Union Académique Internationale

Founded in Paris in 1919 after the devastation of the First World War and currently based at Brussels, the Union Académique Internationale is a major international organisation for sponsoring and co-ordinating research in the Humanities and in the Social Sciences. Members of the UAI include almost all the major national academies in the world as well as a number of learned societies specializing in the Humanities. UAI currently sponsors almost a hundred major research projects of long-term significance. A list of UAI projects can be viewed on the UAI website (www.unionacademique.org).

The awards On the occasion of its centenary celebrations in 2019, the Board of the UAI established two prizes of 6,000 euros each for a period of two years (2020-2021) for researchers in the humanities and social sciences in the early stage of their career. The three awards are respectively named Brepols Prize (since 2019), De Gruyter-Brill Prize (starting 2025) and the “Woomi Prize” (starting 2025).

The awards are not intended to fund major research projects or to cover the cost of publication. They are intended solely to be grant-in-aid awards to cover the cost of individual research such as visiting major libraries, taking part in fieldwork and attending academic conferences. The sum awarded will be fixed at €6000 per award and the winners will be required to keep all relevant receipts of approved expenses for reimbursement by the Secretariat of the UAI.

In 2025, candidates will hold a PhD in History or Anthropology. The awards will be given to candidates from other fields in 2023 (history of science, philosophy, history of art, archeology) and 2025 (history, cultural and social anthropology). Innovation and potential for international collaboration are major criteria for selection. The UAI would wish particularly to invite applications from Early Career Researchers who are active participants in research projects already sponsored by the UAI at the time of application.

To be considered, applications must include:

• The attached application form in English including a project proposal.
• A curriculum vitae of maximum 3 pages.
• A copy of the doctoral degree. Applicants must hold a PhD from a recognized institution awarded no earlier than January 1, 2013.

Completed applications, in one PDF containing all the documents, should be sent to: nicolas.simon@unionacademique.org

The deadline for applications is April 20th, 2025.

The Board of the UAI will draw up a short-list of applicants by mid-May 2025, and the successful applicants will be personally contacted in July 2025. The awardees will be invited to the UAI General Assembly to be held in Mainz (Germany) in October 2025 where their award will be officially presented to them.