The Principal's Medal
The Principal's Medal is an award made to students who have displayed exceptional endeavour and achievement during their time at St Andrews.
The Principal's Medal is open to students in any discipline. In addition to high academic standards, the achievements considered include sporting, musical, charitable, or other activities, or a combination of some or all of these. Each award will carry a value of £2500 in addition to a specially produced medal.
Up to three awards are available each year, although the award will only be made if there are candidates of exceptional merit. The award was inaugurated in 2009 with a gift from three anonymous donors and is supported by Ede and Ravenscroft, London's oldest tailor and robe maker.
Professor Mapstone with Simone Korsgaard Jensen, a Principal's Medal winner in June 2023.
Call for nominations
- Calls for undergraduate nominations are sent in December, with a reminder sent at the beginning of January each year.
- Call for postgraduate nominations are sent in April, with a reminder at the beginning of June each year.
Award process
Student nominations must be made by a member of University staff.
To be eligible for nomination, undergraduate or postgraduate students must be in their final year of study. Self-nominations will not be accepted.
Further information is available from Dr Fiona Thompson (fiona.thompson@st-andrews.ac.uk) the Executive Officer to the Principal’s Office, College Gate. To make a nomination, nominators are required to complete the Principals medal application form (Word) with details of the achievement or endeavour.
In addition to the application form, a copy of the student’s CV, a copy of their academic transcript and the names of two independent referees (this should not include the nominator, but if appropriate, one external referee is permitted) should be forwarded by email to Dr Fiona Thompson (fiona.thompson@st-andrews.ac.uk) with the subject ‘The Principal’s Medal’.
Selection process
The Principal chooses the winner with recommendations if necessary from the panel:
- The Master of the United College
- The Deputy Principal
- The Vice-Principal for Education (Proctor)
- The Vice-Principal for Research, Collections and Innovation
- The President of the Students' Association
- A Senate Assessor from the University Court
Following the closing date, the Executive Officer to the Principal’s Office will request references for the short-listed nominees. Applicants may be called for interview if necessary.
Successful students and nominators will be notified in the lead up to the appropriate graduation diet and the medal will be awarded at an appropriate graduation ceremony. Feedback on unsuccessful nominations will not be given.
The winner, or winners, will be required to write a short report about themselves and express their thanks for the award. This will be shared with the generous donors who make the award possible.
