Doctoral Prize
Award for the Best Thesis
The annual Boydell & Brewer Prize for the best doctoral thesis in maritime history was established by BCMH in 2010.
Subjects eligible for consideration reflect the Commission’s view of maritime history as a wide-ranging discipline.
How to make a nomination
Nominations may be submitted by the candidate, or by their supervisor. All doctorates must have been awarded by a UK university during the academic year preceding the prize. So for the current 2024 prize round, the thesis will need to have been awarded in the Academic Year 2023-24.
Judging is by a Prize Committee, whose decision is final. The prize winner receives a cheque for £200, which is normally presented by the representative of Boydell & Brewer at the annual ‘New Researchers in Maritime History’ conference. The prize winner also has the option of having their thesis considered for publication in a revised form by Boydell & Brewer.
Nominations should include in the first instance the following:
- The name of the prize candidate, the title of the thesis, the awarding university, and the date of the award;
- The Abstract of the thesis;
- A chapter from the thesis;
- A covering letter from the supervisor of no more than 500 words, stating why the thesis is so outstanding that it should be considered for a prize;
- Contact details for the prize candidate and their supervisor.
If the Prize Committee deems that the thesis merits serious consideration, a copy may be requested. Please note that we will be unable to return this.
*The Closing date for nominations for the 2023-24 session prize is 1st December 2024
To nominate a thesis please complete the Doctoral Prize Form and upload supporting documents here.
Congratulations to our 2023 Prize winner
Rachael Utting for her thesis:
'Collecting Leviathan: The British Southern Whale Fishery and Global Knowledge Production 1775-1860'.
Read the abstract here.
Find out about previous prize winners here.
For further information please contact the Hon Secretary.
