Arden University presents several prizes at each graduation celebration to recognise and reward student achievement.
Listed below are the prizes currently approved by Arden's Academic Board.
The Academic Board and the Progression and Awards Board, make the final decision over the presentation of any of the prizes.
Our nominated prize categories
Eligibility
This prize will be open to all students who have completed and been awarded a degree from an Arden University programme. The prize will go to the student who, in the sole opinion of the Progression and Awards Board (PAB), has achieved the greatest academic success while demonstrating the values of Arden University.
Eligible students must have completed and passed their intended award and meet at least one of the following criteria. Nominations can be from the student, from a fellow student, or by a member of Arden University staff.
Criteria
- Were unable to go to university as originally hoped due to finances
- Has demonstrated that their work has benefited the wider community
- Has participated in extra- curricular activities
- Has balanced studying whilst working full-time
Prize
A certificate and £150 (one hundred- and fifty-pounds sterling) cash prize will be awarded to the chosen winner of the Vice Chancellors’ Prize, subject to these terms.
Eligibility
This prize will be open to all students, who have completed and been awarded a degree from an Arden University programme. The prize will go to the student who, in the opinion of both the Progression and Awards Board (PAB) and the respective Faculty Dean, has achieved the greatest academic success in the student’s Faculty, while demonstrating the values of Arden University.
Students must have completed and passed their intended award and meet at least one of the following criteria. Nominations can be from the student, from a fellow student, or by a member of Arden University staff.
Criteria
- Has made a significant contribution to their programme, school or faculty
- Has demonstrated resilience and determination to thrive during their time at Arden University
- Has completed their studies despite facing barriers to their learning
Prize
A certificate and £150 (one hundred- and fifty-pounds sterling) cash prize will be awarded to each chosen winner of the Dean’s prize, subject to these terms.
Eligibility
This prize will be open to all students who have completed and been awarded a degree from an Arden University programme. This prize recognises the single or collective of students who have overcome a personal challenge and achieved success at Arden University. Students must have completed and passed their intended degree programme and meet one of the following criteria. Nominations can be from the student, from a fellow student, or by a member of Arden University staff.
Students must demonstrate an “achievement in the face of adversity”. This might be in the form of:
- a single or multiple of achievements attained in the face of adversities
- an adversity that began before commencing studies or commenced during studies
- a physical, mental, social, financial, familial, emotional, or spiritual adversity
- an achievement regardless of grade
Where “achievement in the face of adversity” is shared, both students should receive the prize.
Prize
A certificate and £100 (one hundred pounds sterling) cash prize will be awarded to each chosen winner of the Katie Aubrey Prize, subject to these terms.
FAQs
How do I achieve a nominated prize?
Nominated prizes play an important part in recognising student achievement through the quality of contribution to other aspects of university life which is not based on grades alone. Before each graduation ceremony, a PAB will be identified as the final prize PAB where all nominations will be presented to confirm the final prize winners.
Who can make a nomination?
Nominations can be from the student, a fellow student, or a member of Arden University staff.
How do I nominate a fellow student or self-nominate?
A nomination form will be available from here, during the nomination period.
What rules do I need to follow?
When completing a nomination please ensure the following:
- The criteria for the prizes has been met
- Nomination form must be completed in full
- Nomination form received by the deadline date
- If you are nominating a student, you must have their consent to do so
Will I be informed if someone I nominated was successful/unsuccessful?
You will only be informed if your nomination was successful and your nominated student gives us consent to share this information.
Will I be informed if my self-nomination was successful/unsuccessful?
You will only be informed if your self-nomination was successful.
How will I be notified if I am a prize winner?
If you are a prize winner, you will be contacted via email ahead of the forthcoming graduation ceremony.
How will the prizes be awarded?
Usually, if you are a prize winner, you will collect your certificate on stage at the graduation ceremony. Your name will also be listed in the graduation brochure and on our graduation webpage (subject to consent). The cash prize will be sent separately via BACS.
What if you cannot attend the ceremony?
If you cannot attend the graduation ceremony your certificate will normally be posted to your home address after the graduation ceremony. The cash prize will be sent separately via BACS. Your name will also be listed in the graduation brochure and our graduation webpage (subject to consent).
