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UCL Education Awards recognise staff making outstanding contributions to the learning experience and success of our students. Exceptional individuals and teams receive the Provost's Education Award.
The annual Education Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of staff and students and their contributions to our learning community. They comprise:
- UCL Provost Education Awards (staff nominated by staff)
- Student Choice Awards (run by Students’ Union UCL, with staff nominated by students)
- Academic Rep of the Year Awards (Reps nominated by students and staff)
While the Student Choice Awards focus on rewarding excellence as experienced by students, UCL Provost Education Awards and Faculty Education Awards recognise the work of colleagues that may be less visible to students – work that has enabled excellent practice or facilitated innovation in teaching and learning.
This includes recognising the work of postgraduate students who teach and Professional Services staff who support students' learning.
2026 Education Awards
We are now inviting nominations for our 2026 Awards! Nominate your colleagues who have gone above and beyond to support our students and their education this year.
Please note that you will nominate via your department for consideration at faculty level. Faculties will submit the Faculty Education Award winners to the UCL Provost’s Education Awards panel. Check with your faculty or VP office for deadlines and nomination processes. Nominations from individuals sent directly to Moira Paganelli will not be considered.
Closing date for nominations from faculties and VP offices: Friday 13 March 2026, by 4pm.
Please read the answers to frequently asked questions below and contact Moira Paganelli if you have any questions.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is eligible for a UCL Education Award?
The awards are open to any member of staff or postgraduate student who teaches or supports learning.
- What are the categories of award?
Our categories align with our ambitions for Education Excellence.
- Innovating: with a particular interest in nominations that show evidence of new, rigorous ways that combine education and cutting-edge research.
- Enhancing belonging: supporting diversity and creating a sense of community for students, and between students and staff.
- Improving the student experience: through improved infrastructure or processes that enhance the teaching and learning experience.
- Celebrating education: practices that celebrate teaching and learning, and staff who teach and support teaching.
- Impactful student partnership: focusing on engaging and impactful partnerships between students and staff.
- What kind of practices win awards?
The UCL Education Awards recognise outstanding work that enhances learning and improves student outcomes or experience. Nominations should give clear evidence of how practice has led to change and improvement.
- How are winners chosen?
The nominations put forward by faculties and professional services will be considered by the UCL Provost’s Education Awards panel, who expect to award one winner and one runner-up in each category.
- What are the criteria for awards?
Nominations will be assessed with consideration given to the context of the nominees’ career stage and role. They will be assessed in terms of:
- sustainability of impact beyond the immediate work carried out to ensure that maximum benefit can be gained from the work.
- clarity of evidence of impact on creating an inclusive education and student experience commensurate with the nominee’s context.
- benefit to UCL student learning and support.
- What is the nomination process?
Nominations will be made within departments or similar units and will then be submitted for consideration at faculty level. Faculties will submit the Faculty Education Award winners to the UCL Provost’s Education Awards panel.
Faculties and VP Offices can submit a maximum of three nominations in any one category and up to seven nominations in total. These may be team or individual nominations, but there should be no more than five individual or five team nominations.
Nominations should be no more than 300 words, with the key evidence bullet-pointed, detailing:
- the work carried out
- the nominee’s contribution to the work
- evidence of sustainable impact of the work on an inclusive education and student experience.
- How do I show a nominee's work has sustained impact?
Please note that this is not a definitive checklist, or the only way to demonstrate impact. We suggest that nominations consider the following three areas.
1. Timescale of impact
- How long has this initiative been running?
- Can you show that it has worked well over time, across different cohorts or academic years? Think about data from surveys, feedback discussed in departmental meetings, or other examples that show the difference it has made.
2. Areas of impact
- Where do you see the biggest positive changes?
- How has this become part of everyday practice in your area? For example: is it now built into the curriculum, has it influenced departmental policy or processes, or changed how students experience lectures, labs or other activities?
3. Breadth and depth of impact
- Who is benefiting from this work? Consider the number of students, staff, modules, programmes, or even departments involved.
- Has anyone else picked up or adapted your approach?
- Have others been able to continue the project? This could include colleagues in your department, other faculties, or even external dissemination through papers, blogs or presentations.
- When will the winners be announced?
Winners will be announced during a celebration event on 10 June 2026.
Previous award winners
Congratulations to all.