Bringing the book to life
About the Scholarly Book Awards
Information and applications for authors and publishers
Data collection and protection policy in the Implementation Plan for the ASPP
Publications Committee
FAQ
How to reach us
Reports
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. It is a competitive program that awards 180 Publication Grants of $8,000 and five Translation Grants of $30,000 annually (April 1 to March 31).
The Publications Committee, comprised of specialists in all primary disciplines of the humanities and social sciences, evaluate grant applications and issue funding recommendations continuously throughout the year.
The Federation's member associations also offer a number of awards for scholarly books and research. Find a full list here.
The awards are made possible thanks to the financial support of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).
Past, present, and future
In 1941, a group of scholars determined to promote original, Canadian research in the humanities and social sciences, started helping authors publish their scholarly work. The awards, which would later become known as the Aid to Scholarly Publications Program, sponsored 33 scholarly books during its first decade. Since then, they have supported the publication of over 8,000 works that have enriched the social, cultural, and intellectual lives of people across this country and the world.
Initial public funding for the Scholarly Book Awards came from the Canada Council for the Arts in 1957. Annual contributions from SSHRC, which began in the late 1970s, provide major support.
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.
In April 2023, following extensive consultation with members and partners, the Federation announced significant changes to the program, marking a major investment into Canadian scholarly books. The changes include the introduction of supplemental Open Access grants, and increased funding for translations, including dedicating one of the five annual translation grants to Indigenous language translations. The changes embrace open science and equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization (EDID) as central to the application and selection process.
Alongside these meaningful inclusions, the ASPP was given a new moniker: The Scholarly Book Awards.
Support for Open Access
The Federation promotes and facilitates Open Access publishing of Scholarly Book Awards-funded books. Open Access makes research available to readers free of charge on the internet, benefiting authors and improving broad access to their scholarship.
As of April 2023, the Federation introduced two new supplemental grants to support and incentivize OA publishing, in addition to the existing 180 $8,000 Publication Grants:
- $8,000 for books available through Open Access
- $2,000 for chapters available through Open Access
This year, there are nine (9) Open Access book grants available, and nine (9) Open Access chapter grants available. The Federation will continue to phase in Open Access targets over the next three years to reach 108 Open Access supplemental grants (54 for chapters, 54 for books) by 2025.
The Open Access supplemental grants are available through the Publication Grant process. To learn more and apply for the supplemental Open Access grants, see Information and applications for authors and publishers.
Support for translations
As part of the changes announced in April 2023, the Scholarly Book Awards now include significantly increased funding for 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.
To learn more about Translation Grants, including eligibility and applications, see Information and applications for authors and publishers.
Who can apply
Canadian authors and publishers of scholarly books in the humanities and social sciences can apply for Scholarly Book Award grants. Please consult Information and applications for specific eligibility criteria, application guidelines, and other details.
Why apply
The awards exist to support and ensure the capacity to publish and translate high-quality Canadian monographs, scholarly books, and other long-form research publications. For authors and publishers, they provide meaningful pathways to success for their scholarly publications through critical funding for the translation or publication processes.
The Federation continuously amplifies the work of Scholarly Book Awards-funded authors through outreach to our members and community. Our social media campaign #Bookmarkit features books from past award recipients. We also invite past recipients to share their Scholarly Book Awards stories with us, so we can amplify and celebrate your work.
Join in the conversation on social media by tagging @federation_hss using the hashtag #bringingthebooktolife.
Benefits of consulting a publisher
While authors are free to apply directly to the Scholarly Book Awards, many authors find it helpful to prepare their applications with publishers who are eligible to work with us. As this is a highly competitive program and all Scholarly Book Awards-funded works must be published by eligible publishers, authors often find it reassuring to know that an eligible publisher is already interested in their work. A committed publisher can help ensure that a work is ready for submission and gather peer review reports for inclusion in the application.
For applications submitted by authors, the Scholarly Book Awards undertakes the peer review, which is a necessarily lengthy process. The Scholarly Book Awards cannot guarantee that a peer review will be completed within any specific time frame.
Please consult this list of eligible publishers.
Peer review and conflict-of-interest
All works submitted to the Scholarly Book Awards undergo a rigorous peer review process during which at least two peer reviewers provide detailed reports. To ensure an unbiased evaluation, the peer reviewers must conform to the ASPP’s conflict-of-interest guidelines (within the application). To facilitate a thorough evaluation, peer reviewers are asked to complete a report (within the application).
Acknowledging support
If your work is awarded a Scholarly Book Awards grant, the following acknowledgement must appear in the introduction, preface, acknowledgements, or on the copyright page of the published work:
This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, through the Awards to Scholarly Publications Program, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
For more information, please refer to Frequently Asked Questions below.
