The Chaplaincy Prize
This prize has been established through the generous donation of monies received through the University of St Andrews American Foundation. Awarded each year, the prize will be open to all current students at the University of St Andrews and based around a particular theme for an original piece of creative work or essay.
The theme for the 2025-26 award is 'Making a Difference'.
Prize award: £250
This year’s theme reflects on impact – the impact others have on us, or we have on others; the impact of faith or spirituality upon our community; the significant difference even small things make in a troubled world.
What we are looking for is one of the following:
- An essay (750 words maximum)
- Poems, hymns, songs, or a short story (750 words maximum)
- A focussed/practical project, which is documented and reported (750 words maximum).
It must:
- clearly reflect the theme of ‘Making a Difference’
- contain a faith/spiritual element or show spiritual growth/change.
Other optional elements:
Your entry can include mixed media, such as photos/images (10 max) or video content (5 minutes max).
It can be a short report or piece of written work on something you have already been working on during your studies or over the summer break.
The winners will be decided by a committee formed from the Chaplaincy team who will assess applications and choose a prize-winner.
To enter, submit your entry directly by email attachment in either Word or PDF format, to chaplaincy@st-andrews.ac.uk, or in person to the Chaplaincy, Mansefield, 3 St Mary’s Place, St Andrews.
Closing date: 5pm on Friday 30 January 2026.