Nomination deadline dates
Berlin Graduation Spring 2025 | |
Nomination opens | February 2025 |
Nomination closes | March 2025 |
PAB deadline | TBC |
Our Academic prize categories
Eligibility
This prize will be open to all postgraduate students who have completed and been awarded a degree from an Arden University programme. The prize is made to the postgraduate student with the highest classification mark across the university.
- If more than one student has the same score, the student with the highest score on the final project/dissertation shall be given the prize.
- If that does not discern between candidates, nomination of one student is at the discretion of the Arden University.
Any student who is awarded this category cannot be awarded the Arden Achiever prize.
Prize
A Certificate and £100 (one hundred pounds sterling) cash prize will be awarded to the chosen winner of the Arden Best Performing Postgraduate Student, subject to these terms.
Eligibility
This prize will be open to all undergraduate students who have completed and been awarded a degree from an Arden University programme. The prize is made to the undergraduate student with the highest classification mark across the university.
- If more than one student has the same score, the student with the highest score on the final project/dissertation shall be given the prize.
- If that does not discern between candidates, nomination of one student is at the discretion of the institution.
Any student who is awarded this category cannot be awarded the Arden Achiever prize.
Prize
A Certificate and £100 (one hundred pounds sterling) cash prize will be awarded to the chosen winner of the Arden Best Performing Undergraduate Student, subject to these terms.
Eligibility
This prize will be open to all undergraduate students who have completed and been awarded a degree from an Arden University programme. The prize is made to the undergraduate student with the highest classification mark across a school (one undergraduate and one postgraduate per school).
- If more than one student has the same score, the student with the highest score on the final project/dissertation shall be given the prize
- If that does not discern between candidates, nomination of one student is at the discretion of the institution.
Any student who is awarded this category cannot be awarded the Arden best performing student prize.
Prize
A Certificate and £50 (fifty pounds sterling) cash prize will be awarded to the chosen winner of the Arden Achiever Undergraduate Student Prize, subject to these terms.
Eligibility
This prize will be open to all postgraduate students who have completed and been awarded a degree from an Arden University programme. The prize is made to a Postgraduate student with the highest classification mark across a School.
- If more than one student has the same score, the student with the highest score on the final project/dissertation shall be given the prize
- If that does not discern between candidates, nomination of one student is at the discretion of the institution.
Any student who is awarded this category cannot be awarded the Arden best performing student prize.
Prize
A Certificate and £50 (fifty pounds sterling) cash prize will be awarded to the chosen winner of the Arden Achiever Postgraduate Student Prize, subject to these terms.
Eligibility/ Criteria
This award is open to all students who are enrolled on and have completed a British Psychological Society accredited programme at Arden University.
This award is for the student who has achieved the highest overall classification mark in a British Psychological Society accredited degree programme at Arden University.
- The award must go to the student with the highest overall score across all British Psychological Society Accredited Programmes.
- If more than one student has the same score, the student with the highest score on the research project should be nominated.
- If that does not discern between candidates, nomination of one student is at the discretion of the institution.
Award
A signed letter of congratulations, £30 (thirty pounds sterling) voucher prize; and a year's free graduate membership will be awarded to the chosen winner of the Undergraduate British Psychology Society Award, subject to these terms.
Eligibility Criteria
This prize will be open to all undergraduate students who have completed and been awarded a degree from an Arden University programme at each international partner institution. The prize is made to the undergraduate student with the highest classification mark across the university.
- If more than one student has the same score, the student with the highest score on the final project/dissertation shall be given the prize.
- If that does not discern between candidates, nomination of one student is at the discretion of the institution. Any student who is awarded this category cannot be awarded the Arden Achiever or Best Performing Student prize.
Prize
A Certificate and £100 will be awarded to the chosen winner of the Arden Pro Vice Chancellor (International) Award Undergraduate, subject to these terms.
Eligibility/Criteria
This prize will be open to all postgraduate students who have completed and been awarded a degree from an Arden University programme at each international partner institution. The prize is made to the postgraduate student with the highest classification mark across the university.
