2023 Postgraduate prizes and awards
Faculty of Arts and Education
Philip Brown Award
This prize is named in memory of Dr Philip Brown, an eminent historian whose work is characterised by meticulous research and the extensive use of primary sources.
The prize is awarded annually to an enrolled higher degree by research student within the Faculty of Arts and Education, for research into Australia, Australian History or other relevant areas of study in which aspects of Australian History are present.
Hans Löfgren Prize
Associate Professor Hans Löfgren was an integral member of Deakin University’s Politics and Policy group between 2001 and 2014, and an associate editor of the Australian Journal of Political Science. The prize is awarded annually to the best research thesis produced by students enrolled in Honours (Politics and Policy Studies) or the Master of Politics and Policy.
Lynne Alice Prize
The prize of $500 is awarded annually by the School of Humanities and Social Sciences to a student enrolled in the Master of International Relations course who has achieved standards of excellence in his or her academic record in the Human Rights and International Law specialisation.
Roslyn Lawry Award
This award commemorates a young Museum Studies graduate, Ros Lawry, who died in tragic circumstances. Her parents, Jim and Fay Lawry, established an endowment for an annual prize. The Roslyn Lawry Award is awarded annually to a student enrolled in the Master of Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies who has achieved standards of excellence in his or her academic record and demonstrated a personal commitment to heritage/museum training. The recipient receives a generous amount of prize money to fund further professional development and a framed certificate.
Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL)
Awarded annually to a student enrolled in an Education postgraduate course who has illustrated excellence in educational leadership. The prize includes:
- A professional, framed ACEL Certificate of Recognition for Excellence in Educational Leadership
- A membership subscription for one year to the value of $175
- A book voucher valued at $100, redeemable from the ACEL Bookshop
Australian Society for Music Education (ASME) Award
Each year an ASME prize of a Certificate and a Full Membership for one year to ASME Victoria is awarded to an outstanding teacher education student who received the highest mark across the 4 music secondary units in their course.
Bank First Award
Prizes to the value of $300 each, awarded to the highest achieving postgraduate students who have achieved a combination of both high academic results together with outstanding results in teaching practice. This is based on their results for the duration of their undergraduate course:
- Master of Teaching (Early Childhood)
- Master of Teaching (Primary)
- Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary)
- Master of Teaching (Secondary)
- Master of Teaching (Primary and Secondary)
- Master of Applied Learning and Teaching (Secondary)
- Master of Specialist Inclusive Education
Drama Victoria Award for Pre-Service Teacher Excellence
This award is presented to pre-service teachers who have shown excellence in curriculum planning and drama teaching during their placements and studies at Deakin University.
Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA) Award for Excellence
The award recognises both the importance of literacy studies and the career and personal benefits of belonging to a professional association. The award consists of 12 months membership of the association to a graduating Master of Teaching (Primary) education student who has excelled in literacy and English language studies during the year.
The Reverend Dr Norman Curry Student Prize for Outstanding Teaching Practice
This prize has been established to recognise Reverend Dr Norman Curry OAM who was a well-known and highly regarded educationalist who made a significant contribution to education in Australia.
One prize of $2000 will be awarded annually to a graduate of the Bachelor of Education (Primary) or the Master of Teaching (Primary) who has demonstrated excellence in teaching practice. Where there are high-achieving graduates from each course, the prize will be divided equally and each recipient will receive $2000.
The Victoria College Foundation
This fund was initially set up to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the Victoria College, just before it merged with Deakin University. The prize is to be awarded to a PhD student who just missed out on a scholarship. The aim of the Victoria College prize is to support a postgraduate student to study towards a Masters or Doctoral degree. The amount to be awarded is $500.
Faculty of Business and Law
Brookes Scholar Award
Awarded to the two most outstanding students in the MBA graduating class.
Deakin Business School Postgraduate Courses
A range of prizes will be awarded in recognition of high performing students across the Masters by Coursework programs offered by the Deakin Business School.
