2026 undergraduate prizes and awards offered to high-achieving students from faculties and industry sponsors

This medal is awarded to the highest achieving undergraduate student based on academic merit and contribution to the community.

Your excellent academic record and contribution to university could put you in line for an Alfred Deakin Medal, named (like us) after Australia's second Prime Minister. Two students from each faculty will receive this honour each year.

Value and duration

A cash sum of $1000 and a framed Alfred Deakin Medal will be presented to you at one of the annual graduation ceremonies.

An endorsement is also made on your Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS).

The Alfred Deakin Medal is a one-off award.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Alfred Deakin Medal, you must have the highest undergraduate academic record in your faculty. For those eligible to apply, selection will be based upon your academic record and your contribution to the community in which you have studied, worked and lived while studying at Deakin, be that on campus or off campus.

How to apply

You’ll receive instructions on how to apply for this award if you receive a nomination and invitation to apply. Students may not self-nominate.

Important dates

Eligible students will be notified about the opening and closing dates for the Alfred Deakin Medal when they're invited to apply.

This prize is awarded to the two top honours students in each faculty, and the four top honours students with the highest academic record in each faculty will be invited to apply.

Selection will be based on academic merit. Students will be required to complete an application form and may include a creative production and exegesis honour work.

Up to eight medals are conferred each year – two from each faculty. Each prize consists of $1000 and a commemorative plaque, which are presented at one of the annual graduation ceremonies. An appropriate endorsement is also made on students’ Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS).

Nominees will receive an invitation from Deakin to apply. An application form will be included with the letter of invitation. Students may not self-nominate.

The Vice-Chancellor's Medals for Outstanding Contribution to University Life are awarded to students who during their time at Deakin, have made an outstanding contribution to the life and work of the University.

This may include:

• membership of Council.
  
• working within organisations, such as the Deakin University Student Association (DUSA) or other clubs and societies.
  
• leadership roles in elected positions within the University.
  
• fostering a sense of community within faculties or schools.
  

Up to eight medals are conferred each year; two from each faculty. Each prize consists of $1000 and a framed medallion that is presented at one of the annual graduation ceremonies. An appropriate endorsement is also made on students' Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS).

Each winner will have their name recorded on the Honour Board located in the Richard Searby Room at Melbourne Burwood Campus.

Nominees will receive an invitation from Deakin to submit an application for the Vice-Chancellor's Medal for Outstanding Contribution to University Life. An application form will be included with the letter of invitation. Students may not self-nominate.

The Vice-Chancellor's Medal for Recognising Excellence will be awarded to students who, during their time at University, have overcome hardship whilst completing their undergraduate degree.

Up to eight medals are conferred each year – two from each faculty.

Each prize consists of $1000 and a framed medallion and will be presented at one of the annual graduation ceremonies.

An appropriate endorsement is also made on each student's Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS).

Up to four nominees from each faculty will receive an invitation from Deakin to apply. An application form will be included with the letter of invitation. Students may not self-nominate.

2026 postgraduate prizes and awards offered to high-achieving students from faculties and industry sponsors

The Vice-Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Achievement has been established to recognise the outstanding performance of students completing their postgraduate degree by coursework.

The award will be awarded to the two highest achieving postgraduate coursework students in a masters program, in each faculty.

The executive dean from each faculty will nominate the top two recipients to receive the award.

Up to eight prizes are conferred each year; two from each faculty.

Each prize consists of $1000 and a commemorative plaque that is presented at one of the annual graduation ceremonies. An appropriate endorsement is also made on each student's Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS).

The award is not available to students enrolled in a graduate certificate or graduate diploma. Candidates may not self-nominate.

Alfred Deakin Medals are awarded each year to up to four Deakin doctoral research students who produce the most outstanding theses. They are framed and awarded to successful students at annual graduation ceremonies and an appropriate endorsement is made on their academic record. In addition to a medal, each student receives a cash prize of $2000.

To be eligible, students must have completed a doctoral degree by research at Deakin after only one examination, i.e. they must not have undergone a re-examination.

Faculties and institutes may each nominate up to two doctoral students per round. Students cannot self-nominate.

Selection criteria

Faculties and institutes are asked to consider the following when assessing the excellence of a thesis and nominating a student:

• The examiners' reports. The thesis does not necessarily need to have passed without amendment (category 1 outcome), it may have passed with minor amendments (category 2 outcome).
• International recognition of the research work.
• The impact of the research, both in terms of actual and potential adoption.
• Refereed publications or other research outputs from the doctoral work, e.g. patents, exhibitions, performances and other creative works (the emphasis should be on the quality rather than the quantity).
• Any awards or other recognition of the research quality, by professional organisations.

Timelines

Alfred Deakin Medals are awarded in two rounds each year.

The Vice-Chancellor's Conference Care Support fund provides up to $2000 to assist researchers and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students who would otherwise be unable to attend local or international conferences, workshops or symposia due to carer responsibilities.

Attendance at national and international conferences is integral to fostering new and maintaining existing networks, and Deakin values collaboration and recognises its importance in advancing research and research careers.

Funding can be used for travel for a carer/family member to accompany the researcher/HDR student or to pay for additional care costs whilst the primary carer is attending a conference, workshop or symposia.

Applications should be submitted at least 4 weeks prior to travel.