The Hakluyt Society awards annual essay prizes of £1500 to the winning essay, with a second
prize of £500 to the runner-up (on occasions one or both prizes maybe shared between
entries). The prize or prizes for 2027 will be presented, if possible, at the Hakluyt Society’s
Annual General Meeting in London in June 2027. Winners will also receive a certificate
commemorating their award and a one-year membership of the Hakluyt Society and a copy of
their choice of volume from the Society’s publications. The Society hopes that once the
judging of the 2027 essay prize is completed that the winning essays will be published, either
in the Society’s online journal or in a recognised academic journal. Prize winners agree to acknowledge the receipt of their award in any future publication of the
prize essays. In addition, they will be expected to contribute to the Society’s public
dissemination as appropriate. This may include, but is not limited to, presenting a paper at a
Hakluyt Society symposium (in which case travel expenses within the UK will be
reimbursed) and contributing to the Hakluyt Society blog.
The competition is open to any registered graduate student at a higher education institution (a
university or equivalent) or to anyone who has been awarded a graduate degree in the past
three years. For an essay to be considered for the prize, confirmation and evidence of the
student status of author (as defined above) must be sent at the same time as the essay is
submitted. Allowance can be made for any period of career break, e.g., for family care, health
reasons or reasons consequent upon the COVID-19 pandemic.
Essays should be submitted as email attachments in Word.doc format to The Administrator at
office@hakluyt.com by 1 March 2027. The subject line of the email should include the
words ‘HAKLUYT SOCIETY ESSAY PRIZE’ and the author’s name. By submitting an
essay, an entrant certifies that it is the entrant’s own original work. Please refer to https://www.hakluyt.com/hakluyt-society-essay-prize/ for more details.