QoG Best Paper Award 2026: Win a Fully Funded 1-Week Guest Scholar Visit in Sweden
The Quality of Government (QoG) Institute at the University of Gothenburg is inviting researchers to submit outstanding research papers for the QoG Best Paper Award 2026.
- FundingTravel to and from Gothenburg + accommodation in Gothenburg
- Duration1 week
- Who can applyGlobal
- Application feeFree
Overview
The selected author or authors will receive an opportunity to spend one week at the QoG Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden, as a guest scholar. The award covers travel costs to and from Gothenburg as well as accommodation in Gothenburg.
This opportunity is particularly relevant for PhD researchers, postdoctoral researchers, and academics working on topics such as corruption, clientelism, favoritism, discrimination, patronage, nepotism, and the impartial exercise of public power.
At a glance
About
- Opportunity type
- Research Award / Guest Scholar Visit
- Host institution
- Quality of Government Institute, University of Gothenburg
- Location
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Duration
- 1 week
- Eligible applicants
- PhD students and researchers at postdoctoral level or above
Funding
- Funding
- Travel to and from Gothenburg + accommodation in Gothenburg
- Application fee
- Free
Eligibility
- Nationality
- Global
- Minimum degree required
- PhD enrollment or higher academic rank
- Work experience
- Not specified
Who can apply
The award is not open to all students or researchers.
To be eligible, the author must either:
- Be currently enrolled in a PhD programme, or
- Hold a higher academic rank, such as a postdoctoral researcher or above.
There is no specific nationality restriction stated in the 2026 call.
The submitted paper must focus on a Quality of Government-related topic.
The paper must have been:
- Published as an academic article, book chapter, or working paper in a university or otherwise recognizable working paper series, or
- Presented at an academic international conference
The publication or presentation must have taken place between September 2025 and September 2026.
The submitted paper must:
- Be no longer than 12,000 words, excluding references and appendices
- Use a standard and consistent citation style
- Include tables, graphs, images, and other relevant material within the body of the paper
- Be anonymized, meaning the author’s name must not appear anywhere in the main text
- Be submitted together with a motivation statement of no more than one page
Both self-nominated papers and papers nominated by others are accepted.
Each author may submit only one paper.
What you get
The QoG Best Paper Award is an annual award organized by the Quality of Government Institute at the University of Gothenburg.
For the 2026 award, the institute is seeking papers that make outstanding theoretical and empirical contributions to research related to the quality of government.
The QoG research agenda focuses particularly on the impartiality of public power. Relevant research may examine issues such as:
- Corruption
- Clientelism
- Favoritism
- Discrimination
- Patronage
- Nepotism
- Undue influence from special interest groups
- Other issues affecting impartial government
The institute welcomes papers using different methodological approaches.
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of referees from the Quality of Government Institute.
The award will be given to the paper demonstrating outstanding research based on its theoretical and empirical contributions.
The winner is expected to be announced in January 2027.
How to apply
Eligible researchers should prepare their anonymized paper and the required one-page motivation statement before submitting their application.
Apply through the official University of Gothenburg page:
Apply for the QoG Best Paper Award 2026
Application Deadline: 9 December 2026
What Does the Winner Receive?
The winner will be invited to the QoG Institute in Gothenburg for a one-week guest scholar visit.
During the visit, the award recipient will have the opportunity to present the winning paper or related research at the institute.
The award provides financial support for:
- Travel costs to and from Gothenburg
- Accommodation in Gothenburg
This makes the award a valuable opportunity for researchers looking to gain international academic exposure and engage with researchers at the University of Gothenburg.
Is There an Application Fee?
The official call does not state an application fee, so applicants should not be expected to pay a fee to submit their paper.
Why Apply?
For eligible researchers, this award offers more than financial support.
The selected researcher gets the opportunity to spend a week at a leading research institute, present their work in an academic environment, and engage with researchers working on questions surrounding governance and institutional quality.
The combination of international academic exposure, a funded research visit, and recognition for outstanding research makes this a strong opportunity for researchers working in political science, public policy, governance, economics, sociology, and related fields.
Frequently asked questions
Is the QoG Best Paper Award fully funded?
The award provides funding for the one-week guest scholar visit, including travel costs to and from Gothenburg and accommodation in Gothenburg.
It is not a fully funded degree or scholarship programme.
Can PhD students apply?
Yes. Applicants who are enrolled in a PhD programme are eligible to apply, provided their paper meets the award requirements.
Can postdoctoral researchers apply?
Yes. Postdoctoral researchers and researchers at higher academic ranks are eligible.
Can I nominate my own paper?
Yes. Self-nominations are allowed.
Is there a nationality restriction?
No specific nationality restriction is stated in the 2026 call.
Is there an age limit?
No specific age limit is stated.
Is work experience required?
No specific minimum work experience requirement is stated.
How long can the paper be?
The paper must not exceed 12,000 words, excluding references and appendices.
When must the paper have been published or presented?
For the 2026 award, the paper must have been published or presented between September 2025 and September 2026.
Where does the guest scholar visit take place?
The visit takes place at the Quality of Government Institute in Gothenburg, Sweden.
How long is the visit?
The award includes a one-week guest scholar visit.
Important Note
This opportunity is specifically intended for PhD researchers and academics/postdoctoral researchers with eligible research papers. It is not a general scholarship or open research fellowship for students without an eligible academic paper.
The funding applies to the one-week guest scholar visit in Gothenburg, including travel and accommodation, rather than tuition or a degree programme.
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