Why you should apply for the 2025 Tagretjobs Undergraduate of the Year Awards

Before you apply for the 2025 Targetjobs Undergraduate of the Year Awards, gain some feedback and insights of UCL finalists of the previous awards ceremony and the general application process.

As we approach the final few weeks of Autumn term of the 2024/25 academic year, we would like to reflect on the excellent achievement of ten of UCL’s students in reaching the finals of the 2024 Targetjobs Undergraduate of the Year Awards. The Targetjobs Maths, Physics and Economics Undergraduate of the Year Award winner Shirom Aggarwal recently spoke to us with his insights, and some of UCL’s finalists in other award categories have also shared thoughts with us. Read below to find out more about their application processes, what they discussed in their applications, and experiences of the awards and wider UCL experience:

Danila Kozlov, AI & Robotics Undergraduate of the Year Finalist:

It was a huge honour to be one of the 10 finalists for the Robotics and AI category of this year’s UGOY. This award is the culmination of my numerous interdisciplinary undertakings, specifically the autonomous robotic construction project I worked on as part of the application process. Currently pursuing a Robotics and AI MEng from UCL as one of the Global Undergraduate Scholars, I merge my passion for STEM and servant leadership to work on projects ranging from the Robotic Orchestra at UPenn to linguistic analysis of AI-generated poetry, and community-based initiatives.

Reflecting on the application process and this year as a whole, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity this award has given me to meet hundreds of outstanding individuals from all around the world discovering my passion in the process.

Emrullah Yiğit, Celebrating Resilience Undergraduate of the Year Finalist:

Emerging from Turkiye, and currently studying Economics and Business at University College London, I have woven a narrative steeped in resilience. The loss of my father in 2016 set me on a path of resilience, strengthened through my mother's unwavering support.

The application process for the Targetjobs UK Undergraduate of the Year Awards was challenging, rewarding, and enlightening. It let me reflect on my journey and challenges I have overcome. Outside of academia, I’ve explored finance through internships and tutoring, and will lead the Turkish Society next year, advocating for diversity and innovation.

Honoured to be a finalist among the top UK students, I see this recognition as a testament to the perseverance and strength that has shaped my journey. The award ceremony was fantastic, featuring wonderful people from my sponsor company Rolls-Royce in an excellent venue.

To future applicants, share your story, honour your achievements, and value your resilience.

Xander Mills, Engineering Undergraduate of the Year Finalist:

Being recognised as an Engineering Undergraduate of the Year finalist is a tremendous honour. The application process was both challenging and enjoyable, featuring some interesting and thought-provoking questions in engineering. I used the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure my responses, which helped me clearly demonstrate my experiences and achievements. This approach allowed me to include my past projects, knowledge from my studies, and extracurricular activities such as my involvement with the UCL Gliding Club.

After being shortlisted, the LinkedIn group has been invaluable in connecting me with other undergraduates around the UK, giving a real sense of community to the awards. This recognition stands out on my CV, and the support from the Targetjobs team has been exceptional, making the entire experience even more rewarding. I'd highly recommend anybody considering applying to give it a try!

Richard Beardshall, Celebrating Neurodiverse Talent Undergraduate of the Year Finalist:

The application process was like a standard job application. I submitted a form regarding why I should win the award, and what I could bring to BNY Mellon (the sponsor for my award). Then for the next stage, I did a 20 min presentation about myself to 3 BNY Mellon recruiters.

The award show was pretty fun. Free drinks from 12pm, and pretty decent food. Sue Perkins was the celebrity speaker, and the announcer of the awards.

Devayan Patel, AI and Robotics Undergraduate of the Year Finalist:

I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to talk to some in-house experts at Ocado throughout the interview process as well as meeting the other amazing finalists in the Awards Ceremony. I've learnt so much about the intersection of these industries and the innovative ways in which Ocado operate.

Part of the application process was comprised of a presentation within the technical interview. I chose to discuss my Term 1 project on a gecko robot using dry adhesive nanotech materials. It was an honour to present this project to industry experts at Ocado.

The Awards Ceremony itself was a thoroughly enjoyable day, giving us the chance not only to meet other finalists, but also network with people across many different industries. 

If you're considering applying for any of these awards next year, my advice: find the award which best resonates with your interests, go ahead and apply, then see what happens next. Best of luck!