Scholarship

University recognition of academic excellence

University Academic Excellence Awards

What awards are available

This section helps you understand the awards available for academic excellence, who’s eligible, and how students are selected for each award at Adelaide University.

Awarded to students with exceptional academic performance in a Bachelor or Bachelor Honours degree.

Recognises the highest-achieving graduates each year.
Recorded on your academic transcript and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS).

This award acknowledges outstanding performance in both undergraduate and postgraduate coursework programs.

Suitable for students with excellent results in their degree.
Also recorded on your academic transcript and AHEGS.

This award recognises excellent academic performance for students who demonstrate strong results but do not meet criteria for the Medal or Commendation.

Available for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Also appears on your academic record.

How students are selected

Selection for each award is automatic and based on academic results — no separate application is required. The university identifies eligible students after final results are released.

Here’s how eligibility works for each award:

To be selected you must:

Have completed all degree requirements in a Bachelor or Bachelor Honours program.
Have at least 96 units of your degree completed at Adelaide University (excluding external credits).
Be in the top 0.5% of students in your College (or top 2% for certain legacy one-year Honours programs).
Achieve a Program GPA of 6.25 or higher.

Selection is based on your GPA relative to peers in your College:

Top 5% of students with sufficient units completed for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
You must have completed a minimum amount of study as follows:
- 48 units of your undergraduate program
- 50% of postgraduate program for Masters and Graduate Diplomas
- 100% of postgraduate program for Graduate Certificates

Students with strong performance are recognised if they:

Are within the top 15% of their College (excluding those eligible for a Chancellor’s Letter).
Have completed a minimum amount of study as follows:
- 48 units of your undergraduate program
- 50% of postgraduate program for Masters and Graduate Diplomas
- 100% of postgraduate program for Graduate Certificates

What happens after selection

Once eligible students are identified:

You receive a congratulatory email from the University.
Your award is officially recorded on your academic transcript and AHEGS.
University Medals are listed in graduation publications and presented at ceremonies.

Questions?

Contact the Coursework Scholarships and Prizes Office at prizes@adelaide.edu.au.