University of Johannesburg (UJ) Prize 2025 for South Africans

The University of Johannesburg UJ Prize is open exclusively to South African authors or foreign authors who have resided in South Africa for at least six months while writing their book.

The UJ Prize was established in 2006 for South African writers regardless of whether they have a connection with the university or not. The latest recipients of the prize are Morabo Morojele, awarded R75,000 as the main prize winner for Three Egg Dilemma, and Jarred Thompson, who received R45,000 for the debut prize with his novel The Institute for Creative Dying. Previous winners include C.A. Davids, Mandla Langa, Jacob Dlamini, Rešoketšwe Manenzhe, Gabeba Baderoon, and Zakes Mda, among others.

The UJ Prize is open to books published in English language and has two categories: the Main Prize and the Debut Prize. Publishers must specify whether they are entering for the Main Prize or the Debut Prize. The winning entry will join the illustrious list of prominent authors who have won the prize since its establishment in 2006.

Prizes of University of Johannesburg

• Main Prize: R75,000
• Debut Prize: R45,000

Check :  World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Global Awards 2025

Eligibility for University of Johannesburg

• South African authors or foreign authors who resided in South Africa for at least six months while writing their book.
• Books published in English between January 1 and December 31, 2024.
• The UJ Prize is not genre specific – publishers can submit novels, short story collections, volumes of poetry, biographies or any form of creative fiction and non-fiction books.

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Application

Publishers are required to submit eight (8) copies of each title they want to enter for the award along with the attached UJ Prize Entry Form. The UJ Prize Entry Form must be signed by both the publisher and the author and enclosed in the same package with the submitted books. Publishers who wish to submit entries for the UJ prize for works published in 2024 should send all submissions to the address below:

By courier

Ms Dikeledi Seranyane

University of Johannesburg
English Department
B-Ring 713
Kingsway Road
Auckland Park
Johannesburg

Tel. 011-5592063

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