Note on document titles
Please be advised that all official documentation for the Scholarly Book Awards, including applications, utilizes the program’s official name of Awards to Scholarly Publications Program (ASPP). We encourage you to use the program’s moniker, Scholarly Book Awards, in any public-facing communications.
A Scholarly Book Awards Publication Grant provides $8,000 to offset the cost of publication. Grants are approved in principle prior to publication and are paid following publication directly to the publisher.
- The guidelines and application package below outline the eligibility criteria and the application process in detail. Read them carefully before completing your application.
- Complete the application within the package. Details for submitting your application are enclosed.
Publication grant applications are accepted and evaluated throughout the year. The preferred file format for email submissions is PDF. Applications must be complete at the time of submission. The Scholarly Book Awards reserves the right to return incomplete applications.
A Scholarly Book Awards Translation Grant provides $30,000 to offset the cost of translation and publication. Grants are approved in principle prior to publication of the translation and are paid following publication directly to the publisher.
- The guidelines and application package below outline the eligibility criteria and the application process in detail. Read them carefully before completing your application.
- Complete the application within the package below electronically by typing your responses directly into the form.
Some deadlines apply for Translation Grant applications. Please see the guidelines for details. The preferred file format for email submissions is PDF. Applications must be complete at the time of submission. The Scholarly Book Awards reserves the right to return incomplete applications.
Download the translation guideline and application
The deadline for submitting your translation application is June 15, 2024.
Please email aspp-paes@federationhss.ca if you have any questions.
Publisher eligibility
In order to receive funds, publishers must meet the Scholarly Book Awards Eligibility criteria for publishers in advance of submitting their first grant application. To become eligible, submit a cover letter – outlining how you meet each criterion along with any supporting documentation, such as financial statements and catalogues, necessary – to aspp-paes@federationhss.ca who will approve eligibility. Publishers only need to confirm eligibility once, though the Scholarly Book Awards reserves the right to request updated information as needed.
Peer review and conflict-of-interest
All works submitted to the Scholarly Book Awards undergo a rigorous peer review process during which at least two peer reviewers provide detailed reports. To ensure an unbiased evaluation, the peer reviewers must conform to the Scholarly Book Awards’ conflict-of-interest guidelines (within the application). To facilitate a thorough evaluation, peer reviewers are asked to complete a report (within the application).
Acknowledging support
If your work is awarded an Scholarly Book Awards grant, the following acknowledgement must appear in the introduction, preface, acknowledgements, or on the copyright page of the published work:
This book has been published with the help of a grant from the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, through the Awards to Scholarly Publications Program, using funds provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
For more information, please refer to Frequently Asked Questions below.
Requesting payment
All Scholarly Book Awards grants are approved in principle prior to publication. After publication, the publisher must complete and submit a Payment request form along with one copy of the published work bearing the appropriate acknowledgement. The grant will then be paid directly to the publisher.
Note on document titles
Please be advised that all official documentation for the Scholarly Book Awards, including applications, utilizes the program’s official name of Awards to Scholarly Publications Program (ASPP). We encourage you to use the program’s moniker, Scholarly Book Awards, in any public-facing communications.
A Scholarly Book Awards Publication Grant provides $8,000 to offset the cost of publication. Grants are approved in principle prior to publication and are paid following publication directly to the publisher.
- The guidelines and application package below outline the eligibility criteria and the application process in detail. Read them carefully before completing your application.
- Complete the application within the package. Details for submitting your application are enclosed.
Publication grant applications are accepted and evaluated throughout the year. The preferred file format for email submissions is PDF. Applications must be complete at the time of submission. The Scholarly Book Awards reserves the right to return incomplete applications.
A Scholarly Book Awards Translation Grant provides $30,000 to offset the cost of translation and publication. Grants are approved in principle prior to publication of the translation and are paid following publication directly to the publisher.
- The guidelines and application package below outline the eligibility criteria and the application process in detail. Read them carefully before completing your application.
- Complete the application within the package below electronically by typing your responses directly into the form.
Some deadlines apply for Translation Grant applications. Please see the guidelines for details. The preferred file format for email submissions is PDF. Applications must be complete at the time of submission. The Scholarly Book Awards reserves the right to return incomplete applications.
Download the translation guideline and application
The deadline for submitting your translation application is June 15, 2024.
Please email aspp-paes@federationhss.ca if you have any questions.
Data collection and protection policy in the Implementation Plan for the ASPP
The Federation collects self-identification data from its Scholarly Book Awards or Awards to Scholarly Publications Program applicants. You can learn about this in the Data Collection and Protection Policy here.
For more information, please email aspp-paes@federationhss.ca.
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. You can learn more about the Publications Committee here.
