The CSSR/SCÉR Executive Committee is delighted to circulate the call for submissions for our annual undergraduate and graduate student prize competitions.
We are pleased to be able to support students by acknowledging their work through these competitions. Selected winners for each competition will be given a monetary prize. Winners of the Graduate Student Essay Competition and the Publicly Engaged Research in Religion prize will also be invited to present their work during the 2025–2026 CSSR/SCÉR Webinar Series (date to be confirmed). More information will be circulated to members closer to the date.
The deadline for all competitions is August 1, 2025.
Undergraduate Student Essay Prize
Our annual Undergraduate Student Essay Prize competition is open to undergraduate students registered at a Canadian university or college who submit a paper on a subject in the field of religious studies. Student status can be for the upcoming or preceding academic year (September–August).
The Undergraduate Student Essay Contest has a first-place prize of $250 and a second-place prize of $100.
Graduate Student Essay Prize
Our annual Graduate Student Essay Prize competitions are open to graduate students registered at a Canadian university or college who submit a paper on a subject in the field of religious studies. Student status can be for the upcoming or preceding academic year (September–August).
The Graduate Student Essay Contest has a prize of $300 for the Master’s Contest and $650 for the Doctoral Contest.
Publicly Engaged Research in Religion
The Publicly Engaged Research in Religion Student Prize (PERR) acknowledges student research outputs that go beyond the traditional essay assignments. Alternative research projects that qualify for this prize include, but are not limited to: policy papers, podcast episodes, blog posts, editorial articles, YouTube videos, Wikipedia entries, and photo essays.
This competition is open to those with undergraduate or graduate student status at a Canadian university or college for the upcoming or preceding academic year (September–August). Projects must be on a subject in the field of religious studies. Group/co-authored projects will also be accepted.
The first prize in this category is $300.