The Royal Anniversary Trust

The Prizes are open to universities and multidisciplinary colleges in the UK. Institutions are invited to make a single entry, based on an aspect of their work or on the full range of their educational provision. Every entry then undergoes a series of rigorous independent and external assessments. These are undertaken by national and international experts across education, business and public life. Comment is also sought from departments of state, funding councils, professional organisations, learned societies and other expert sources.

Each entry must satisfy the criteria set for the Round. In Round 8 and previous Rounds these have centred on:

Achievement of excellence: what exactly makes the submitted work excellent?
Value and benefit to the institution: how has the work specifically benefited the institution?
Value and benefit to the wider community: what impact has the work had at a local, regional, national or international level?
New developments and different approaches: how is the work innovative and original?
Validation: what compelling evidence exists to confirm the institution's opinion of its work?

The Awards Council selects Prizewinners from a shortlist and presents its choice to the Prime Minister for advice to The Queen. Prizes are awarded to an institution rather than to an individual or team.

"The Queen's Anniversary Prizes shine a unique and important light on the most exciting success stories in the UK's universities and colleges today." Lesley King-Lewis, Director, Man Group plc Charitable Trust

Entry documentation for the 2011 (Ninth) Round will be sent out to Vice Chancellors and Principals in October 2010.

For information only, as the Round is now completed, the entry documentation for the 2009 (Eighth) Round is available as a downloadable Acrobat pdf file. Click on the link to the right to download the file. The documentation contains the following information: