Scholarly Book Awards (ASPP)

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About the Scholarly Book Awards

The Scholarly Book Awards, formally the Awards to Scholarly Publications Program (ASPP), funds scholarly books in Canada that make important contributions to the humanities and social sciences. Each year, the program awards 180 Publication Grants of $8,000 and five Translation Grants of $30,000, supporting Canadian scholars whose work enriches both national and global understanding.  

Since 1941, the Awards have helped publish over 8,000 titles, championing original research that shapes Canada's intellectual and cultural landscape. In 2023, after extensive consultation, the program underwent a transformative renewal, introducing Open Access grants and increasing funding for translations, including a dedicated grant for Indigenous languages. With a renewed focus on equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization, the Scholarly Book Awards champion the excellence of Canadian scholarship. 

The awards are made possible thanks to the financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). 

To apply for the Scholarly Book Awards, visit Applications & eligibility 

A voice for Open Access  

In a world where knowledge should be universally accessible, the Federation is dedicated to improving the accessibility and discoverability of long-form research in the social sciences and humanities. Open Access (OA) publishing is crucial to this mission, ensuring that high-quality Canadian monographs, scholarly books, and other long-form publications reach a wider audience.

The Awards include supplemental grants to support and incentivize OA publishing:

• $8,000 for books available through Open Access 
• $2,000 for chapters available through Open Access  

This year, there are eighteen (18) Open Access book grants available, and eighteen (18) Open Access chapter grants available. We began offering these supplemental OA grants in March 2023, setting ambitious targets to ensure growth: 5% of the 180 publication grants in the first year, 10% in the second year, and 15% in the third year.

Support for translations 

The Scholarly Book Awards include funding to promote and facilitate translations: 

• An increase in the grant amount for translations, from $12,000 to $30,000 
• A dedicated Indigenous language translation grant 

This year, there are five (5) Translation Grants available, out of which one (1) is dedicated to translation into Indigenous languages.

Get involved

Together, we can create a more inclusive and equitable research environment, ensuring that valuable knowledge is accessible to everyone. 

#BookMarkIt reading list

In recognition of #OpenAccess Week 2024, we want to highlight the work of some of our recipients. 

• Resisting the Dehumanization of Refugees by Abu-Laban et al. 
• What the World Might Look Like: Decolonial Stories of Resilience and Refusal by Susie O’Brien 
• The Politics of Refugee Policy in the Global South by Ola G. El-Taliawi 
• Logic in the Wild by Patrick Girard 
• Fichte in Berlin: The 1804 Weissenschaftslehre by Matthew Nini 

Since the Open Access grant, part of the Scholarly Book Awards, was launched recently, we are in the process of evaluating submissions by Francophone authors. We look forward to sharing these books for your reading pleasure.

Learn more

• In February, 2023 the Federation published a study by Vincent Larivière and Delphine Lobet that speaks to the vital role of scholarly book publishing in Canada and explores strategies to ensure its health and relevance in the 21st century. Read the Study on the ASPP and the Situation of Scholarly Books in Canada.  

• The Federation's member associations also offer a number of awards for scholarly books and research. Find a full list here. 

Publications Committee 

The Publications Committee, comprised of specialists in all primary disciplines of the humanities and social sciences, evaluates grant applications and issues funding recommendations continuously throughout the year. Persons interested in joining the committee can learn more about it here.

Submit your application

For more information, please email aspp-paes@federationhss.ca.