The Pollard Prize

The Pollard Prize is awarded annually for the best paper presented at an Institute of Historical Research seminar (in-person on online) by a postgraduate student or by a researcher within one year of completing the PhD. The prize is supported by Oxford University Press.

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About the annual Pollard Prize

Area of research:
Any historical (post 500 AD)

First prize
Fast track publication in the IHR journal, Historical Research, and £500 of OUP books.

Runner-up prizes
Publication in Historical Research, and £200 of OUP books. A variable number of runner up prizes will be awarded, depending on the quality of applications in any given year.

Application
Enquiries and submissions should be directed to the Editor, Historical Research.
Email Sara Charles.

Applications open: until Friday 11 July 2025.

Eligibility requirements

Eligibility requirements:
Applicants are required to have delivered a paper (in-person or online) at an IHR seminar during the academic year in which the award is made. Submissions should be supported by a reference from a convenor of the appropriate seminar.

Papers should be fully referenced and should follow our submission style guide. All papers submitted must be eligible for publication.

Papers scheduled to be given after the deadline but in the same academic year can be submitted in advance with the support of a convenor.

Eligibility guidelines

Pollard Prize submission guidelines

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2023 Winners

First prize: 

William White: ‘Making peace in the English civil wars’, given at the IHR British History in the 17th Century seminar.

Runners Up:

Finn Gleeson: ‘Memory, community and the End of Empire on the Isle of Dogs, 1980-2004’, given at the IHR Britain at Home and Abroad seminar.
Grace Heaton: ‘Christian feminism? Women Against the Ordination of Women and the St Hilda Community, 1986-1992', given at the IHR Modern Religious History Seminar.