Thesis prize 2026

Have you written a master’s thesis that sheds light on the relationship between the Netherlands (and/or Europe) and Southern Africa?

Then the South Africa House cordially invites you to compete for the South Africa House Thesis Prize 2026.

Submit your master’s thesis before April 30, 2026 at 12:00 via the online registration form!

The South Africa House awards this biennial prize to a student from a university or university of applied sciences who completed a master’s thesis that examines the relationship between the Netherlands (and/or Europe) and Southern Africa. With this thesis prize, the South Africa House aims to give young research and writing talent the opportunity to present their ideas to a wider audience.

Does your thesis focus, in the broadest sense, on (historical and/or contemporary) transnational connections between the Netherlands (and/or Europe) and Southern Africa?

We are looking for theses that explore shared histories, contemporary relationships, or comparative perspectives that connect the Netherlands (and/or Europe) and Southern Africa.

Themes relevant to this thesis award include research into:

• colonial and postcolonial relations
• migration and diasporic movements
• cultural and artistic exchange
• memory culture and social movements
• broader global issues such as language contact, climate and environment, economics, and other forms of transnational interconnectedness.

These themes can be approached from various perspectives and disciplines, including historical, cultural, social, legal, economic, or artistic perspectives.

If your thesis reflects one or more of these themes and approaches, then your research fits the profile of this thesis award.

In addition to a €500 cash prize, the winner of the thesis award will receive:

• The opportunity to present their research during the award ceremony, in conversation with a live audience;
• Access to a relevant network of researchers, professionals, and others interested in the relationship between Southern Africa and the Netherlands/Europe;
• A platform for broader visibility of their research through a contribution to Spectrum (the monthly magazine of the South Africa House);
• Open-access availability of their thesis through the South Africa House catalog.

Eligibility Requirements

Assessment Criteria

• Content quality and originality: research that stands out in terms of subject matter, theoretical framework, and methodological approach and offers new insights.
• Academic and societal relevance: research that offers new academic insights and has societal relevance.
• Interdisciplinarity: the jury will primarily seek research that connects disciplines in a well-considered and productive way.
• Writing quality: a clear and convincing argument, written with a fluent style.

Procedure

Submissions can be submitted until 12:00 on April 30, 2026. Please use the online registration form. You will hear at the end of May whether your thesis meets the criteria and is eligible for assessment by the jury. The jury will deliberate during the European Summer. In September, you will hear whether you have been selected for the shortlist of three candidates. The thesis prize will be awarded during History Month (October); the exact date will be announced.

The South Africa House

The South Africa House (ZAH) is a knowledge and cultural center in Amsterdam. The library boasts a unique collection focused entirely on South Africa and hosts the largest collection of Afrikaans literature in Europe. It also houses an extensive collection of archives on Dutch-South African relations from the late nineteenth century to the present. Regular events featuring South African writers, journalists, and scholars are held in the theater hall of the South Africa House, centered around the collection.

Contact

Rosalie Dols

scriptieprijs@zuidafrikahuis.nl

Stichting Zuid-Afrikahuis Nederland

Keizersgracht 141-C

1015 CK Amsterdam