Awards

Annual Prize for Best Undergraduate Paper

Have you written a good essay on any philosophical topic?

The Department of Philosophy is pleased to announce the third Annual Prize for Best Undergraduate Paper. The award is open to full- or part-time students in good academic standing and enrolled in courses at Concordia University, in the Department of Philosophy. Papers on any philosophical topic may be submitted, however each paper submission must be accompanied by a nomination letter written by a professor.

PROCEDURE: Instructors in the Department of Philosophy nominate students by writing a letter (max. 500 words) that addresses their merits for the award. Students may also contact instructors to request to be nominated. The letter of nomination, together with a paper by the student that supports the nomination, are to be submitted by email to the Undergraduate Program Director. The nominations will be reviewed by a faculty committee in the department, which recommends a recipient. The criteria for selection will track the philosophical excellence of the papers, including clarity, originality, and quality of argument.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Thursday, May 22, 2025.

AWARD: $300 and a letter recognizing the award and the student’s accomplishment.   

Should you have any questions, please contact the Undergraduate Program Director Dr. Pablo Gilabert.

Sheila Mason Bursary

The Sheila Mason Bursary is an initiative created jointly by SoPhiA and the Inclusivity Project. Since 2018, it honours the work of Dr. Sheila Mason and her extensive contributions to the Department of Philosophy as Professor and Department Advisor from 1969 to 2015. For over 40 years, Dr. Mason helped make the voices of women and minorities heard, as both a professor and through her academic work on feminist theory, care and feminist ethics. The Sheila Mason Bursary is designed to provide financial aid to students, specifically women, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people with disabilities.

It is the Inclusivity Project's hope that these will be students who are able to provide both theoretical support to their ideas and examples of how these can be applied to society. Their thought and work aim to establish cooperative philosophical practices and spaces. They generate transformative discussions on oppressive academic and philosophical traditions, or on societal structures. They prioritize the exploration of queer, postcolonial, intersectional, feminist, or race theory (inside or outside of class settings) to mobilize action towards a paradigmatic shift of philosophical perspectives. Moreover, it is essential that they also concretely participate in social justice or community-based initiatives to promote inclusive thought and action, whether within Concordia’s Philosophy Department or outside it.

Applications will also be considered based on financial need, given the way that class intersects with other forms of marginalization.

Application Requirements:

1. A personal statement, which must include a description of community involvement, how the individual is working towards creating an inclusive environment within philosophy, and an explanation of financial need. This must be between 500-750 words.
   
2. An essay on the topic of the individual’s choice, however it must explore such topics including “queer, postcolonial, intersectional, feminist, or race theory”, or be relevant to the aims of the Inclusivity Project and the Bursary. This essay should be between 1500-2000 words. Work that has been written for any class prior may be submitted.
3. One brief letter of recommendation from a teacher, advisor, employer, etc.
4. A curriculum vitae (C.V.) updated to include information pertinent to this award, such as extra-curricular involvement. This C.V. must also include the contact information of the individual who has written your letter of recommendation.

Award: Four awards of $400 each.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Usually in April each year, to be announced.

To apply, complete the Google Form. For more information, e-mail the Inclusivity Project.

Vladimir Zeman Award

The Vladimir Zeman Award is a merit based student award established in honour of Professor Emeritus Vladimir Zeman’s longstanding and highly regarded contributions to teaching students in the Department of Philosophy, especially in the areas of Kantian and neo-Kantian philosophy, but also in philosophy of science, environmental philosophy and American Pragmatism.

It is awarded each year to one undergraduate student who is judged to be the most accomplished and promising in one of these areas. The award will be presented at a spring ceremony that also celebrates Kant’s birthday in honour of Professor Zeman's annual celebration, with students, of Kant's birthday.

DEADLINE TO APPLY: Applications for the Vladimir Zeman Award are now closed.

ELIGIBILITY: Award is granted every year. Students must be in good academic standing and currently registered in courses at Concordia University, in the Department of Philosophy, with a minimum GPA of 3.30.

AWARD: $300 and a letter recognizing the award and the student’s accomplishment.  

PROCEDURE: Instructors in the Department of Philosophy nominate students by writing a letter that addresses their merits for the award. Students may also contact instructors to request to be nominated. Students may be nominated on the basis of work in previous years, but nominees must currently be Concordia students. The letter of nomination, together with a paper by the student that supports the nomination, are to be submitted by email to the Undergraduate Program Director. The nominations are reviewed by a faculty committee in the department, which recommends a recipient.