Are you interested in Africa and is your master’s thesis on a related subject? If so, the African Studies Centre Leiden is offering you the chance to win € 500.
The award aims to encourage student’s research and writing on African topics 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 an African topic. All theses submitted will be made available fulltext online via the ASCL’s library catalogue.
Benefits
The award consists of a prize of € 500,- and publication of the winning thesis in the ASCL’s African Studies Collection.
Eligibility Criteria
Any student at the end of their studies who has completed their thesis with honors (from 80% or with a grade of at least 8 according to the Dutch scale) at a university in Africa or the Netherlands between August 31, 2021 and August 31, 2022 can apply. Students from non-Dutch universities with an A grade (or equivalent) can apply if the cover letter from the thesis supervisor confirms the excellence of the thesis and supports the grade. The thesis must be based on independent empirical research concerning sub-Saharan Africa in one of the subjects indicated in the following section, and must have been evaluated within the year preceding the deadline for submission of manuscripts.
The subject of the thesis
The dissertation must be based on independent empirical research with a geographical focus on an African country, region or its migrant communities elsewhere in the world. Theses in the fields of social sciences or humanities can be submitted (geography, political science, anthropology, development studies, economics, history, religion, literature) in English, French or Dutch. If the thesis is in Dutch, a summary in English of five pages must be attached.
Quality of the thesis
The ASCL wishes to attract theses which profile themselves the average in terms of subject, and which demonstrate a solid methodological approach. The jury weighs the originality of the approach and the vision, and the relevance of the research for a scientific understanding of the questions considered. In addition, the jury will take into account the importance of the thesis in relation to the issue of development and its interest for the general public.
How to submit a thesis
If a student or his supervisor considers that a Master’s thesis deserves a prize because of its quality and originality, this work may be submitted to the ASCL. All applications must include:
a digital version of the thesis sent by e-mail,
an abstract of no more than 500 words, and
a letter of recommendation signed by the student’s director of studies including detailed information on the quality of the thesis and the educational institution from which he graduated.
