Dissertation Prize

About

The Society wishes to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work in architectural history being carried out by students on taught Masters-level courses in UK universities (including final-year students on Scottish MA (Hons) degrees).  With this aim in mind, the Dissertation Prize is framed to encourage innovative and critical thinking in and around the subject, either by the pursuit of new kinds and categories of knowledge or else by reassessing and rewriting topics that are already an accepted part of the field. Submissions for this prize can thus take the form of original primary research, critical revision, historiographical reflection, epistemological questioning, etc.

The Society’s definition of architectural history is consciously diverse and inclusive, and covers the histories of building design, construction, practice, urban planning, landscape design, inhabitation, culture and society in all countries/regions and across all periods. We are especially open to intersectional approaches that bring together approaches or themes which seek to expand our understanding of architectural history, and which might well include some of these new and evolving research agendas (as well as others):

• minority discourses

• post-colonial perspectives

• de-colonisation of the teaching curriculum

• gender relations

• LGBQT+ relations

• race and space

• disability and neurodiversity

• political critique

• spatial violence and resistance

• environmental and ecological issues

• problematic aspects of built heritage

These sorts of agendas are among those at the heart of the Society’s aim to help create ‘a bigger discipline’ for architectural history, not least through the workings of its Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity networks. We therefore see the Dissertation Prize as furthering this ambition by encouraging Masters-level students in UK universities to join in the challenge of expanding the subject.

Prize

Submissions must be coursework dissertations by currently enrolled or just graduated students on taught Masters-level courses that are related to architectural history within UK universities.

• For the 2025 SAHGB Dissertation Prize, the dissertations must have been written during the 2024-25 academic year.

• In the case of entries from candidates studying at a Scottish university, we interpret "taught Masters-level" as including the final year of a Scottish MA (Hons) degree.

Eligibility

Submissions must be coursework dissertations by currently enrolled or just graduated students on taught Masters-level courses that are related to architectural history within UK universities.

• For the 2025 SAHGB Dissertation Prize, the dissertations must have been written during the 2024-25 academic year.

• In the case of entries from candidates studying at a Scottish university, we interpret "taught Masters-level" as including the final year of a Scottish MA (Hons) degree.

Judging Process

Entires must be made using the form below.

i. For dissertations by students on taught Masters-level courses (MA, MSc and Scottish MA (Hons) degrees) related to architectural history and heritage the deadline for submitting the dissertation/abstract and associated entry documentation Friday 4 October 2025. One dissertation from each graduating course cohort may be entered.

ii. For dissertations by taught Masters-level students on accredited professional architecture (MArch) degrees, the deadline for submitting the dissertation/abstract and associated entry documentation 28 July 2025. One dissertation from each graduating course cohort may be entered.

During the judging process, each dissertation will be read anonymously by members of the judging panel. The winner and any commended entries will be decided through a panel meeting.

The winner of the Dissertation Prize and any commended entrants will be notified in late 2025 to coincide with the rest of the Society’s awards for the year. Please keep any information relating to winning or commended entries confidential until the SAHGB publishes its own press release.

Submission Guidelines

Entries are invited from students enrolled in or just graduated from taught Masters-level courses in UK universities in departments or institutes which teach the following subjects:

• architecture (ARB/RIBA Part II)

• architectural history

• art history

• design history

• heritage studies

• other relevant courses, including urban history, historical geography, construction history etc. 

• Each individual taught Masters-level course is entitled to submit one dissertation from its graduating cohort.

• Dissertations must have been submitted as coursework within the academic year stipulated by the Society as relevant for that year’s award.

• Dissertations must not have been previously published and an entry may be submitted for consideration once only.

• Entries must be submitted by a named academic nominator (ideally the course director or else another representative from their university/college), who must also supply a short statement up to a maximum of 100 words to explain why this particular entry has been selected.

• All entries must also be authorized by the Head of School/Institute/Faculty from that institution.

• The dissertation and its short abstract must be kept entirely anonymous, with absolutely no indicators of the student’s name, course or institution in either of those documents. This can include references to other names (e.g. tutors), dedications, etc.

• Entries are expected to contain innovative and critical thinking in and around the subject of architectural history, either by the pursuit of new kinds and categories of knowledge or else by reassessing and rewriting topics that are already an accepted part of the field.

• Topics that demonstrate a high level of intersectionality are especially welcome.

• Submissions for the Dissertation Prize can take the form of original primary research, critical revision, historiographical reflection, epistemological questioning, etc.

• The maximum word limit for a submitted dissertation is 15,000 words (not including endnotes or bibliography).

• A short, entirely anonymous, abstract of up to 300 words must also be provided for each dissertation in a separate document.

• Both the dissertation and the short abstract must be submitted as PDF files.

Submission