Among the most popular prizes offered to students at the University of Sydney, there are many different categories that can be awarded. Most academic merit prizes are awarded based on mid-year and final year results, while literary and research prizes may require an application as well as submission of work. In most cases, these awards are given as a way to recognise exemplary student work and encourage further study in a particular area of interest.
One of the more prestigious prizes, this is awarded to a writer whose long-form essay, piece or book challenges the status quo and has the potential to inspire change. Previous winners include Hilton Als writing for The New York Times, Rose Arce on her experience of being held captive by the Taliban and Ta-Nehisi Coates on race and identity.
The Edelstein Prize is awarded by SHOT in memory of its founder, Sidney Edelstein. It is given to a scholar who has published an outstanding book on the history of technology. This award is open to authors from any country and institution, whether they are graduate or undergraduate scholars.
This is a prize for the best paper written by an undergraduate student on a topic in the field of East Asian studies, to be reviewed by scholars in the area. Submissions are made as part of a class, seminar, or independent study project. Students must submit a short biography with their entry, and their papers must be accompanied by a letter from the instructor confirming that they were written as part of an undergraduate course or seminar.
Awarded by the Foundation for the Advancement of Social Science and Humanities, this is a yearly award to recognize outstanding contributions in a range of areas in the sciences and humanities. The winner is selected by an international panel of judges, who consider all nominations received before the deadline.
In addition to a monetary prize, the winner will receive a mesmeric swirl award, designed and handcrafted in Sydney by Dinosaur Designs. All prize winners are presented with their award during the Festival’s Gala Presentation Ceremony, in front of a distinguished audience at the Sydney Opera House.
The prize money for this competition is provided by Sydney Film Festival, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting Australian filmmakers and promoting their films in Australia and around the world. The prize is not transferable, and cannot be sold or transferred to anyone else. The prize cannot be redeemed for cash, and the winner must provide proof of identity when they claim their prize. The competition is subject to SFCU’s terms and conditions of use, which can be found here. By entering, participants agree to opt-in to receive communications from Destination NSW & Sydney featuring travel deals and tips for Sydney and NSW. The competition ends on 31 March 2021.