The Scottish Literary Studies Book Prize is awarded biennially to an outstanding work of scholarship in the field of Scottish literary studies.

Founded in 2025, the prize is open to book-length works including critical monographs and scholarly editions. Edited collections which achieve a significant, path-breaking advance in knowledge, based on significant original research, are also eligible for the prize. (For further details on eligibility, please see the nominations template linked below.)

Nominations are open for the 2026 prize.

Self-nomination (by the book’s author) is preferred, and please note that self-nominations must be accompanied by an electronic copy of the nominated book. 

To be eligible for the 2026 prize, nominated books must have been published between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2025. 

Nominations should be made on the downloadable template below, and submitted by email to the the UCSL Chair (scott.hames@stir.ac.uk). To be considered for the 2026 prize, nominations must be received by 5pm on 31 March 2026.

The number of nominations a given book receives will not inform the judging panel’s discussions. All books which receive a valid nomination will be treated equally within the judging process. (Please, therefore, do not invite colleagues to submit multiple nominations for your book, as a form of ‘voting’.)

The prize is judged by a small UCSL panel reflecting diverse areas of scholarship (e.g. period expertise, linguistic expertise) as well as the diversity of the scholarly community UCSL represents. The panel will consider the originality and rigour of nominated books, the quality of their scholarship and writing, and their significance to Scottish literary studies.

Both a shortlist and winning book will be announced in the Autumn/Winter of the year of award. The winning author receives a prize of £300.