German History Society Essay Prize – Guidelines

The German History Society (GHS), in association with the Royal Historical Society (RHS), will award a prize of £500 to the winner of their annual essay competition. In addition, the essay will be considered for publication in German History.

The prize will be presented to the winner at the Annual General Meeting of the GHS in September.  The Society will pay the cost of travel within the UK and Ireland for the winner attending the AGM to receive the award.

The Rules

  • The essay can be on any aspect of German History, including the history of German-speaking people both within and beyond Europe.  Papers drawing on research in primary sources and critical, methodological or theoretical essays are equally welcome.
  • Any student registered for a postgraduate degree (master’s or doctoral) at a university in the UK or the Republic of Ireland is eligible to enter the competition. All postgraduates who submitted their dissertation within twelve months of the closing date for entries are also eligible.
  • Manuscripts which are already in press or have been submitted for publication by another journal are not eligible to compete for the prize.
  • The text of the essay (exclusive of references and bibliography) must not exceed 10,000 words.
  • The essay must be submitted in English.
  • An electronic copy of your essay will need to be uploaded to the entry form.
  • The closing date for entries is 4 June 2018.

The Decision

  • The essays submitted will be read by a jury of three historians, two nominated by the GHS and one by the RHS. (The two societies reserve the right to nominate additional jurors if this is considered appropriate.)
  • Bearing in mind the overall criterion of publishability, the jury will evaluate the submissions in terms of their originality, depth, scope and rigour and the extent to which they make a new contribution to historical understanding, as well as qualities of style and presentation.
  • The jury reserves the right not to award a prize in any particular year.
  • The decision of the jury is final.
  • The jury will make its decision by the beginning of August and inform the prize candidates as soon as possible after that. The winner will be publicly announced at the Annual General Meeting of the GHS in September.

Submit entry