Africa Master's Thesis Award of €500 from the African Studies Center

Are you interested in Africa and is your Master’s thesis on a related subject?

The African Studies Center Leiden is offering students from all around the world with a Master’s thesis on Africa to participate in the Africa Thesis Award2019. The award aims to encourage student research and writing on Africa and to promote the study of African cultures and societies. It is presented annually to a student whose master's thesis has been completed on the basis of research conducted on Africa. 

Eligibility criteria:

1. Final-year students who have completed their master's thesis at a university in Africa or the Netherlands in the twelve months prior to the deadline for submitting manuscripts can apply.
2. For the thesis, students must have received at least 80% or a Dutch rating of 8. Students from non-Dutch universities who have grade A or similar may also apply if the accompanying letter from the supervisor confirms and supports the grade score.
3. The thesis has to be based on independent empirical research related to Africa in one of the subjects related to the award and must have been examined in the twelve months prior to the deadline. 
4. The thesis can be submitted if it is written in English, French or Dutch. If the thesis is in Dutch, a five-page English or French summary should also be attached.
5. Any thesis thematically related to socio-geographical, economic, political, juridical or anthropological issues or focusing on the humanities, such as history, religion and literature, can be submitted. Its geographical focus should be Africa or its migrant communities elsewhere in the world. The thesis must be socially relevant.
6. The Center seeks to attract theses that stand out in terms of subject matter and demonstrate a sound methodological approach.
7. The jury attaches importance to an original approach and insight, and to the relevance of the research to a scientific understanding of the issues covered. In addition, the jury will consider the significance of the thesis in relation to development-related issues, its style and readability and its interest for the general public.

Award:

The prize will be presented to the winner during the annual Leiden meeting in December, where the winner will present his/her thesis. The winner will also receive €500, with the chance to be published in the Center’s African Studies Collection.