Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Oxford - Houghton Syriac Version Prize

Houghton Syriac Version Prize

For outstanding work on ancient Syriac Bible translations, you will receive a one-off award of approximately 630 EUR. Syriac is an ancient form of Aramaic that was used in early Christian biblical texts. Your work will be assessed in terms of translation, textual criticism and interpretation. The exact amount of the prize is determined each year by the prize committee and may vary. The prize is awarded by the University of Oxford and funded by the Hall, Hall-Houghton and Houghton Trust, which promotes the study of the Greek New Testament, the Septuagint and Syriac writings.

Who can apply

• University: You are enrolled at the University of Oxford.
• Level: Any level of study is permitted.
• Subject: Her work focuses on ancient Syrian translations of the Bible, with particular emphasis on the books nominated by the awards committee in any given year.
• Performance: You are doing an excellent job with the tasks set by the committee in relation to the award’s theme.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Once only: This prize cannot be won more than once.

How to apply

No separate application is required. The Oxford Board of Governors awards the prize automatically on the basis of your performance in the relevant examinations. All associated deadlines (28.02.) relate to these examinations and not to an application for the prize. The prize winners are listed in the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies’ annual list of prize winners. If no candidate is deemed to be of a high enough standard, the prize will not be awarded that year.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is open exclusively to Oxford students who are studying Syrian biblical texts; the pool of eligible candidates is therefore very small. It is not possible to exploit the system: the prize is awarded to the candidate who submits the most convincing academic work in this narrow field. In some years, no prize is awarded at all, ensuring that it rewards genuine excellence rather than merely meeting the criteria.