Masters Prizes

The Masters Dissertation Prize is an annual prize of £100 awarded for an outstanding dissertation on maritime history. Subjects eligible for consideration reflect the Commission’s view of maritime history as a wide-ranging discipline. 

The prize winner for 2025 (2024-25 session) is Nicola Johnson for their thesis To what extent did the Titanic Relief Fund support social mobility among fatherless and orphaned children, and what genealogical value can be found in the Fund’s records?

Read the news item here. 

How to make a nomination

The dissertation must have been assessed as part of a Masters degree and awarded during the previous *academic year (2025-26). 

Dissertations awarded distinction marks of 70+ are eligible for consideration. Institutions may only submit one dissertation to the competition.   

Nominations must be made by Heads of Department or equivalent.  Judging is by a Prize Committee, whose decision is final.

The closing date for nominations for the 2025/6 session is 1^st December 2026 

To make a nomination please complete the Masters Prize Form and upload supporting documents here.

Find out about previous prize winners here. 

For further information, please contact the Hon Secretary