Wallonia-Brussels Federation - OPC Thesis Award

OPC Thesis Award

For an outstanding Master’s thesis or final dissertation on the subject of cultural policy, you will receive a one-off prize of 2,000 EUR. A compelling piece of work that does not win may nevertheless receive a special award worth 750 EUR. If you go on to present your thesis at the Wallonia-Brussels Federation’s annual Research Day, you could also win an additional 1,000 EUR for the best presentation. The prize is awarded by the Observatoire des politiques culturelles (OPC), the cultural policy research institute of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

Who can apply

• Where you studied: You earned your degree at a university or master-level higher education institution in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (French-speaking Belgium).
• When you graduated: You got your diploma at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Grade: Your final thesis was awarded a grade of at least ‘grande distinction’ (80% or higher).
• Language: Your dissertation is written in French.
• Topic: Your dissertation makes an original contribution to cultural policy, for example regarding the rights and status of cultural practitioners, the cultural practices of the population, or policy measures in the fields of audiovisual media, the performing arts, cultural heritage, libraries, digital culture or publishing. A thesis on a single artist or a single work of art will only be considered if it provides clear insights into current cultural policy.
• Field of study: All disciplines within the humanities are welcome, including sociology, political science, law, cultural economics, anthropology, history, psychology, communication studies and public administration.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities.

How to apply

Please submit your application by 18 January 2027, 12:00, via file transfer (e.g. via WeTransfer). In the first round, up to six dissertations will be selected on the basis of their abstracts. A panel comprising academics and OPC researchers will then select the winners, who will be announced at a public ceremony.

You can find more scholarships in our guide Scholarships in Belgium.