PRIZES

The University makes available a wide range of student prizes to reward excellence and achievement in performance. Most are administered by Faculties and are open to students in those Faculties (see “Faculty Prizes” below). There is also a small number of prizes which are open to students across all Faculties (see “University Prizes and Awards” below).

The Academic Office receives submissions of proposals for the establishment of new prizes and amendments to the conditions of existing prizes, including their discontinuance. An annual report in respect of both Faculty and University-wide prizes and awards is made to the Teaching and Learning Committee in October of each year. The report summarises new and discontinued prizes and notes the outcomes of the competition for University-wide awards.

Faculty Prizes

The following Faculty prizes are open to students of those Faculties.

Course/Subject handbooks contain information on prizes and awards associated with programmes.

The Faculty list of prizes and awards is updated in May of each year prior to the Board of Examiners meetings in June.  The current lists are available here:

Art, Design and the Built Environment

Arts        

Computing and Engineering

Life and Health Sciences              

Social Sciences

Ulster Business School 

After the Boards of Examiners meetings in June, the Faculty Office informs the Academic Office of the recipient of each prize.

The prize-winner receives a certificate and a cheque for the amount of the prize.  These are sent to the student's home address unless a presentation ceremony is being organised by the Faculty.  In such cases, the Academic Office is advised of the arrangements.

University Prizes and Awards

Information on University prizes and awards is forwarded to all Heads of School, the Career Development Centre and the Students' Union in November each year.  Details are published in the University Student Handbook, University staff magazine Inside and the Students' Union magazine Ufouria.  Information is also provided through campus reception screens, an annual global email to students and a dedicated link in the student portal. 

An application form for the University prizes below can be found here: Application Form

The following University prizes and awards are open to all students of the University:

 Findlater Award in Social Studies

 Greer Garson Film Award

 Greer Garson Theatre Award

 McCrea Literary Award

UK Federation of Business and Professional Women (NI Division) Travelling Scholarship

Convocation Student of the Year

The Student Competition

 Establishing New Prizes

Proposals for new prizes should be submitted to the Academic Office using the pro forma.  Each proposal is submitted to the University's Teaching and Learning Committee which makes recommendations regarding their establishment to Council through the Communication and External Affairs Committee. Copies of all proposals for new prizes should also be forwarded to the Development and Alumni Relations Office for information. 

When new prizes are obtained the donor or sponsor should be asked to sign an agreement empowering the University to amend the terms of the award, including the re-allocation of the award to another programme in the same or a related subject area, should the original programme associated with the award be discontinued. 

The University has introduced guidelines with regard to the funding of new and existing prizes. As a general rule, the annual value of prize should be no less than £50. Many prizes are funded and made available over a fixed period of time (for example 5 years or 10 years).

Alternatively, prizes can be established in perpetuity, that is, a prize is awarded over an indefinite period of time. An effective means to funding prizes in perpetuity is for the University to receive a capital sum of sufficient value which will generate enough annual interest to support an annual prize. The standard rate of interest is normally taken at 4%, therefore £1,250 is the minimum sum required to establish a prize which will be awarded in perpetuity with a value of £50 annually.  

Amendments to Existing Prizes

Amendments to existing prizes should be submitted to the Academic Office using the pro forma.  Each proposal for amendment is submitted to the University's Teaching and Learning Committee which makes recommendations regarding the amendment to Council through Communication and External Affairs Committee.

Amendments to prizes funded by donors and sponsors should be made with their agreement.

General Regulations Applying to Student Awards (Prizes)

1. The terms and conditions of new student prizes shall be determined by the Teaching and Learning Committee on behalf of the Senate.  The Committee shall make recommendations for the establishment of new prizes to the Council.
2. Awards shall be authorised by the appropriate nominating body or committee. In the case of awards based on examination performance, this body shall be the Board of Examiners, and where more than one Board of Examiners is involved, the Deans of Faculties shall coordinate decisions.
3. At the time of nomination for a prize or award a candidate must be a registered student of the University.
4. A prize or award may be divided where there are candidates of equal merit.
5. A prize or award may be withheld in a particular year if in the opinion of the nominating body there is no candidate of suitable merit.
6. The University may withdraw or cancel without notice any or all offers of prizes or awards.
7. The nominating body may determine other conditions not explicitly specified.
8. In the case of prizes or awards which are provided out of private endowment funds, the payment of the full amount shall be contingent on the necessary income being forthcoming from the endowment fund.

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