The Scientific Undergraduate Academic Prize celebrates excellence in research among undergraduate students.
This award recognises the best written report in the format of a research paper in preparation for a submission to a scientific journal. Winners receive a certificate and the first prize winner is invited to present their work at the RCOG Annual Academic Meeting.
Below you can find further information about the prize, including how to apply and eligibility requirements.
Prize
There are three prizes (first, second and third)
- First prize: Certificate and invitation to present at the RCOG Annual Academic Meeting
- Second prize: Certificate
- Third prize: Certificate
Eligibility
This award is open exclusively for current undergraduate students in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. Applicants must satisfy the award criteria at the time of application, not at the time of the award being given.
Assessment criteria
Submissions will be evaluated on the following:
- Research question
- Literature review
- Critical discussion
- Clinical relevance
- Level of involvement
- References
Conditions
- Applications must be presented as a written report formatted like a research paper in preparation for submission to a scientific journal (using any standard format such as Vancouver style), including a 150 word structured abstract
- The report should clearly detail the applicant’s individual contribution to the project
- Reports exceeding 3,500 words will not be considered
- Poster submissions will not be accepted in place of written submissions
- Any research submitted for the Scientific Undergraduate Prize must be either unpublished material, submitted for publication, or published with the last twelve months
- Applicants may not jointly submit an application for this award
A significant proportion of the marks will be allocated to expression of the aims and objectives of the work, depth of research skills developed and insight achieved from the work. The prize will be assessed based on the scientific criteria and, therefore, it is important to ensure that the abstract reflects individual contribution.
Marks will also be allocated for the presentation of the paper, including length, structure and formatting, spelling and grammar, referencing, the use of tables, figures and illustrations, and ease of understanding for an independent reader.
How to apply
Applications are hosted on the Oxford Abstracts platform. Please register for an account using your email address.
For further guidance on how to submit your application, please see Oxford Abstracts' guidance on making a submission.
This award opens on Monday 17 March 2025.
The deadline for submission is Thursday 15 May 2025.
For any queries, please contact: awards@rcog.org.uk.