PSA/Journal of Postcolonial Writing Postgraduate Essay Competition 2016

PSA/Journal of Postcolonial Writing Postgraduate Essay Competition 2016

The Postcolonial Studies Association and the Journal of Postcolonial Writing are very pleased to announce the opening of the 2016 Postgraduate Essay Competition. On 8 September 2015, the prize’s winners and latest judges were especially mentioned and celebrated at the PSA’s Convention held at the University of Leicester, illustrating how the prize has been going from strength to strength. It is now entering its seventh consecutive running. The competition provides a great opportunity for postgraduate scholars to showcase their work and to secure publication in a leading academic journal. The winners and runners-up constantly remind us of the innovative and timely contributions that postgraduate scholars make to postcolonial studies. The Prize is a means of duly recognising their work.

Applicants are invited to submit an essay on any topic relating to postcolonial studies. We welcome essays from all disciplines, including cultural studies, geography, politics, theology, history, anthropology, literature, film, or development studies. The competition is open to any postgraduate student who is registered at any institution anywhere in the world, by, or within three months of, the submission deadline (1st April 2016). Entries will be accepted from November 2015 and the winner will be notified on 1 July 2016 or as closely thereabouts.

All essays are subject to an anonymous peer review by a panel of established experts in postcolonial studies. The winning essay will, subject to editorial approval, be published in the Journal of Postcolonial Writing, a journal that has a long tradition of publishing innovative work in the field and which has had an ongoing partnership with the PSA.

The winner will be awarded £250, and, should they not already be a member, will receive a complimentary year-long membership to the PSA. The runner-up will also have their work notably mentioned.

• Guidelines for applicants

Essays should be no longer than 7500 words (including bibliography and any additional notes), and must conform to the MLA referencing style.
The author’s identity must not be identifiable in any way from the essay (electronic tags, such as those on Microsoft word, should be removed).
Only one submission per person is allowed. Candidates who have previously entered the competition are welcome to enter again, but must submit a different piece of work.
No essay will be considered that has been published in any form elsewhere.
No essay, in whole or part, should be submitted for consideration for publication elsewhere before the winner is announced in July 2016.

If you are an ambitious and hardworking postgraduate, we encourage you to submit an essay. If you are are an academic, please spread the word to your own students or to any postgraduate whose innovative work you think is in need of public recognition. Thank you, and good luck!