- If more than one student has the same score, the student with the highest score on the final project/dissertation shall be given the prize.
- If that does not discern between candidates, nomination of one student is at the discretion of the institution. Any student who is awarded this category cannot be awarded the Arden Achiever or Best Performing Student prize.
Prize
A Certificate and £100 will be awarded to the chosen winner of the Arden Pro Vice Chancellor (International) Award Undergraduate, subject to these terms.
FAQs
How do I achieve an Academic prize?
Normally approved prizes are based on academic merit and final classifications. Students who meet the criteria for these prizes will be identified during Arden University’s PAB. Students identified who meet the prize criteria will be added to a shortlist from that PAB period. Before each graduation ceremony, a PAB will be identified as the final prize PAB where all shortlisted students will be presented to confirm the final prize winners.
How will I be notified if I am a prize winner?
If you are a prize winner, you will be contacted via email ahead of the forthcoming graduation ceremony.
How will the prizes be awarded?
Usually, if you are a prize winner, you will collect your certificate on stage at the graduation ceremony. Your name will also be listed in the graduation brochure and our graduation webpage (subject to consent). The cash prize will be sent separately via BACS after the ceremony.
What if you cannot attend the ceremony?
If you cannot attend the graduation ceremony your certificate will normally be posted to your home address after the graduation ceremony. The cash prize will be sent separately via BACS after the ceremony. Your name will also be listed in the graduation brochure and our graduation webpage (subject to consent).
By accepting your graduation prize, you consent to your contact details being used by us to contact you in connection with the prize. We will at all times process your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which is available on our website (www.arden.ac.uk/privacy-policy) or upon request, which is compliant with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 both as amended, extended or re-enacted from time to time.
Where there is a law (including but not limited to sanctions) or regulation prohibiting the provision of the prize to you from us, the applicable law/regulation shall prevail and we will not provide the prize to you.
You are not eligible for a prize and we are under no obligation to award a prize, if there are any outstanding monies that you owe to Arden University and these have not been paid to Arden University 6 weeks prior to your graduation ceremony.
It is your responsibility to ensure that, if you are eligible under these terms, you are able to use the prize; this includes being able to use the prize in your country of residence. No alternative prize will be provided by us.
You are fully responsible for and shall indemnify us for and in respect of any tax (including but not limited to income tax and National Insurance contributions) you are required to pay in relation to your participation in the prize
We accept no liability for any costs incurred by a winner for accepting a prize.
We will not be liable for any intellectual property infringement that arises from, or in connection with, the prize and a nominee’s participation in the prize.
The prize can be applied at the same time as other offers run by us. The prize is given at our sole discretion and our decision is final.
We reserve the right to withdraw or amend the terms or the prize at any time.
You may not transfer any of your rights under these terms to any other individual or entity.
Nobody else has any rights under these terms. These terms are between you and us. No other person shall have any rights to enforce any of their provisions.
We may transfer our rights and obligations under these terms to another organisation. We will always tell you in writing if this happens and we will ensure that the transfer will not affect your rights under our relationship. If you are unhappy with the transfer you may contact us to terminate the relationship within 30 days of us telling you about it.
We are not liable to you in respect of any claims or losses arising from these terms and the prize. The above limitation of liability shall not apply to any claims that relate to death or personal injury through our negligence.
We are not liable for any loss or damage arising out of your use of the prize, or any interception of the prize once distributed.
If we delay in carrying out our obligations to you under these terms caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, then we will not be liable to you (or any other person) for the consequences of that delay.
If we delay in enforcing any of these terms, we may still enforce any of them later. If we do not insist immediately that you meet your obligations under these terms, or if we delay in taking steps against you in respect of you breaking these terms that will not mean that you do not have to do those things and it will not prevent us from taking steps against you at a later date.
Each of the provisions in these terms operates separately. If a court finds any part of these terms unlawful, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
These terms are governed exclusively by English law and both you and us irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts for any claim arising under or in connection with these terms and any non-contractual obligation arising out of or in connection with them.
Monitoring
An annual report summarising prizes awarded is made to Academic Board each year. This summarises all prizes awarded in that year, new and discontinued prizes.