The African Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL), in partnership with academic publisher Brill, has opened applications for the 2026 Africa Thesis Award. This annual prize recognizes outstanding master's theses focused on Africa, with a deadline of July 31, 2026.
The award includes a cash prize of €500 and the opportunity for the winning thesis to be published in the ASCL's 'African Studies Collection' series. According to the ASCL website, the competition is open to students from any discipline who have completed a master's thesis on an Africa-related topic at a recognized university.
Eligible theses must have been submitted and graded between August 1, 2024, and July 31, 2026. The winner will be announced in November 2026. Previous winners have come from fields such as anthropology, political science, and development studies.
Applications should be submitted via the ASCL's online portal, including a summary of the thesis and a letter of recommendation from the supervisor. The jury, composed of ASCL researchers and Brill editors, will evaluate submissions based on originality, academic rigor, and relevance to African studies.
