Prizes
Our annual prizes recognise excellence and achievement through research and teaching in the field of International Studies. Winning a BISA prize can provide a platform to further your career. You’ll gain valuable recognition amongst the International Studies community and help our community by sharing best practice. Our prizes are presented at our annual conference each year.
For 2026, nominations open on Tuesday 6 January, and the deadline is Tuesday 3 February.
We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and open research environment. Our prizes are no exception and reflect our inclusive environment where diverse talent can thrive regardless of age, disability, gender, race or background. We welcome applications from individuals currently underrepresented within the discipline of International Studies.
Distinguished Contribution Prize
Our Distinguished Contribution Prize recognises sustained contributions to the promotion of excellence in the discipline of International Studies over the course of a career.
Book prizes
The aim of this prize is to honour the work of Susan Strange and to recognise outstanding current work being conducted in the discipline.
L.H.M. Ling Outstanding First Book Prize
The aim of the L.H.M. Ling prize is to honour Lily's work and to recognise outstanding early career research in the discipline. L.H.M. Ling was Professor of International Affairs at the New School and recipient of the 2018 ISA’s Feminist Theory and Gender Studies’ Eminent Scholar Award.
Please note that you can only nominate a book for either the Susan Strange or L.H.M Ling prize, and not for both.
Thesis prizes
Michael Nicholson Thesis Prize
The Nicholson Prize gives us the chance to support the work of new scholars. The prize is named after the late Michael Nicholson, formerly Professor of International Relations at the Universities of Kent and Sussex.
New Voices In Cultural Relations Prize
This brand new joint BISA and British Council prize is for a Master’s dissertation which provides new scholarly insight and/or offers a new policy direction that makes an original contribution to international relations.
Teaching prizes
Distinguished Excellence in Teaching International Studies Prize
The aim of this annual award is to recognise established academics, or teams of academics, who have contributed to the positive learning experience of students in International Studies beyond the first seven years of their careers.
Early Career Excellence in Teaching International Studies Prize
This award recognises early-career academics, or teams of academics, who have contributed to the positive learning experience of students in International Studies within the first seven years of their career, appropriately adjusted to factor in career breaks.
Postgraduate Excellence in Teaching International Studies Prize
This award recognises postgraduate students who have contributed to the positive learning experience of students in International Studies.
All other prizes
Best Article in the Review of International Studies Prize
This Prize is awarded annually by the editorial advisory board of our journal Review of International Studies (RIS). It’s awarded for the best article published in the previous year's volume of the journal.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Prize
The award recognises an individual or group that has made significant contributions to promoting a more inclusive discipline through, including but not limited to, publications, events, mentorships, public engagement, and service to BISA.
Working Group of the Year Prize
Working groups are at the heart of BISA and directly contribute to the development of International Studies. All conveners are volunteers so we hope this new prize will help to recognise and celebrate their achievements.
Best practice for putting together a judging panel
- Prioritise diversity – different stages of career, age, gender, race and background as well as academic interests
- Check there are no conflicts of interest
- Set well-defined judging criteria from the beginning
- Produce a clear timetable with key dates from the beginning of the process
- Give scoring rubrics and any guidelines to the panel to make the process as easy as possible
- Ask for judges' feedback (if appropriate) to make the process even more streamlined
- Feed committee names, decisions and any feedback to the BISA staff team.
"Winning the prize is both an incredible honour and a deeply meaningful affirmation of the stories and struggles at the heart of my book. I hope this recognition helps to amplify the voices of Rohingya refugees and contributes to a more thoughtful and engaged conversation around gender, displacement, and belonging. I’m extremely grateful to the prize committee for this award.”
