University Medal and academic prizes

The University Medal

University Medals are awarded annually at the discretion of the Academic Board (on the nomination of a School Board) to candidates who have completed the requirements of a Bachelor degree with first-class honours and who at all times have demonstrated a very high standard of academic achievement. Current University Medal criteria can be found under the Prizes and Medals Policy – Section 4 – University Medal.

Chancellor’s Medal

Where all PhD examiners comment on the outstanding nature of the thesis of a PhD candidate that they have examined, such a candidate may be eligible to receive special acclamation, known as The Chancellor’s Medal for Outstanding PhD Thesis. The Chancellor’s Medal may be awarded by Southern Cross University Council based on recommendation of The Dean, Graduate Studies and Academic Board. Current Chancellor’s Medal criteria can be found under the Prizes and Medals Policy – Section 5 – Chancellor’s Medal.

Academic prizes

Prizes are a merit-based award, based on specific criteria, which recognise and reward individual students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement. Prizes are offered by Schools and Campus for continuing and graduating students and are generously supported by private and public donors. If you wish to establish a prize at Southern Cross University, email prizes@scu.edu.au.

See Prizes Frequently Asked Questions for more information about the University Medal, Chancellor’s Medal, and academic prizes.

Only students admitted at Coffs Harbour campus are eligible to be considered. These prizes are presented at the annual Coffs Harbour campus prize-giving event.

Gairbraid Scholarship

  • Awarded to the most meritorious male or female school-leaver in their first year of a course at Southern Cross University (Coffs Harbour campus), who in their previous year gained their HSC from a public high school in the Coffs Harbour region.
  • Determined annually
  • Donated by the estate of Mrs Edith Maclean.

Jim Bloomfield Memorial Prize

Quota International of Coffs Harbour Prize

  • Awarded to a full-time student enrolled at the Coffs Harbour campus of Southern Cross University, who, if of sufficient merit, achieves the most distinguished results in their course of study. Merit will be determined by grade point average and evidence of an ongoing commitment to community service in the Coffs Harbour area.
  • $1000
  • Donated by Quota International of Coffs Harbour Inc.

The Yeates Prize

  • Awarded to the full-time student enrolled at the Coffs Harbour Campus of Southern Cross University, who, if of sufficient merit, achieves the most distinguished results in the first year of their course of study. Merit will be determined by grade point average.
  • $300
  • Donated by the estate of Mrs Marnie Yeates

Gnibi Indigenous Community Engagement Prize

  • Awarded to the graduating student from a course coordinated by Gnibi. The student must have demonstrated significant contributions to Indigenous Communities.
  • $500
  • Donated by the Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples

Gnibi Indigenous Support Prize

  • Awarded to an Indigenous graduate with the highest grade point average in their undergraduate course (excluding Honours).
  • $500
  • Donated by the Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples

Gnibi College Prize

ABC North Coast Cultural Diversity Prize

  • Awarded to the most outstanding graduating student in the Bachelor of Digital Media (3007084) as determined by the highest grade point average.
  • $200
  • Donated by ABC North Coast

Byron Writers Festival Prize for Bachelor of Arts majoring in Creative Writing

  • Awarded to the graduating student in Bachelor of Arts (3007099), majoring in Creative Writing who has achieved a course grade point average of 5.5 or above.
  • 12-month membership to Byron Writers Festival and a 1-day Byron Writers Festival pass
  • Donated by Byron Writers Festival

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) Award for Outstanding First Year Accounting Student

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) Award for Outstanding Second Year Accounting Student

Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ) Award for Outstanding Third Year Accounting Student

Coffs Harbour Rotary Club Prize

  • Awarded to the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts undergraduate student who has achieved the highest grade point average in the second year of study across Tourism, Events and Hospitality courses related courses whose permanent address is within the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area.
  • $1000
  • Donated by the Rotary Club of Coffs Harbour Incorporated

The CPA Australia Prize for the undergraduate accounting student achieving the highest mark in ACCT1002 Financial Accounting

The CPA Australia Prize for the undergraduate accounting student achieving the highest mark in ACCT2001 Taxation

