University of Melbourne

Ernest Scott Prize

Application is required. Check eligibility

Key scholarship details

Application status

Not open yet

Applications open

6 Nov 2023

Applications close

9 Jan 2024

Benefit amount

Up to $13,600

Eligible student type

Domestic and international students

Eligible study stage

Current study, Alumni

Benefit duration

One-off

Summary

This prestigious prize is awarded to original published research that contributes to the history of Australia or New Zealand or to the history of colonisation in these countries.

About the donor

Emily Scott founded this prize to perpetuate the memory of her husband Emeritus Professor Sir Ernest Scott, KB.

Ernest Scott was Professor of History at the University for Melbourne for 23 years, from 1913-1936. The prize commemorates his interest in the development of Australian historical studies.

Born outside wedlock, raised by his grandparents and enjoying no higher education, he worked as a journalist for 20 years. As a young Fabian and Theosophist, he married the daughter of Annie Besant and migrated to Melbourne in 1892.

His books on Australian exploration history made Scott into a professional among amateurs and antiquarians. He inspired his students to do archival research and to ask critical questions of popular historical mythologies.

A generation of young Australians learned about the country's past from his notable Short History of Australia (1916).

Benefits

Up to $13,600.

Read about the 2023 award-winning publications by Dr Rachel Buchanan and Emeritus Professor Alan Atkinson here.

A full list of past winners can be found here.

Enquiries

artsawards-info@unimelb.edu.au

Amount:

Up to $13,600

Duration:

One-off

Quantity:

1

Eligibility and selection criteria

Eligibility

To be considered for this prize, you must:

  • have published original research on the history of Australia/New Zealand (edited or republished works are not eligible);
  • have the work published during the two calendar years immediately prior to the first day of January of the year in which it is to be awarded; and,
  • live in Australia or New Zealand or the respective external territories.

Selection criteria

Works must:

  • be based upon original research, which is, in the opinion of the judges, the most distinguished contribution to the history of Australia or New Zealand or to the history of colonisation in these countries;
  • be submitted by publishers. Authors are advised to request their publishers to submit their books on their behalf if they wish to apply.

Student type:

Domestic and international students

Study stage type:

Current study, Alumni

Study area:

Arts, humanities and social sciences

Need help understanding the process?

Visit our scholarship guide

Application

How to apply

Publishers should:

  • submit an online application form;
  • mail a copy of the book to each of the two judges. The postal addresses will be supplied via email after the online entry form has been successfully submitted; and,
  • attach a cover page to each book stating the publisher, publisher contact name, position, email address, contact phone number, book details, author, date published and ISBN number.

Books submitted will not be returned.

When will I know the outcome?

Publishers will be contacted by the Faculty of Arts.

Submit an application

Status:

Not open yet

Applications open:

6 Nov 2023

Applications close:

9 Jan 2024

The information listed here is subject to change without notice. Where we have listed information about jointly run scholarships programs, please also see our partners' websites. Information describing the number and value of scholarships awarded is indicative.

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