UTS Prize Conditions of Award 

1. Prize Name

Dean’s Merit List for Academic Excellence in Science

2. Purpose

The Dean's Merit List for Academic Excellence in Science was established in 1993 and was designed to recognise the outstanding academic performance of science students from our undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

3. Value and Benefit

3.1 Number of Recipients

The award is presented each year in each of the following discipline areas, with one undergraduate and one postgraduate recipient per area.:

  • Biotechnology
  • Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Forensic Science
  • Mathematical Sciences
  • Medical Science
  • Physics and Quantum Technology
  • Food Science

3.2 Benefit/s to Recipient

The award consists of a certificate and it will be recorded on the academic transcript of the student.

3.3 Payment of benefit/s

A certificate of award will be presented to the Recipient at the Science Scholarship and Prize Giving Ceremony.

4. Eligibility criteria

The Recipient must:

  • meet the eligibility criteria of the Dean’s List in Science in the year for which the award is made.

5. Recipient Selection Criteria

  • The student must achieve the highest Weighted Average Mark (WAM) in their discipline area for the academic year.
  • The WAM for each student will be calculated according to the selection criteria of the Dean’s List in Science.
  • The discipline area is determined by the course area of named Science courses or by the Science major area in the Bachelor of Science or Master of Science course groups.
  • In the event that two or more eligible students have the same highest aggregate mark in a discipline area, the following criteria will be considered:
    • Overall performance in discipline related subjects.

6. Selection

  • The Dean's Merit List in Academic Excellence is compiled at the end of each academic year once final grades have been processed and the Dean’s List in Science is finalised.
  • The recipients will be identified according to the eligibility and recipient selection criteria as provided in clauses 4 and 5;
  • In the event that two or more eligible students have the same highest final mark in a discipline area, a selection committee chaired by the dean (or nominee) together with a minimum of two (2) people will select a recipient based on the specified selection criteria in clause 5.
  • The nominated recipients will then be formally approved or declined by Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning). 

7. Other conditions

N/A

8. Funding

8.1 Internal funding: N/A

8.2 External funding: N/A

9. Roles and Responsibilities

9.1 Owning Faculties/Units: Faculty of Science

9.2 Managing Faculties/Units: Faculty of Science

10. Publication of Conditions of Award

On approval, the Conditions of Award will be published on the Faculty of Science website.

11. Document review

The formal review date for this document is by the end of 2029.

12. Approval

Endorsement from all stakeholders listed at clause 9 must be sought before final approval. Approval must be in accordance with the Scholarships and Prizes Policy and UTS Standing Delegations of Authority.

Endorsed by: Scott Chadwick

Title: Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning)

Date: 2 July 2026

Approved by: Valery Combes

Title: Chair, Science Faculty Board

Date: 9 July 2026

Faculty Board: Resolved SciFB 26/05 2026.43