APSA Prizes and Awards

In recognition of the contributions made to all areas of political science, APSA awards a number of prizes each year. These prizes cover a wide spectrum of achievement, from the PhD Thesis Prize awarded for the most outstanding thesis in political science, to the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Academic Leadership in Political Science Award.

A call for nominations is made once a year in late July and entries typically close in late August prior to the announcement of prize and award winners at the Association’s Annual Conference dinner in late November.

Awards that Recognise Outstanding Leadership in Political Studies

Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded annually in recognition of the exceptional achievement and contributions to political studies and/or exceptional service to APSA.

Academic Leadership in Political Science Award is awarded annually in recognition of outstanding inclusive and collaborative academic leadership in the discipline of Political Science, broadly defined.

Marian Simms Policy Engagement Award is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement, innovation and creativity in research impact and policy engagement in the discipline of Political Science, broadly defined.

Prizes that Recognise Outstanding Research in Political Studies

Mayer Journal Article Prize is awarded annually to the best paper in the Australian Journal of Political Science.

Crisp Prize is awarded biennially to the best scholarly book on political science by an early or mid-career researcher (next round in 2024).

Henry Mayer Book Prize for Australian Politics is awarded biennially to the best book on Australian politics (next round in 2023).

Carole Pateman Gender and Politics Book Prize is awarded biennially to the best book on gender and politics, broadly defined (next round in 2023).

Prizes that Recognise Outstanding Postgraduate Research in Political Studies

PhD Thesis Prize is awarded annually to the best PhD dissertation in political science, broadly defined.

Thelma Hunter Gender and Politics PhD Prize is awarded biennially to the best PhD dissertation on gender and/or women and politics, broadly defined (next round in 2024).

Postgraduate Conference Paper Prize is awarded annually to the best conference paper.

Prizes Awarded by APSA Specialist Research Groups and Sub-Committees

ANZSOG Siobhan O’Sullivan Prize for Policy Studies Research is awarded annually to the best peer reviewed paper by a postgraduate or early career researcher with a policy studies focus.

Pete Hay Environmental Politics Prize is awarded annually to the best published paper by a current member of the Environmental Politics and Policy Standing Research Group.

Pete Hay Early Career Research Prize is awarded annually to the best paper on the topic of environmental politics by an early career researcher at the APSA Annual Conference.

Other Non-APSA Awards