  • Awarded the CPA Australia Prize for the undergraduate accounting student achieving the highest mark in ACCT2001 Taxation.
  • $300
  • Donated by CPA Australia

The CPA Australia Prize for the Undergraduate accounting student achieving the highest mark in ACCT3001 Advanced Taxation

Environmental Defender’s Office — Environmental Law Prize

Far North Coast Law Society Prize

Fred Herron Prize for Mediation

Jack Riley Prize for Commercial Law

Jeremy Buultjens Memorial Prize for Excellence in Economics

The Jones Framing Prize

  • Awarded to the student graduating from the Bachelor of Art and Design in the year the prize is offered. Winner to be chosen by the donor after viewing the Graduate Exhibition at Lismore campus.
  • Art framing to the value of $350
  • Donated by Jones Framing

Kaske Memorial Fellowship

  • Awarded to an outstanding graduate in the Bachelor of Art and Design (3007160) or Bachelor of Arts with Honours (3507034). Student must complete a written proposal.
  • $5000
  • Donated by John and Sheilagh Kaske

Kaske Prize — Year 1

  • Awarded to an outstanding student in their first year of study in the Bachelor of Art and Design (3007160). Selection is based on studio artwork and grades.
  • $500
  • Donated by John and Sheilagh Kaske

Kaske Prize — Year 2

  • Awarded to an outstanding student in second year of study in the Bachelor of Art and Design (3007160). Selection is based on studio artwork and grades.
  • $500
  • Donated by John and Sheilagh Kaske

Kaske Prize — Year 3

  • Awarded to the most outstanding third year Bachelor of Art and Design (3007160) student. Selection is based on studio artwork and grades. Selection is based on studio artwork and grades.
  • $2000
  • Donated by John and Sheilagh Kaske

Law Society of New South Wales Prize for Professional Conduct

Meredith Prize

  • Awarded to the Faculty of Business, Law and Arts graduating student with the most outstanding doctoral thesis in the discipline areas of Business or Management.
  • $2,000 and plaque
  • Donated by Emeritus Professor Meredith

National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA) Ignition Prize

  • Awarded to the graduating student who demonstrated the most professional development in their final year. Only available to graduating students exhibiting in the SCU Graduate Exhibition of the year the prize is offered.
  • Gallery Exhibition Space
  • Donated by National Association for the Visual Arts (NAVA)

New South Wales Bar Association Prize

Northern Rivers Community Gallery Prize

  • Awarded to a student with the most outstanding exhibited artwork or installation at the SCU Graduate Exhibition.
  • Exhibited in the gallery or space at Northern Rivers Community Gallery
  • Donated by Northern Rivers Community Gallery

Ray Balzer Prize for Criminal Law

Ross Reid Prize for Conveyancing

Southern Cross University Chancellor’s Art Prize

  • Awarded to the graduating Bachelor of Art and Design (3007160) student for an artwork in any medium exhibited at the Southern Cross University Graduate Exhibition and judged as demonstrating a high degree of artistic merit.
  • $3000
  • Donated by Office of the Chancellor, Southern Cross University

S+P Lawyers Prize

  • Awarded to the graduating student with the best academic performance in the Bachelor of Laws with Honours (3508002) as determined by the highest grade point average.
  • $300
  • Donated by S+P Lawyers

TNR Chartered Accountants Prize for Business and Accounting

  • Awarded to the graduating Bachelor of Accounting (3002107), Bachelor of Business (3002100) with Accounting major or Bachelor of Business and Enterprise (3007150) or Bachelor of Business (3007155) with Accounting Specialisation student with the highest overall course grade point average.
  • $250
  • Donated by Thomas Noble and Russell, Chartered Accountants.

Tony Pagotto Prize for Law Placement

UniSuper Prize (Superannuation and Retirement Planning)

UniSuper Prize (Principles of Financial Planning)

UniSuper Prize (Estate Planning)

WCA Chartered Accountants Prize for Financial Accounting

  • Awarded to the second year student admitted to the Bachelor of Accounting (3002107), Bachelor of Business (3002100) with Accounting major or Bachelor of Business and Enterprise (3007150)  or Bachelor of Business (3007155) with Accounting Specialisation student achieving the highest grade in the unit ACCT2002 - Financial Reporting.
  • $250
  • Donated by WCA Chartered Accountants.

