PGR Community Champion Award

The award recognises outstanding contribution by a current UoB PGR or group of PGRs to their postgraduate research community, and who has contributed significantly to PGR events, projects, representation and/or experience in the given award year. Nominations can be made by PGRs or staff members (professional or academic). Nominees might be a UDS Scholar, Student Content Shaper, a regular organiser of PGR events, or responsible for PGR projects and development.

To be eligible, you must be a current UoB PGR in 2026, and nominated by a current UoB PGR or member of staff for actions undertaken in the 2025-26 academic year. Collective nominations are welcome if a group of two or more wish to nominate an individual or group.

The UDS PGR Community Champion Award for 2024-2025 closed. The winners will be announced at the upcoming UoB Postgraduate Research Festival.

What are the criteria for the award?

The nominated PGR must be a registered current postgraduate at the time of nomination and award (February-June 2026). If nominating a group all members of that group should be from the PGR community. Any prize will be distributed equally between members of that group.
For the 2026 award, PGR(s) must be nominated for work undertaken in the 2025-26 academic year.
Nominations can be made for any current PGR or group of PGRs, for work benefiting the PGR community.

The nomination should be guided by:

The nominee’s demonstrable enthusiasm for PGR community engagement and for supporting their peers.
A record of measurable impact and success in their representation and/or support of their PGR community.

Examples of possible nominees might be an outstanding Postgraduate Research Rep, UDS Scholar, Student Content Shaper, or a PGR who has contributed significantly to PGR events and/or projects while at the University.

How do I make a nomination?

Nominations are not yet open.

The nomination statement should include:

Explanation of the extent of the PGRs contribution to PGR community at UoB.
Explanation of the significance of their work.
Evidence of the measurable impact of their work.

Applications for this Award are not yet live, this page will be updated when submissions open.

What happens next?

The forms will be judged by the University Doctoral School, where a judging panel will select one winner. Nominees will be invited to the University Doctoral School Awards Ceremony, taking place during the Postgraduate Research Festival in June, where the winner will be announced and presented with their certificate.