African Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL) 2021 Africa Thesis Award

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 Masters thesis has been completed on the basis of research conducted on Africa. The award consists of a prize of €500,- and publication of the winning thesis in the ASCL’s African Studies Collection. All theses submitted will be made available fulltext online via the ASCL’s library catalogue.

• Table of Content
• About African Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL)
• Africa Thesis Award
• Aim and Benefits of Africa Thesis Award
• Requirements for Africa Thesis Award Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About African Studies Centre Leiden (ASCL)

The African Studies Centre Leiden is the only multidisciplinary academic knowledge institute in the Netherlands devoted entirely to the study of Africa. It has an excellent library that is open to the general public. The ASCL is an interfaculty institute of Leiden University.

Africa Thesis Award

Aim and Benefits of Africa Thesis Award

The award consists of a prize of € 500,- and publication of the winning thesis in the ASCL’s African Studies Collection. 

Requirements for Africa Thesis Award Qualification

Final-year students who have completed their master’s thesis at a university in Africa or the Netherlands can apply. They must have graduated with distinction, i.e. 80% or higher, or a Dutch rating of at least an 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.

• The thesis: The thesis has to be based on independent empirical research related to Africa in one of the subjects listed in the following section and must have been examined in the twelve months prior to the deadline for submitting manuscripts (see below). 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.
• Subject of the thesis: Any thesis thematically related to socio-geographical, economic, political, juridical or anthropological issues or focusing on the humanities, such as history, religion and literature but with the exception of language and/or semiotic studies, can be submitted. Its geographical focus should be the continent of Africa or its migrant communities elsewhere in the world. The thesis must be socially relevant.
• Quality of the thesis: The ASCL seeks to attract theses that stand out in terms of subject matter and demonstrate a sound methodological approach. 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.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

If a student or his/her supervisor feels that his/her Masters thesis merits an award because of its quality and originality, the thesis may be submitted. Every submission must include:

• an electronic version of the thesis (to be sent by email)
• a summary of the thesis (max. 500 words)
• a signed letter of recommendation from the student’s supervisor containing the grade and details of the quality of the thesis and the educational institution from which the student has graduated

Applications that are not complete will not be processed. All documents can be sent to [email protected].

For more details, visit ASCL website.