The Society for the Study of Medieval Languages and Literature has awarded the Medium Ævum Essay Prize since 2008. The competition is run annually, with postgraduates and those recently graduated with a higher degree invited to submit an essay on a topic that falls within the range of the interests of Medium Ævum in the medieval period (loosely defined as the fifth to the fifteenth century, in the Western calendar).
The winner of the Essay Prize will receive a cash prize of £500. The winning article is also eligible to be considered for publication in Medium Ævum, subject to the usual editorial procedures of the journal.
The annual deadline for submissions for the Essay Prize is 12 noon on the first Monday of December of the preceding year (for the Medium Aevum Essay Prize 2026, the deadline is 12:00 noon (GMT), Monday 1st December, 2025).
To read the rules of the Essay Prize Competition and to submit your essay, please follow this link.
Any queries can be directed to the Executive Officer of the Society.
