The Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Graz has announced the Elisabeth Gössmann Prizes 2026, recognizing outstanding academic work in the field of feminist theology and gender studies in religion.
The prizes honor scholarly research that critically engages with questions of women and gender within religious traditions and contributes innovative perspectives to theology and religious studies.
The award commemorates Elisabeth Gössmann (1928–2019), a pioneering feminist theologian and historian whose work significantly advanced research on women in the history of theology.
Two Prize Categories
Two prizes will be awarded in 2026:
Research Prize
- for an outstanding doctoral dissertation or habilitation
- prize amount: €3,000
- the degree must have been completed within the last three years
Young Scholar Prize
- for an excellent Master’s thesis
- prize amount: €1,000
- the degree must have been completed within the last two years
Submitted works may be written in German or English and should address women- and gender-related questions within Christian or other religious traditions.
Submission
Scholars are invited to submit their work together with a CV and an abstract.
Submission deadline:
15 March 2026
Contact:
The award ceremony will take place in autumn 2026. The prize winners will be invited to present their research at an academic event.
Further information:
https://genderforschung-theologie.uni-graz.at/de/unsere-forschung/elisabeth-goessmann-preise-2026/