Dean's Merit List
Awarded in recognition of outstanding academic achievement to our top graduates from Deakin Business School Masters by Coursework programs.
Deakin Law School Postgraduate Courses
A range of prizes will be awarded in recognition of high performing students across the Masters by Coursework programs offered by the Deakin Law School.
Dean's Merit List
Awarded in recognition of outstanding academic achievement to our top graduates from Deakin Law School Masters by Coursework programs.
Faculty of Health
Head of School Academic Achievement Award - Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition
Awarded to the most outstanding graduate from the Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition.
Head of School Academic Achievement Award - Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition
Awarded to the most outstanding graduate from the Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition.
Head of School Academic Achievement Award - Master of Human Nutrition
Awarded to the most outstanding graduate from the Master of Human Nutrition.
Head of School Academic Achievement Award - Master of Nutrition and Population Health
Awarded to the most outstanding graduate from the Master of Nutrition and Population Health.
Catapult Master of Applied Sport Science Student of the Year Award
Awarded to the most outstanding graduate from the Master of Applied Sport Science.
Dietitians Australia Award - Most Outstanding Student Prize
Awarded to the most outstanding graduate from the Master of Dietetics.
Professor Selig Academic Achievement Award
Awarded to the most outstanding graduate from the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology.
Professor's Academic Achievement Award in Dietetics
Awarded to the most outstanding graduate from the Master of Dietetics. The award recipient will be chosen based on a combination of high level academic achievement and professional practice in the applications of dietetics.
Robyn Walker Award for Entrepreneurship in Dietetics
Awarded to the Master of Dietetics graduate who exhibits qualities of entrepreneurship and courage to break new ground.
School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Award for Best PhD Paper
Awarded annually to the best paper published by a PhD candidate in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences.
Bernie Marshall Award for the Top Graduating Master of Public Health Student
A prize of $250 and a certificate awarded to the Master of Public Health graduate with the highest overall results.
Berni Murphy Award for the Top Project by a Master of Public Health Student
A prize of $250 and a certificate awarded to the Master of Public Health graduate with the highest overall result for their (minor or major) Project.
Emeritus Professor Karen Stagnitti Award - GCTCP
Awarded to the student enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Therapeutic Child Play (H505) with the highest academic achievement in unit HSO713 Therapeutic Assessment of Play . The award is in the form of a $500 voucher from Learn to Play Events.
Emeritus Professor Karen Stagnitti Award - GDTCP
Awarded to the student with the highest academic achievement in the Graduate Diploma of Therapeutic Child Play (H605). The award is in the form of a $500 voucher from Learn to Play Events.
Jan Moore Award for Excellence in Research - Major Project
A prize of $200 and a certificate to be awarded annually for the best major project undertaken by a student enrolled in the Master of Health Promotion.
Jan Moore Award for Excellence in Research - Minor Project
A prize of $100 and a certificate to be awarded annually for the best minor project undertaken by a student enrolled in the Master of Health Promotion.
Susan Esdaile Prize
A prize of $500 awarded to the Master of Child Play Therapy student having completed the most outstanding thesis relevant to parenting and child play therapy.
Albert Coates Memorial Trust Scholarship
This award was established by The Sir Albert Coates Memorial Trust and funded by the Australian Legion of ex-Servicemen and Women, to assist a Year 3 Doctor of Medicine (H911) student with costs associated with Year 4 medical elective placements. One award of up to $2,500 is available.
Bob Judge Clinical Skills Prize
The School of Medicine is currently reviewing whether this award available to its Doctor of Medicine students will be offered in 2023. More information will be published later in the year.
Coltman Equipment Award
The School of Medicine is currently reviewing whether this award available to its Doctor of Medicine students will be offered in 2023. More information will be published later in the year.
Dr Gilbert M. Davis Award
The School of Medicine is currently reviewing whether this award available to its Doctor of Medicine students will be offered in 2023. More information will be published later in the year.
George Golding Memorial Trust Scholarship
The School of Medicine is currently reviewing whether this award available to its Doctor of Medicine students will be offered in 2023. More information will be published later in the year.
