The Board of the International Association for Coptic Studies is pleased to announce the IACS Awards for Academic Excellence, to be presented during the Thirteenth International Congress of Coptic Studies, which will take place in Göttingen, Germany, from 27 July to 1 August 2026.
For the 2026 competition, two prizes will be awarded:
- One prize for the best M.A. thesis, with the winner receiving a certificate and an amount of €1,000.
- One prize for the best Ph.D. dissertation, with the winner receiving a certificate and an amount of €2,000.
Submissions must represent significant scholarly contributions to the field of Coptic Studies, broadly understood, in line with the objectives of the IACS. Eligible for consideration are M.A. theses and Ph.D. dissertations formally accepted by a recognized academic institution during the four-year period from 2022 through 2025. “Acceptance” is defined as the date of formal approval by the responsible faculty, not the date of submission or the official awarding of the degree.
Competitors are requested to submit the following by 15 May 2026:
- A PDF version of the thesis or dissertation (printed copies are not required).
- Full name and contact information of the author.
- A copy of the diploma or equivalent documentation proving formal acceptance by a recognized academic institution.
- A brief letter of recommendation from a supervisor.
Submissions should be sent to the President-Elect of the IACS, Prof. Tonio Sebastian Richter, at sebastian.richter@fu-berlin.de. Eligible works may be written in any of the four IACS congress languages: English, French, German, or Italian.
Entries will be evaluated based on clarity and correctness of expression, conceptual and methodological rigor, originality, and overall quality and interest. For Ph.D. dissertations, methodological innovation will also be a key criterion. The jury, composed of the IACS Board, may seek specialist advice if necessary.
The jury will deliberate immediately before the Congress, and the awards will be announced during the Congress itself. Winners need not attend to receive their award; absent winners will be contacted by the IACS Secretary either during or immediately after the Congress.
We encourage eligible candidates to participate in this prestigious competition and celebrate excellence in Coptic Studies!