submission demonstrates some of the following:

• a clear interest in pursuing a career in sports chiropractic;
• an intention to work with athletes at games, competitions, or other sporting events;
• participation in a student council, National Chiropractic Sports Council, FICS Student Club, or similar organisation;
• volunteer involvement in sporting, college, or community activities; and
• an awareness of sports chiropractic research or publications within the applicant’s college or wider profession.

7–10 points: The submission demonstrates several of the following at a high level:

• a strong and genuine passion for working with athletes and developing a career in sports chiropractic;
• meaningful and sustained contributions to sports chiropractic within the college or wider community;
• a position of leadership or responsibility within a student council, National Chiropractic Sports Council, FICS Student Club, or similar organisation;
• significant volunteer experience at sporting events, games, or athlete-support activities;
• involvement in research, published articles, educational resources, or initiatives that promote sports chiropractic; and
• a clear explanation of how the scholarship will support the applicant’s education, professional development, and future contribution to sports chiropractic.

SHORT VIDEO REEL (10 points) –

MAXIMUM 2 MINUTES 

File format: MP4

Applicants should use the video to introduce themselves and respond to the requested criteria.

The video can be anywhere from 1-2 minutes long; however, it must not exceed two (2) minutes. Videos longer than 2 minutes will lose points.

• their involvement in physical activity or sport;
• their passion for sports chiropractic;
• what they hope to gain from the scholarship;
• how the opportunity will support their professional development; and
• how they intend to build relationships and networks within the sports chiropractic community.

The following criteria are provided as a guide to how the video will be assessed:

0–2 points
The applicant provides limited information about their involvement in sport, interest in sports chiropractic, or reasons for applying. Their goals and intended outcomes from the scholarship are unclear.

3–6 points
The applicant demonstrates regular involvement in physical activity or sport and expresses a clear interest in sports chiropractic. They provide a general explanation of what they hope to gain from the scholarship and how it may support their development.

7–10 points
The applicant demonstrates strong involvement in sport, which may include collegiate, representative, or elite-level participation. They communicate genuine passion for sports chiropractic, present a clear vision of what they hope to gain from the scholarship, and explain how the opportunity will strengthen their skills, professional direction, and networks within the sports chiropractic community.

Maximum score: 10 points

The reference letter must be written by a faculty member who teaches sports chiropractic or a closely related subject and who is familiar with the applicant’s academic performance, character, and professional interests.

The letter should provide an informed assessment of the applicant and, where relevant, address:

• academic performance and commitment to learning;
• personal character, professionalism, and reliability;
• interest in and commitment to sports chiropractic;
• involvement in research, sporting events, volunteer activities, or related initiatives;
• leadership, teamwork, and communication skills;
• potential to contribute to the sports chiropractic profession; and
• a clear recommendation that the applicant be considered for the scholarship.

Specific examples are strongly encouraged, as they assist the judges in assessing the applicant’s suitability.

Judging Criteria

 0–2 points: The reference letter:

• provides limited information about the applicant;
• includes few positive observations regarding the applicant’s character or academic ability;
• does not demonstrate that the referee knows the applicant well; or
• provides little evidence to support the applicant’s suitability for the scholarship.

3–6 points: The reference letter:

• provides positive observations regarding the applicant’s character and academic performance;
• demonstrates a general knowledge of the applicant’s interest in sports chiropractic;
• comments on the applicant’s involvement in relevant activities, research, or events; and
• recommends the applicant, but provides limited specific examples or supporting evidence.

7–10 points: The reference letter:

• provides a strong and enthusiastic recommendation;
• clearly demonstrates the referee’s knowledge of the applicant;
• includes specific examples of academic achievement, professionalism, leadership, character, or contribution;
• describes meaningful involvement in sports chiropractic, research, sporting events, or related initiatives;
• demonstrates the applicant’s potential to contribute positively to the profession; and
• clearly explains why the applicant is highly deserving of the scholarship.

Use this checklist to ensure your scholarship application is complete and submitted in the correct format.

Step 1: Prepare Your Documents

Save each document on your computer using a clear and consistent file name. For example:

• BROWN Mary – Scholarship Application Form
• BROWN Mary – Essay 1
• BROWN Mary – Essay 2
• BROWN Mary – Faculty Reference

Before continuing, please check that:

• none of your documents are password-protected or locked;
• your full name appears in the header on every page of each document; and
• all documents are complete and in the correct order as listed above.

Step 2: Create One PDF File

Merge all required application documents into one PDF file, placing them in the order requested in the application instructions. Save the completed PDF using the following naming format: LAST NAME in capital letters – First name – Scholarship year – Scholarship Application

For example: BROWN Mary – 2027 Scholarship Application

Please note that the scholarship year is the year for which the award applies. For example, an application submitted in 2026 will be applying for the 2027 scholarship.

Step 3: Prepare Your Video

Check that your video:

• is no longer than the time allowance;
• is provided in MP4 format;
• can be accessed and downloaded by FICS Administration; and
• does not require special permission, a password, or an access request.

Step 4: Submit Your Application - Email admin@fics.sport 

Please submit your complete application in one email. Your email must include:

• a clear subject line;
• a short message in the email body; and
• all required application documents and your video.

Email Subject Line   Your Full Name – FICS Student Scholarship Application

Email Message: Please include a short message confirming that you are applying for the FICS Student Scholarship and that your application documents are attached.

For example: Dear FICS Scholarship Team,

Please find attached my application for the FICS Student Scholarship, including my completed PDF application and video submission.

Kind regards, Mary Brown

Important: Please ensure your PDF application and video are included in the same email.

Emails received without a subject line or without a message in the email body may not be opened and may be treated as spam.