University of Tasmania Prize 2027

The University of Tasmania Prize is for the best new unpublished literary work by a Tasmanian writer. 

The winner will receive $10,000. This prize is generously supported by the University of Tasmania.

Entries open on 6 July 2026 and close 17 August 2026.

The Tasmanian Literary Awards are administered by Creative Tasmania on behalf of the Tasmanian Government.

The author(s)

• The entered work must have no more than two authors. Where a work is co-created with an artist (for example, an illustrated children’s book, graphic novel or photography book), the artist is deemed to be an “author” for the purpose of these terms. This means that Creative Tasmania will pay the artist an equal share of the prize award for this category (unless the author and the artist inform Creative Tasmania in writing that they have agreed to a different share), the artist may meet the Tasmanian residency requirements, and that the artist may submit the entry to the awards.

• The author, or one of the two authors, must be resident in Tasmania. This means that the author must have lived in Tasmania for six of the past 12 months as at the date of entry into the awards.

• The author, or one of the two authors, must be living as at the date of entry into the awards.

The literary work

• The entry must be a complete work in the form of any of the following:
  • a novel;
  • a graphic novel;
  • a playscript;
  • a screenplay (comprising one individual script, which may be a feature, an episode of a series, or a short-form series of episodes less than 15 minutes totalling no more than one hour);
  • a work for children or young people;
  • a work of literary non-fiction; or
  • a collection of short stories, literary essays or poems.

• The entered work:
  • must be unpublished and must not be under a contract for publication at the time of entry. In the case of:
    • a collection (such as a collection of poems, short stories or essays), the individual works may have been previously published.
    • for a playscript or screenplay, ‘unpublished’ means the work must not have been produced for stage or screen.

• • must be in English. A work is still ‘in English’ if words, sentences or short sections of another language are used.
  • if it incorporates or uses any Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), must have complied with clause 14.3 in the terms and conditions in its creation; and
  • must be the author or authors’ own original work. This means that (amongst other things):
    • the work has not been ghost written by another author; and
    • the work must not be generated by artificial intelligence (AI). To assist judges with their determination of originality and eligibility, entrants must acknowledge where AI has been used in the production of the work (for example formatting or editing assistance).

• An author may have only one work entered into the University of Tasmania Prize. An entrant to the University of Tasmania Prize may also enter works in other prize categories.

• Works previously submitted to this prize are not eligible for entry, regardless of whether they were shortlisted or awarded.

• An entry must be submitted through the digital entry form on the Tasmanian Literary Awards website on or before 17 August 2026. Late entries will not be accepted.

• The entry must be submitted by completing the information required by the digital entry form and submitting a copy of the entered work. The entered work must:
  • be edited, proofread, typed and double-spaced;
  • be in PDF or Microsoft Word format; and
  • not contain the author’s or authors’ name in the entered work or in the name of the digital file submitted.

• Creative Tasmania will send the entrant confirmation of entry.

• An entry for the University of Tasmania Prize must be submitted by the author. It may not be submitted by an agent or publisher on behalf of an author or authors.

• Where the work has more than one author:
  • Creative Tasmania will pay the authors in equal shares, unless the authors inform Creative Tasmania in writing that they have agreed to a different share; and
  • the author who is submitting the entry must have the permission of the other author (or their estate) to enter the work in these awards. The entering author is responsible for ensuring that Creative Tasmania can be provided the Additional Materials and that the entering author can give the licence and warranties in relation to the use of those materials under clause 11.