Are you a PhD student in psychology, sociology, public health, political science or another behavioural science? The Besample Dissertation Grant 2026–27 helps doctoral researchers take their dissertation beyond Western samples. 15 PhD researchers will each run an exploratory study with up to 500 participants in any of 20 countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt. They’ll also join a four-workshop research accelerator.
The grant is open to PhD researchers worldwide, and applications close on 30 November 2026.
At a Glance
| Organiser | Besample, a cross-cultural research data platform |
| Who can apply | PhD students worldwide in behavioural and social sciences |
| Grantees | 15 |
| Support | An exploratory study with up to 500 participants, plus a research accelerator |
| Top prize | 3 projects scaled up to full studies with up to 3,000 participants each |
| Deadline | 30 November 2026 |
What Kind of Grant Is This?
This is mainly an in-kind research grant. Besample supports your participant data collection across its network of countries instead of paying cash to you. For many PhD students, recruiting hundreds of participants in several countries is the most expensive and difficult part of a cross-cultural study. This grant takes care of that. Besample hasn’t published a cash amount per grantee.
Countries Available for Data Collection
Africa: Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa
Elsewhere: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Pakistan, the Philippines, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States
Benefits
- Data collection support for an exploratory study of up to 500 participants
- A research accelerator with four workshops:
- Study Design
- Language and Culture
- Ethics and IRB
- Quality and Measurement
- A chance to present at a public research showcase in August 2027
- Three projects chosen for full-scale studies with up to 3,000 participants each
- A peer community of early-career cross-cultural researchers
Eligibility
- You’re a PhD researcher, anywhere in the world.
- Your field is psychology, sociology, anthropology, human geography, political science, behavioural science, communication, public health, development studies or a related field.
- Your dissertation asks questions that benefit from comparing cultures, countries or populations.
- The proposed study is part of your doctoral research and can be done within the scope of the grant.
Selection Criteria
- Contribution to the field: the potential to advance knowledge
- Research background and rigour: theory, design and methods
- Cross-cultural relevance: how well cross-country sampling answers your question
Timeline
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications | October – 30 November 2026 |
| Candidate interviews | December 2026 |
| 15 grantees announced | 14 January 2027 |
| Onboarding | Late January 2027 |
| Research accelerator workshops | February – March 2027 |
| Pilot studies | April 2027 |
| Data collection and analysis | May – June 2027 |
| Research pitches | July 2027 |
| Public research showcase | August 2027 |
How to Apply
- Visit the official Besample grant page (link below).
- Click “Apply now” and complete the online application.
- Describe your research question, theory and methods, and explain which countries you’d sample and why.
- Submit before 30 November 2026. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in December.
Official Besample Dissertation Grant 2026–27 page
Questions: [email protected] (grant coordinator)
Tips for African PhD Researchers
- Use your local knowledge. Comparing Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya with countries such as Brazil or India can make a strong, original case.
- Make the cross-cultural question the core of your project, not an add-on. Explain what you expect to differ between countries, and why.
- Look at past winners. 2025–26 grantees studied fairness, social status and interjections across Ghana, Kenya, Brazil and Japan.
- Plan for ethics approval early, since you’ll need IRB clearance from your university.
