Jean Jaurès Foundation - Master Dissertation Award for Students of History and Political Science

Prix de la Fondation Jean-Jaurès

You will receive a one-off cash prize of 1,000 EUR, and the foundation will publish your thesis. This annual prize is sponsored by the Fondation Jean-Jaurès, a Paris-based think tank and history centre. It is awarded for the best Master’s thesis (Master’s 2) in history or political science. One winner is selected each year.

Who can apply

• What you submit: A completed Master’s thesis at the level of the 2 Master’s programme. This prize is awarded for completed research projects; it does not constitute ongoing monthly funding.
• Topic: Your dissertation focuses on the history of socialism – whether in France or at an international level – from political, social or cultural perspectives. Examples include political and activist organisations and the places where they took root, the history of socialist ideas and the associated debates, significant events, or the biographies of leading figures.
• Field of study: You are studying history, political science, sociology, law or a similar subject.
• When you defended it: You defended your doctoral thesis last year or during the current application year. For the 2026 round, this means 2025 or 2026.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. There is also no age limit.

How to apply

You should send a summary file to the Foundation. This should include a description of your thesis (title, subject area, supervisor, date of defence, mark, number of pages), a summary of your research questions and conclusions spanning 5 to 10 pages, a list of your sources, and your contact details. The deadline is 15 October each year. A panel of academics specialising in history and political science draws up a shortlist and selects the winner, who is announced in December.

How realistic are your chances?

This is an annual prize awarded to a single winner on a very specific theme: the history of socialism. As a result, there is genuine competition amongst the eligible theses. However, this narrow focus also limits the field of entrants. If your Master’s thesis 2 deals directly with socialism and you have achieved a very good mark, you will not be competing against everyone else, but against a small group of equally strong candidates. A clear, well-reasoned summary is what will get you onto the shortlist.