IBA Arbitration Day Scholarship 2027 for Lawyers Aged 35 and Below, Vienna, Austria [Essay-based; Free Registration, Travel Contribution and Accommodation; Apply by 15 November 2026]

The Arbitration Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) will hold its Arbitration Day on 23 April 2027 in Vienna, Austria. For the first time in its history, the Committee will award a scholarship to attend the IBA Arbitration Day to a young lawyer who wishes to participate but is unable to do so owing to financial constraints. The scholarship provides a contribution towards the registration fees, travel and accommodation expenses.

The IBA conference page lists the 28th Annual IBA Arbitration Day as 22-23 April 2027 at the Austria Center Vienna. The Committee's August 2026 newsletter (linked under Important links) states that the Town Hall meeting will be on Thursday 22 April 2027, followed by the Opening Reception at Palais Pallavicini, and that the Arbitration Day will be held at the Austria Centre on Friday 23 April 2027.

The conference topic is 'The Importance of Soft Law Instruments in International Arbitration: mezzo forte, diminuendo or vigoroso?'. The panels will be about the IBA Party Representation Guidelines, the IBA Privilege Guidelines and the IBA Res Judicata Guidelines. The conference will also feature social events, including the Opening Reception and a hosted networking dinner, a keynote speech and an IBA Mediation Committee breakfast.

• Open to all lawyers aged 35 and below on the date of application, whether or not they are members of the IBA. The terms place no restriction on nationality, so Indian lawyers within the age limit may apply.
• The judging committee must be satisfied that the applicant has convincing reasons for wishing to attend the conference and cannot finance themselves.
• Employees of the IBA, Officers of any IBA entity and relatives of the above are excluded.
• Each participant may submit only one application.

• Waived registration fee to the IBA Arbitration Day 2027
• A contribution towards travel costs to attend (economy class); the terms list the expected cost as an economy class air (or train) ticket
• Accommodation while attending (the terms list three nights)
• One year free membership of the IBA, including membership of one IBA Arbitration Committee
• Waiver of the next year's IBA Arbitration Day registration fee
• Free participation at the IBA AC Officers' Dinner and the IBA AC Officers' Social Programme (listed among the expected costs)

• The application must be accompanied by an essay relevant to the topic of the conference.
• Typed in English, double spaced, up to 2,500 words (excluding footnotes and the bibliography).
• Microsoft Word file named in the format Family name_First name.
• Do not include your name, email address or any other identifying information within the essay document.
• All questions on the online form must be answered; missing information may render the submission invalid.

The scholarship is free to enter.

Complete the IBA's online scholarship form (SurveyMonkey) and upload the essay. Applications must be received by 23:59 UK time on Sunday 15 November 2026 (the form describes this as midnight British Summer Time; 23:59 UK time on 15 November falls in the early hours of 16 November in IST). Applications received after this time will not be considered. Apply well before the cut-off.

The IBA plans to communicate the judging committee's decision to successful applicants by Sunday 31 January 2027, and the decision will be published on the IBA website. Successful applicants must confirm attendance by sending copies of their flight and visa travel documents to the IBA Divisions team by Sunday 7 March 2027, and must write a brief report of the conference (maximum 1,000 words) within one month after the Arbitration Day. The decision of the judging committee is final.