Materials Science and Technology - Institute of Materials Literature Review Prize

What you get

You will win a cash prize of approximately 410 EUR (approx. £350). Your literature review will also be published in the journal ‘Materials Science and Technology’ (MST). A literature review is a structured, critical summary of existing research findings on a particular topic. Every review that passes the peer-review process will be published, meaning that even those who do not win the prize can have their work published in print. The prize is awarded once a year, organised by the journal’s editorial team and supported by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3).

Who can apply

• Level: You are a postgraduate student, for example a PhD student or another research assistant.
• Field of study: You are studying materials science or materials engineering.
• Where you study: Every university counts, whether in the UK or anywhere else in the world.
• Nationality: Open to all nationalities.
• What you submit: A critical literature review that you have written either on your own or in collaboration with co-authors.

How to apply

Please submit your manuscript via the journal’s Sage Online system and select ‘MST Literature Review Prize 2026’ as the manuscript type. The closing date for submissions is 26 June 2026. Up to four finalists will then be invited to present their review article in winter 2026 to a panel of MST editors, who will select the winner and the runners-up.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a single prize awarded annually, open to postgraduate students worldwide, meaning that competition for the main prize is extremely fierce. However, the odds are different here. Your review will be assessed on its quality and must undergo a peer-review process; every accepted review will be published, even if it does not win. If you are already writing a well-researched, critical review in your field, submitting it will cost you next to nothing, and the publication alone is worth the effort.