Submissions

Submissions for the 2025 British Academy Book Prize are open from 15 January 2025.

The deadline for entry to the 2025 Prize is midnight, 28 February 2025.

The British Academy is the UK’s national academy for the humanities and social sciences, and eligible books may come from the subjects that fall within these disciplines – sociology, psychology, law, economics, history, art, literature, archaeology, philosophy, languages and cultural studies, among several others.

The purpose of this prize is to reward and celebrate the best works of non-fiction, based on exceptional research and written for the general reader, in the fields of the humanities and social sciences. It is part of a wider programme of year-round public events supporting the Academy’s purpose – to deepen and share understanding of people, societies and cultures across time and place, enabling everyone to learn, progress and prosper.

In previous years, winning and shortlisted books of the British Academy Book Prize have explored a variety of subjects, including:

• initiatives to document endangered languages
• histories of empire from the perspectives of non-European peoples and societies
• intersections of gender, violence and crime
• the unacknowledged contributions of scientists from Africa, America, Asia and the Pacific to the global history of science
• slavery, emancipation and power inequalities
• race and resistance
• testimonies from the residents of remote and disappearing villages
• Europe’s physical and psychological borders
• cognitive science and the meanings of human ritual
• the use – and abuse – of free speech

Our judges are keen to consider a diverse range of voices. Previous nominations have included debut authors at the start of their careers, to journalists and more established writers, researchers and academics.

Applicants should carefully consult the FAQs, eligibility criteria and T&Cs below before entering. We also recommend visiting our past winners page to get a sense of the types of books are judges are looking for.

1. The purpose of this prize is to recognise and reward works of non-fiction, based on exceptional research and written for the general reader, that deepen our understanding of people, societies and cultures and their interactions across time and place.
2. The judges are seeking books that demonstrate rigorous original and high-quality research, and that are easily available in the UK, accessible and engaging to read by a general reader.
3. Authors can be of any nationality, based anywhere in the world and working in any language provided that the nominated work has been published in the UK and Ireland, for the first time between the 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.
4. Translated books must be first published in English in the UK between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025.
5. Books that have previously been published outside the UK and Ireland in the English language will only be eligible if the date of original publication is within the previous one year, ie 1 April 2023-31 March 2024.
6. Submitted books must have a recommended retail price no greater than £30.00 and be available to purchase at retail bookstores (in-store or online). This is to ensure they are affordable and easily accessible to the book-buying public.
7. Previously winning the British Academy Book Prize does not affect an author’s eligibility to enter, provided the entry is for a different non-fiction book.
8. Authors must be living at the time of submission.
9. The following genres are not eligible:

• fiction
• edited volumes
• children’s books
• picture books
• textbooks
• graphic novels
• self-published books

Where there are any doubts about eligibility, the Prize administrator will seek clarity from the publisher.

1. Anyone may nominate. Self-nominations are eligible, although we recommend those seeking to self-nominate to discuss submitting an application in collaboration with their publisher in the first instance.
2. Publishers may nominate up to a maximum of 10 titles per imprint.
3. For each nomination, we require one electronic PDF version of the book emailed to [email protected] AND one hard copy of the book, which should be posted to: The British Academy (Book Prize Team), 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH, United Kingdom.
4. Publishers may be called upon to submit up to 20 additional copies of a nominated book for promotional purposes, if a title is shortlisted.
5. By entering the Prize, publishers and authors are agreeing to work co-operatively with the British Academy to promote the Prize, the shortlist and the winner announcement.
6. The British Academy will cover reasonable costs incurred by the authors for travel and accommodation for Prize events.
7. The winning title must display the words ‘Winner of the British Academy Book Prize’ on all subsequent printings, according to the Prize’s brand guidelines, unless otherwise agreed.
8. Shortlisted titles must display the words ‘Shortlisted for the British Academy Book Prize’ on all subsequent printings, according to the Prize’s brand-guidelines, unless otherwise agreed.
9. The judging panel has the right to nominate books that have not been put forward.
10. It is at the discretion of the British Academy and the judging panel as to whether a book meets the eligibility criteria for the Prize.
11. The Prize is managed by the British Academy, to whom all enquiries about the application of these regulations should be addressed.

To submit a book for the 2025 British Academy Book Prize, please complete the online form and provide:

• one electronic PDF version of the book which should be emailed to [email protected]
• one hard copy of the book which should be posted to: The British Academy (Book Prize Team), 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH, United Kingdom

For submissions made by open call (individuals/Fellows), the British Academy will contact the publisher to request copies of the nominated book.

Publishers are welcome to send copies of spring and autumn catalogues (from all relevant imprints) for consideration by the judges.

The deadline for nominations is midnight, Thursday 28 February 2025.

If you have any questions concerning eligibility, please contact [email protected].