Prizes

Undergraduate essay prizes

Mike Meade Prize

For outstanding papers written by first- and second-year undergraduates. Up to two awards may be made annually.

Norman Ruff Prize

For the strongest undergraduate paper at the third- or fourth-year level.

BA Honours Paper Prize

For the outstanding honours paper.

Eligibility and nominations

• Entrants must study at a BC post-secondary institution participating in the BCCAT Political Studies Articulation Committee.
• Departments nominate papers; undergraduate students cannot submit directly.
• The general prize information specifies one departmental nomination per category.
• Faculty panels, assembled by the BCPSA President, adjudicate the competitions.

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Geoffrey Weller Prize

This award honours the best political science book by a British Columbia author or authors, published within the preceding two years. Edited collections are excluded. Books may address any political science topic; the prize recognizes the research and scholarship of BC faculty.

• Nominations: Authors nominate their own books, following the self-nomination procedure to appear on this page.
• Adjudication: A committee of former BCPSA presidents selects the recipient.

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Lynda Erickson Prize

This biennial award honours an outstanding edited political science book by a BC author or authors, published within the preceding two years. It recognizes the research and synthesis contributed by edited collections, in any area of the discipline. Both single-editor and collaborative volumes are encouraged.

• Nominations: Editors nominate their own volumes, following the dedicated prize page's self-nomination procedure.
• Eligibility: For editorial teams spanning BC and other institutions, at least half of the editors must be affiliated with BC institutions.
• Adjudication: A committee of former BCPSA presidents selects the recipient.

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Marjorie Griffin Cohen Prize

For the two outstanding papers presented at the BCPSA annual meetings in the current year. The prize honours Marjorie Griffin Cohen as an essayist, activist and public intellectual, and reflects the association's support for critical scholarship.

• Eligibility: Authors must submit and present their paper at the BCPSA Annual General Meeting.
• Submission: A revised paper must reach the BCPSA President within three weeks of the meetings.
• Adjudication: The President organizes the selection committee.

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Submission details will appear here in January 2027

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