The IMISCOE Network has opened nominations for the 2026 Maria Ioannis Baganha Dissertation Award, a prestigious annual recognition for outstanding PhD research in the field of migration studies. Established in memory of Maria Ioannis Baganha, a leading migration scholar and one of the founders of IMISCOE, the award has been presented since 2010 to celebrate research excellence and promote innovative scholarship in international migration.
About the Award
This distinguished award honors a PhD dissertation that makes a significant contribution to migration studies. It is open to applicants from any academic discipline and methodological background, reflecting IMISCOE’s commitment to interdisciplinary research.
Eligible candidates must have defended their dissertation within the 24-month period prior to the launch of the call on October 9, 2025. Applicants affiliated with IMISCOE member institutions and those from non-member institutions are equally welcome to apply.
Both monograph dissertations and article-based theses can be considered, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. For article-based theses, at least one substantial article must be single-authored.
Evaluation Criteria
Nominated dissertations must demonstrate a meaningful contribution to the field through at least one of the following:
- Research quality
- Originality
- Theoretical contribution
- Methodological or empirical advancement
Required Application Materials
Applicants must submit:
- A completed application form
- A summary of the dissertation (maximum 2,000 words) with up to five keywords
- A single PDF of the full dissertation
- A curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages)
- A recommendation letter from a thesis committee member not affiliated with the candidate’s institution or supervisory team
- For article-based theses: a statement detailing the applicant’s contribution to co-authored work
Applications must be submitted in English. The dissertation itself may be written in any language accepted by IMISCOE member institutions.
Review Process
The award review takes place in two stages:
- Shortlisting based on dissertation summaries
- Full evaluation of shortlisted dissertations by a jury member and an external reviewer
The final winner will be announced in June 2026.
Award Benefits
The winner will receive:
- A cash prize (transferred to a university institutional account)
- The opportunity to publish the dissertation in Open Access within the IMISCOE–Springer Research Series, subject to editorial review
- For article-based theses, the option to publish one article free of charge in the journal Comparative Migration Studies, pending editorial approval
The award will be presented at the 23rd IMISCOE Annual Conference, taking place in Girona and online from June 29 to July 2, 2026. The winner is expected to attend and present their research.
How to Apply
Application website here.
Applications should be emailed to: email
Deadline: December 9, 2025 (23:59 CET)
For further inquiries, applicants may contact the IMISCOE Network Office at the same email address.
For other opportunities, click here.
