Institutional Athletic Grants for Athletes at Brazilian Federal Universities: A Documentary Analysis of Provision in 2023

Student-athletes are individuals who are simultaneously involved in sports and academic activities—a dual career. In order to support their parallel career paths, public support policies are necessary, including those related to athletic grants. This article aimed to analyze institutional athletic grant programs for student-athletes affiliated with Brazilian federal universities. This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, exploratory, and documentary study based on the analysis of public calls for athletic grants. The sample consisted of 69 Brazilian federal universities, of which 68 responded to the survey, but only 11 reported having implemented an athletic grant program for athletes in 2023. Only 16% of Brazilian federal universities offer institutional athletic grants. The results indicate a median of 32 athletic grants advertised, with a median amount of R$ 400.00 (four hundred reais), to be paid for a median of 8.5 months. The maximum amounts advertised were 72 athletic grants, R$ 700.00 (seven hundred reais), and 12 months. The minimum amount was 1 athletic grant, R$ 195.00 (one hundred ninety-five reais), and five months. It can be concluded that the policy of awarding athletic grants in Brazilian federal universities is in an early stage of development, predominantly located in regions that do not have sports clubs, with appropriate amounts that are funded for only a limited number of months.