John Legge Prize

John Legge Prize

John Legge Prize

Applications for the 2023 John Legge Prize for the Best Thesis in Asian Studies in 2022 are now closed.

The John Legge Prize is one of seven prize/grant schemes offered by the ASAA. This prize recognizes cutting edge research performed by postgraduates across our broad field of research. A list of past winners of the John Legge Prize can be found here

The first prize consists of a cash award of AUD $2,000. The writer of the selected thesis will receive a certificate and priority consideration for publication in one of the ASAA monograph series. A prize of AUD $1,000 may be awarded to a second outstanding thesis.

In 2023, the John Legge Prize will be awarded to a thesis conferred by an Australian university in 2022. The thesis must deal wholly with a country or countries of Asia or with Australia’s relationship with Asia. The thesis must be in humanities or social sciences disciplines, broadly defined. 

Applicants to the John Legge Prize are asked to fill out the nomination form and submit a copy of the thesis, nomination letters prepared by two current ASAA members outlining the merits of the thesis (max two pages) and thesis examination reports (where possible). 

The timing of the announcement for the winners of this prize will be posted on this page once known. The committee will not enter into correspondence from applicants regarding the announcement deadline. Individual feedback is not provided to unsuccessful applicants.
 
It is a condition of receipt of the prize that the winner is willing to serve on the committee for this prize in a future round.
 

In 2023 the thesis must have been conferred by an Australian university in 2022. Conferral is the administrative process by which a degree is awarded and from the date of conferral a student is considered to be a graduate. The conferral date is separate from the date of a graduation ceremony. Conferral dates should be confirmed with reference to a letter from the graduate’s university (sometimes referred to as a completion letter or conferral letter).

The thesis must deal wholly with a country or countries of Asia or with Australia’s relationship with Asia.

The thesis must be in humanities or social sciences disciplines, broadly defined.

Nominations for the John Legge Prize for the Best Thesis in Asian Studies are now open. Nominations will close on Friday 28 April 2023. 

Those nominating for the prize are asked to fill out the John Legge Prize nomination form, attaching the following documentation:

  • A copy of the thesis (pdf format, max size 512 MB);
  • Nomination letters prepared by two current ASAA members outlining the merits of the thesis (max two pages each in 12 point font, pdf format, max size 8MB)
  • Copies of the examiners reports (with names of examiners redacted, pdf format, max size 8MB). If your institution’s rules expressly forbids such use of examiners’ reports, a more elaborate statement of the merits of the thesis is acceptable. 

The ASAA Executive will appoint a small committee of ASAA Council members (3-5 people) to review applications on their merits. 

  • Applications open: 15 February 2023
  • Applications close: 28 April 2023
  • Announcement of winner: by the end of July 2023

A list of the past winners of the John Legge Prize can be found here. Read about the 2021 winner here.

2022

  • Dr Sophie Chao (Sydney University)
  • Associate Professor James Leibold (La Trobe University)
  • Dr Kayoko Hashimoto (University of Queensland)

2021

  • Associate Professor Michael Barr (Flinders University)
  • Professor Devleena Ghosh (University of Technology Sydney)
  • Professor Anne McLaren (University of Melbourne)

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