Williamson Family Award in Medicine
The School of Medicine is currently reviewing whether this award available to its Doctor of Medicine students will be offered in 2023. More information will be published later in the year.
There are a number of additional prizes available at each Clinical School. Please contact the relevant Clinical School Director for more information.
Device Technologies Surgical Award
Awarded to the highest achieving student from the Graduate Diploma of Advanced Nursing (Perioperative) in the unit Advanced Concepts in Specialty Nursing Practice: HNN788 ($500 and certificate).
Diabetes Victoria Award for Academic Excellence
Awarded for the best all-round academic performance by a student enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Diabetes Education ($300 and certificate).
Elsevier Australia
Awarded to the highest achieving student in the Master of Advanced Nursing (book and certificate).
HESTA Award for Research Scholarship
Awarded to a domestic PhD candidate for outstanding research scholarship ($1000 and certificate).
The Australian Psychological Society Prize
A prize of one year's subscription to the APS, a certificate and an invitation to present a poster at the APS Annual Conference for the most outstanding fourth year student.
Head of School Awards
- A prize of $250 and a certificate to be awarded annually for the best Thesis in the PhD course.
- A prize of $250 and a certificate to be awarded annually for the best Thesis in the Doctor of Psychology (Clinical) course.
- A prize of $250 and a certificate to be awarded annually for the best Thesis in the Master of Psychology (Clinical) course.
- A prize of $250 and a certificate to be awarded annually for the best Thesis in the Master of Psychology (Organisational) course.
- A prize of $250 and a certificate to be awarded annually for the best student publication in the PhD course.
- A prize of $250 and a certificate awarded to the most outstanding student (highest average mark) on completion of 10 credit points in the H603 Graduate Diploma of Psychological Science course.
Note: The Head of School reserves the right to decline to award a prize in any year.
Spring Point's 'On Point' Award
A prize of $250 and a certificate to be awarded annually and nominated by peers, to a final-year Master of Psychology (Organisational) student seen to be pushing boundaries in contribution and achievement.
Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment
Coltman Prize
Awarded to a higher degree by research (HDR) student undertaking research in the field of biomedical science. The Coltman Prize recognises outstanding ability and achievement. The prize is valued at $1500 and is awarded as a cash payment. To be eligible for the prize applicants must be enrolled in a higher degree by research program within the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment.
Australian Institute of Building (AIB) Victorian Chapter Postgraduate Award
Awarded to the postgraduate student who achieves the highest weighted average mark at the completion of S792 Master of Construction Management (Professional) and demonstrated active engagement in university life and enthusiasm for making a difference in the construction industry. The award consists of a $200 cash prize plus one year of Associate Membership of the Australian Institute of Building.
Graduate Making Architecture Award
An award of up to $500 of the School of Architecture and Built Environment workshop services for use during enrolment to be made annually to a first year commencing Master of Architecture student who has demonstrated outstanding achievement including their model making skills associated their final year Deakin undergraduate design unit SRD364 Architecture Design Studio 06: Superstudio.
Graham Treloar Research Prize
Named in honour of Professor Graham Treloar a prize of $500 is awarded annually to the most outstanding HDR student publication in relation to embodied energy and sustainability.
Russell John Madin Award for Design Excellence
The Architecture Award for Design Excellence is awarded to a postgraduate student in the Master of Architecture who has shown exceptional design skills during the course of their studies in design studio units (SRD prefix).
Thomson Hay Landscape Architects Regional Landscape Award
An award of $500 is made annually to the student who achieves the highest aggregate of marks in the course S703 Master of Landscape Architecture in a calendar year for an assignment that demonstrates a solid comprehension of the landscape architecture discipline in regional contexts.
School of Engineering Postgraduate Award
An award of $500 will be presented to the highest performing student enrolled in the School of Engineering in the following categories.
- The student who has achieved the highest WAM (Weighted Average Mark) upon completion of a postgraduate degree
- The student who has achieved outstanding academic achievement in SEN720 Project Implementation and Evaluation.