For more information, please email aspp-paes@federationhss.ca.
Yes, in 2023, the ASPP was given the moniker: Scholarly Book Awards. It still goes by its official title, Awards to Scholarly Publication Program (ASPP) in formal documentation.
Prior to 2012, the program was called the Aid to Scholarly Publications Program.
Under its new moniker, the Scholarly Book Awards continue to fund the publication and translation of scholarly books in the humanities and social sciences.
There is no application deadline for Publication Grants. Publication Grant applications are accepted throughout the year. Some deadlines apply for Translation Grant applications. For more information, please consult the guidelines.
The Scholarly Book Awards support the publication and translation of scholarly books. Scholarly books are extended academic texts that display sound scholarship and contribute to the advancement of knowledge and research. To figure out whether a book is eligible, please consult the relevant sections above, Information for authors or Information for publishers, and review the grant guidelines.
Yes, the Scholarly Book Awards Translation Grant supports the translation of scholarly books written by Canadians that are being translated from English, French, or an Indigenous language spoken in Canada to one of those same languages. Please consult the relevant sections above, Information for authors or Information for publishers, and review the Translation Grant Guidelines.
Yes, the Scholarly Book Awards Publication Grant supports the publication of critical editions, critical bibliographies, reference works, and documentary collections. However, these works must include a significant analytical component that makes a contribution to scholarship, and a full scholarly and critical apparatus. Please consult the relevant sections above, Information for authors or Information for publishers, and review the Publication Grant Guidelines.
Yes, books by non-Canadians may be eligible for the Scholarly Book Awards Publication Grant, but only if they are on a Canadian subject and use Canadian sources. Otherwise, Scholarly Book Awards-funded books must be written or edited by Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. For collective works – collections of individually-signed articles – at least half the principal editing team and half of the contributors must be Canadian.
Yes, the Scholarly Book Awards accepts applications by email. The preferred file format is PDF. Please send electronic applications to the email address found at the end of the application form. Please consult the relevant sections above, Information for authors or Information for publishers, and review the “Applying for a Publication Grant” or “Applying for a Translation Grant” sections.
No. A work must be complete before it can be considered for Scholarly Book Awards funding.
The Scholarly Book Awards is a competitive program and funding is awarded according to the Scholarly Book Awards' mandate to assist the publication of books of advanced scholarship in the humanities and social sciences that make important contributions to knowledge. The Scholarly Book Awards' Publications Committee assesses all Publication Grant applications and scores them on scale. (For the complete assessment scale, please consult the relevant sections above, Information for authors or Information for publishers, and link to the Publication Grant guidelines). Applications will be ranked according to the Publications Committee’s score and the top-ranking applications will be approved. Applications scored within a given calendar month will be ranked along with other applications scored in that month. Top-ranking applications will be approved and the others will be declined.
All Scholarly Book Awards grants are paid to a book’s publisher after publication.
All Scholarly Book Awards grants are awarded per book. If a book has been approved to receive a Scholarly Book Awards grant, the grant will be paid out to any publisher eligible to receive Scholarly Book Awards funds, even if it is not the publisher that was involved during the application process.
Yes, the Scholarly Book Awards is “format neutral” and its grants can support Open Access books, provided all the other eligibility criteria are met. The Federation supports Open Access and has established a policy to actively promote and facilitate Open Access publishing of Scholarly Book Awards-funded books.
No, Scholarly Book Awards-funded books must be published in Canada since Scholarly Book Awards grants are only paid out to eligible Canadian publishers. Please see the "Information for publishers" section for details about publisher eligibility.
No. Scholarly Book Awards grants support the publication and/or translation of scholarly books. For more information on research funding, contact the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
No, the Scholarly Book Awards supports the publication of books only.
The Canada Prizes are awarded annually to the best scholarly books in the humanities and social sciences that have received funding from the Scholarly Book Awards.
If you have additional questions, email aspp-paes@federationhss.ca.
How to reach us
If you are submitting an application to the Scholarly Book Awards to support publishing or translating a book, please email us at aspp-paes@federationhss.ca:
- A PDF of the completed application form; and
- all of the items listed at the end of the form, in electronic format.
If you are submitting a payment request for a published book that received funding from the Scholarly Book Awards, please email us at aspp-paes@federationhss.ca:
- A PDF or picture of the Acknowledgements page including the ISBN;
- a photo of the book so that we can “see” a hard copy of the final product;
- the signed Payment Request Form as a PDF; and
- any other supporting documentation in electronic format.
Please keep a hard copy of the book aside, as we will ask you to send it to us when mail service and delivery services are restored.
Reports
Consult the report for the most recent program year (April 1 to March 31), which includes a bibliography and statistics.
Reports:
Bibliographies:
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