Promoting world-class excellence and chievement through The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education

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" The rigour with which the eventual winners are chosen is quite unparalleled. As a result, The Queen’s Anniversary Prizes make a powerful statement about the sheer excellence that our academic institutions regularly deliver.
Professor Sir Graeme Davies, Vice-Chancellor, University of London
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The Prizes

 

The Queen's Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education 

The Prizes are a biennial award scheme which is within the UK’s national honours system.  As such they are the UK’s most prestigious form of national recognition open to a UK academic or vocational institution.  The honour is distinctive in recognising the institution rather than an individual or team. The scheme was established in 1993 with the approval of The Queen and all-party support in Parliament.

All eligible universities and colleges in the UK are invited to enter the biennial rounds of the scheme.  The assessment process is overseen by the Awards Council of the Trust which makes the final recommendations which are submitted to the Prime Minister for advice to The Queen.  


The Awards Ceremony at Buckingham Palace 

The awards are presented every two years by The Queen, with The Duke of Edinburgh, in recognition of work by universities and colleges which is judged to be of outstanding excellence.  The Trust is charged by the Palace with the duty of organising and managing the scheme, which is run independently of government.  Eight rounds of the scheme have so far been completed.  The ninth round – “The Diamond Jubilee Round” – will be held in 2010-2012.