PSM Applied Rock Engineering Outstanding Student Award
An award of $1500 to the student with the highest overall mark in unit SEN727 Applied Rock Engineering.
Dronesec Prize for Technical Leadership
An award of $500 and $300 runner-up, presented to a postgraduate or undergraduate student demonstrating a high degree of Technical Leadership in the final year industry capstone program.
LOKE Digital Prize for Technical Leadership
An award of $500 and $300 runner-up, presented to a postgraduate or undergraduate student demonstrating a high degree of Technical Leadership in the final year industry capstone program.
School of Information Technology Award - Coursework Research
Three awards of $500 each (1 per trimester) awarded to the student enrolled in SIT724 Research Project B (Thesis) with the best paper in internal publication.
Based on quality of the research work, and associated artefacts, presented in research report and/or internal publication.
School of Information Technology Award – Postgraduate
An award of $500 presented to high performing students enrolled in a School of Information Technology Masters course in each of the following categories:
The recipients will have achieved a weighted average mark of 75 or greater:
- Awarded to the student who has completed the Master of Information Technology or Master of Information Technology (Professional) and achieved the highest overall weighted average mark.
- Awarded to the student who has completed the Master of Cyber Security or Master of Cyber Security (Professional) and achieved the highest overall weighted average mark.
- Awarded to the student who has completed the Master of Data Analytics, the Master of Data Science, Master of Data Science or Master of Data Science (Professional) and achieved the highest overall weighted average mark.
- Awarded to the student who has completed the Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence or the Master of Applied Artificial Intelligence (Professional) and achieved the highest overall weighted average mark.
- Awarded to the student who has completed the Master of Information Technology Management or the Master of Information Technology Management (Professional) and achieved the highest overall weighted average mark.
School of Information Technology Award - Postgraduate Research
An award of $500 presented to the student enrolled in the School of Information Technology Higher Degree by Research course who has demonstrated the highest research and academic merit.
School of Information Technology Industry Project Award - Postgraduate
Three awards of $500 each (one per trimester) presented to students enrolled in a School of Information Technology postgraduate course who have completed SIT782 Team Project (B) - Execution and Delivery and demonstrated strong professional behaviours that align with the award criteria.
The award nomination will be recommended by the Academic Director (Industry Projects), the Manager, Industry Projects and the relevant Unit Chair. Nomination will be based on demonstration of exemplary professional practice, leadership and standards and/or exemplary technical innovation.
Transurban Prize for Innovation and Ingenuity
An award of $500 and $300 runner-up, presented to a postgraduate or undergraduate student demonstrating a high degree of Innovation and Ingenuity in the final year industry capstone program.
Head of School HDR Award
A prize of $1000 is awarded annually to a postgraduate research student in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences who has demonstrated outstanding achievement and research endeavour. The successful recipient must be currently enrolled and have completed between 12 and 24 months of their candidature on a full time equivalent basis. Recipients can receive the Head of School HDR Award only once in their candidature.
Rex Williamson Prize
A prize of $5,000 and a certificate is awarded to the highest achieving PhD student enrolled within the Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment or Institute of Frontier Materials whose research involves a significant component of chemistry. The prize shall be awarded on the basis of demonstrated research potential and academic merit. Applicants are expected to have completed an equivalent of two years full-time candidature and are to be currently enrolled in their third year of candidature. Recipients can only receive the Rex Williamson prize once.
Rowe Scientific Scholarship
The Rowe Scientific Scholarship has been established to support a Deakin University student who has completed their bachelor’s degree and who is enrolled full-time in a chemistry or chemistry related honours degree or the Masters of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, where the Masters project involves chemistry. The Rowe Scientific Scholarship recognises demonstrated academic excellence in chemistry or a chemistry related area and is valued at $5000 (or if two equally meritorious candidates are identified, $2500 each). Further information on the application process can be obtained by emailing hos-les@deakin.edu.au.