IHSA Thesis Prize

Enter your thesis to win the IHSA Thesis Prize 2026-2027! Applications open 1 October – 1 November 2026

The International Humanitarian Studies Association Thesis Prize is awarded annually to the author of an outstanding thesis in the field of Humanitarian Studies.

IHSA Thesis Prize is awarded annually to an outstanding Master’s thesis (MA, MSc, or equivalent) completed during the eligibility period specified in each call. For the 2026 call, eligible theses must have been successfully completed between ‘completed between 1 July 2026 and 30 September 2026.  Submissions must be single-authored academic theses, completed under the auspices of any Master’s degree related to Humanitarian Studies. 

At the first stage of assessment, each thesis will be assessed by two speakers of the language that are members of the scientific committee to ensure equal treatment. It may be necessary to use machine translation to allow assessment of a specific thesis, if the language of the thesis is not spoken by the scientific committee. The scientific committee is able to assess original theses in English, Spanish, Italian, French, and Portuguese. Where possible, the scientific committee will draw upon further language skills from the wider Humanitarian Education & Pedagogy Working Group. 

If you have questions about submitting your thesis in another language, please contact: info@ihsa.info

Call for applications in various languages

Premio IHSA a la Tesis – Convocotaria (ES)

IHSA Thesis Prize – Anuncio (PT)

IHSA Thesis Prize – Bando (IT)

IHSA Thesis Prize 2026 – Anonce (FR)

IHSA Thesis Prize 2026 – Call (EN)

Thematic focus

The IHSA understands humanitarian studies as scholarship that explores the emergence, development and evolution of humanitarianism, and how humanitarian crises evolve, how they affect people and their institutions, communities and societies, and the responses they trigger. The main focus and primary subject of the thesis should be on one of these themes.

In some years, the IHSA Thesis Prize Panel may choose a specific thematic focus.

IHSA Award Committee

A panel, composed of IHSA Board Members and experts from the IHSA Humanitarian Education and Pedagogy Working Group, will assess the submitted theses. Other IHSA members may also be included when necessary. 

Application/Pre-Screening Process

Applicants must:

  • complete the below form
  • email a PDF copy of their thesis to info@ihsa.info using the subject line “IHSA Thesis Prize Submission – STUDENT NAME”
  • provide a 150-word abstract
  • answer the three application questions (maximum 150 words each)
  • applications must include a one-page letter of support from the thesis supervisor 

Application questions – answered in the below form:

  • How does your thesis contribute to the field of Humanitarian Studies?
  • What is the unique viewpoint you bring to your analysis?
  • What do you hope the judging panel will take away from reading your thesis?
  • Why should your thesis be considered for the IHSA Thesis Prize? 

Applications must include a one-page letter of support from the thesis supervisor. Where there are multiple supervisors, the letter may be submitted by any member of the supervisory committee. The letter must be emailed directly by the supervisor to info@ihsa.info  with the subject line ‘Supporting letter IHSA Thesis Prize STUDENT NAME’

IHSA reserves the right to contact supervisors to verify information provided in the application. 

Deadline

Applicants can submit their thesis between 1 October 2026 and 1 November 2026 via the below form and by email. Supporting letters from supervisors can be submitted (shortly) after the deadline if necessary.

Evaluation Criteria

Shortlisted pieces will be judged based on:

  • Relevance to the study of humanitarianism, humanitarian crises and humanitarian action
  • Originality and contribution to the field
  • Methodological rigour and ethical research practice
  • Clarity of argument, writing and structure
  • Academic quality
  • Societal relevance

Prize

The first prize is 500 euros, and the opportunity to present thesis findings at an IHSA event, as well as promotion via IHSA channels. The Committee can decide to award ‘Special Mention’ prizes, depending on the theses submitted, for example in categories such as ‘special mention theoretical thesis’, ‘special mention desk-based thesis’, ‘special mention ethnographic thesis’, ‘special mention for fieldwork’, ‘special mention for innovative methods’.

Application form

IHSA Thesis Prize 2026
Name
Name
First
Last
Please select the language that the thesis is written in
Your supervisor (one, if you have a team) should email a one page 'Supporting letter IHSA Thesis Prize STUDENT NAME'. Have you asked them to do this?
Please email your thesis to info@ihsa.info with the subject line "IHSA Thesis Prize". Have you done this?

Results

The results for the 2026-2027 round will be shared during the IHSA Annual Lecture in 2027. More information coming soon.

IHSA Thesis Prize 2025-2026

The 2025-2026 IHSA Thesis Prize was awarded to Sonia Caballero Pradas (University of the Witwatersrand) for her thesis titled ‘Between Bombs and Bureaucracy: Migrant-Led Community Kitchens Redefining Space and Solidarity in Lebanon’.

We would also like to make special mention of the thesis ‘The Risk of Statelessness and Humanitarian Exclusion: Legal and Structural Barriers for Non-Syrian Refugees in Jordan’ by Isabella Eda Baker (Global Campus of Human Rights), which was highly commended by the jury.

IHSA Thesis Prize 2024-2025

The 2024-2025 IHSA Thesis Prize was awarded to Greta Maria Grossek (University of Amsterdam) for her exceptional thesis titled ‘Being Pregnant in This Camp is the Most Difficult Thing in the World: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health in Transit Through Participatory Action Research with Displaced Women in Lesvos, Greece’.