One of the SCE’s goals is the support of young academics. For this reason, two annual prizes are awarded, the Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies and the Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best scholarly article by a pre-doc in Celtic Studies (regulations).

We warmly invite submissions for the Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß Prizes of the Societas Celtologica Europaea in two categories:

1. Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß Prize for the Best Scholarly Article in Celtic Studies (by a pre-doc). The article must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal or edited volume. Eligible are researchers who have not yet been awarded a doctoral degree at the time of submission. Submissions may be made by the author themselves and must include the article itself as well as a statement of the author’s institutional affiliation.

2. Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß Prize for the Best PhD Thesis in Celtic Studies. Submissions are to be made by the supervisor and must include the dissertation itself, a cover letter from the supervisor with a brief statement of the reasons for the nomination, as well as the name of the degree-awarding institution and the date of submission of the dissertation.

The deadline for submissions in both categories is 31 March 2026. All submissions should be sent to Prof Elena Parina.

Winners of the 2025 prize

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Nina Cnockaert-Guillou
Compilation and Creativity in Medieval Fíanaigecht: a Case-Study of ‘Three Men and the Dog of Irúath’
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Máire Ni Mhaonaigh (University of Cambridge)

Best scholarly article
Matthias Donners
Lepontische Inschriften aus dem Brembanatal
(Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie 71, 2024)

Winners of the 2024 prize

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Christian Gregor Schweizer
Dicuil’s De Cursu Solis Lunaeque: Translation and Commentary
Betreuer: Dr. Immo Warntjes (Trinity College Dublin)

Best scholarly article
Dr. Erin McNulty
Aavioghey as Y Breear: Language Revitalization and the Manx Verbal System
(Journal of Celtic Linguistics 24, 2023)

Winner of the 2023 prize

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Stefan Dedio
Studies in Insular Celtic Verbal Morphology
Supervisors: Prof. Paul Widmer and Prof. Balthasar Bickel, University of Zurich

Winner of the 2022 prize

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Tanguy Solliec
Distance linguistique et dialectométrie, une application à la langue bretonne. Enjeux, méthodologie et interprétations
Supervisors: Dr. Gary German and Dr. Denis Costaouec, Université de Bretagne Occidentale

Winner of the 2021 prize

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Christopher Lewin
Aspects of the historical phonology of Manx
Supervisors: Dr. Pavel Iosad and Dr. William Lamb, University of Edinburgh

Winner of the 2020 prize

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Daniel J. Watson
Philosophy in Early Medieval Ireland: Nature, Hierarchy & Inspiration
Supervisor: Elizabeth Boyle, Maynooth University

 

Winner of the 2019 prize

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Rebecca Shercliff
A Critical Edition of Tochmarc Ferbe with Translation, Textual Notes and Literary Commentary
Supervisor: Dr. Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, University of Cambridge

 

Winner of the 2018 prize

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Nike Stam
A typology of code-switching in the Commentary to the Félire Óengusso
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. P. Schrijver, Dr. M. Ó Flaitherta, University of Utrecht

 

Winner of the 2017 prize

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Anne Macleod Hill
The Pelican in the Wilderness: Symbolism and allegory in women’s evangelical songs of the Gàidhealtachd
Supervisors: Dr. Anja Gunderloch; Prof. Dr. Wilson McLeod, University of Edinburgh

Winners of the 2016 prizes

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best MA thesis in Celtic Studies
Lars Nooij
The Old Welsh glosses on Martianus Capella reconsidered. an edition, commentary and analysis
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Peter Schrijver, Universiteit Utrecht

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic studies
Dr. Peadar Ó Muircheartaigh
Gaelic dialects present and past: a study of modern and medieval dialect relationships in the Gaelic languages
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Wilson McLeod, University of Edinburgh

Winners of the 2015 prizes

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best MA thesis in Celtic Studies
Alexander Sigston “As Far As His Horn May Be Heard”: A Terminological Analysis of Nawdd in Early Medieval Welsh Law
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Paul Russell, University of Cambridge
Nominator: Dr. Máire Ní Mhaonaigh

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Preis for the best PhD thesis in Celtic studies
Dr. Nicole Volmering
Medieval Irish Vision Literature. A Genre Study
Supervisor: Dr. John Carey, National University of Ireland, Cork

Winners of the 2014 prizes

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best MA thesis in Celtic Studies
Dieter Reinisch
Provisional Cumann na mBan 1968-1986. Eine interpretative Oral-History-Studie
Supervisor: Dr. Finbarr McLoughlin, Universität Wien

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Dagmar Bronner
Three Historical Poems on Tuathal Techtmar and the bórama from the Book of Lecan. Edition, Translation, and Commentary
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Erich Poppe, Universität Marburg

Winners of the 2013 prizes

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best MA thesis in Celtic Studies
Sigrun Maurer
Die Legende von den Sieben Schläfern aus Ephesos in der Version des Leabhar Breac – Hintergrund, Übersetzung und Kommentar
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Stefan Schumacher, Universität Wien

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Niamh Ní Shiadhail
Conspóidí creidimh 1818-c.1848: roinnt fianaise ó fhilíocht na Gaeilge
Supervisor: Dr. Meidhbhín Ní Úrdail, University College Dublin

Winners of the 2012 prizes

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best MA thesis in Celtic Studies
Deirdre Hosford, MPhil
Two Fragmentary Middle Irish Texts on Care for the Elderly in Early Irish Law
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Uhlich, Trinity College Dublin

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Greta Anthoons
Migration and elite networks as modes of cultural exchange in Iron Age Europe: a case study of contacts between the Continent and the Arras Culture
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Raimund Karl, University of Bangor

Winners of the 2011 prizes

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best MA thesis in Celtic Studies
Mag. Harald Flohr
Harry Potter auf walisisch und irisch – eine komparative und sprachstatistische Untersuchung
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Stefan Zimmer, Universität Bonn

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Nicholas Zair
The Reflexes of the Proto-Indo-European Laryngeals in Celtic
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Andreas Willi, University of Oxford

Winners of the 2010 prizes

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best MA thesis in Celtic Studies
Peter Holzmann, MPhil.
Poetic rhetoric of praise in medieval Ireland: an edition of the panegyric on Áed oll
Supervisor: Dr. John Carey, University College Cork

Johann-Kaspar-Zeuß-Prize of the SCE for the best PhD thesis in Celtic Studies
Dr. Finnbarr Ua Cearnaigh
‘Amhail fuaim chogair bhig’: teangeolas Shéamais Uí Scoireadh
Supervisor: Dr. Cornelius Buttimer, University College Cork