The Bishop Druitt College Arts Education Prize

The Bishop Druitt College STEM Education Prize

The Bishop Druitt College Wellbeing Education Prize

Byron Writers Festival Prize for Associate Degree of Creative Writing

  • Awarded to the graduating student in Associate Degree of Creative Writing (2207005) who has achieved a course  grade point average of 5.5 or above.
  • 12-month membership to Byron Writers Festival and a 1-day Byron Writers Festival pass
  • Donated by Byron Writers Festival

The Early Childhood Outstanding Student of the Year

  • Awarded to the graduating early childhood education undergraduate student who has attained the highest course grade point average combined with an excellent professional experience report.
  • Early Childhood Australia membership
  • Donated by Early Childhood Australia (NSW) North Coast

The Primary English Teaching Association Australia English Excellence Award

Jetty Dive Centre Prize for Academic Excellence in Marine Science and Management

  • Awarded to he graduating student with the highest grade point average in the Bachelor of Science (Marine Systems) (3007291 or 3007004), the Bachelor of Marine Science and Management (3007157) or the combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Marine Science and Manage (3207274) courses with a GPA of 6.5 or above.
  • Voucher for diving/snorkelling services up to $250
  • Donated by Jetty Dive Centre

Lismore City Council Mayoral Prize for an Integrated Project topic relevant to Lismore City Council

Lismore City Council Mayoral Prize for Waste Related Studies

Prospectors Supplies Pty Ltd Prize

Faculty of Science and Engineering Prize for Excellence

  • Awarded to the graduating student with the highest grade point average in the Bachelor of Science (3007004  or 3007291), Bachelor of Engineering Systems (Honours) (3508001), Bachelor of Information Technology (3002111), Bachelor of Forest Science and Management (3004101), Bachelor of Environmental Science (3004100), Bachelor of Marine Science and Management (3007157) or the combined Bachelor of Environmental Science/Bachelor of Marine Science and Management (3207274) courses.
  • $100
  • Donated by the Faculty of Science and Engineering

Steel Reinforcement Institute of Australia (SRIA) Award for Excellence in Reinforced Concrete Design

The Australian Computer Society Medal

  • Awarded to the graduating student for highest academic achievement over the entire ACS-accredited Bachelor of Information Technology (3002111) who normally resides in Queensland.
  • $1000 and a Medallion
  • Donated by Australian Computer Society.

The Brushett Chemistry Prize

The Reichelt-Brushett Prize for Excellence in Aquatic Pollution Studies Prize

VRM Biologik Academic Prize (Bachelor)

  • Awarded to the most meritorious graduating student in the Bachelor of Science (Regenerative Agriculture) (3007004) as determined by the highest grade point average.
  • $10,000
  • Donated by VRM Biologik

VRM Biologik Academic Prize (Graduate Certificate)

  • Awarded to the most meritorious graduating student in the Graduate Certificate in Regenerative Agriculture (2125105) as determined by the highest grade point average.
  • $10,000
  • Donated by VRM Biologik

Australian Podiatry Association Graduate Prize

  • Awarded to the graduating student from the Bachelor of Podiatry (3007308) with the highest academic achievement grade point average calculated over the entire course
  • Australian Podiatry Association professional development voucher
  • Donated by The Australian Podiatry Association

Australian Psychological Society Limited (APS) Prize

  • Awarded to the graduating student from Bachelor of Psychological Science with Honours (3507245) who achieved the highest overall performance in the degree.
  • 12 months Student or Associate Membership of the APS and an invitation to present a poster at the APS Congress.
  • Donated by The Australian Psychological Society Ltd.

Darrel Chapman Memorial Prize

  • Awarded to the graduating student in the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science (3005113) with the highest grade point average calculated over the whole course
  • $150
  • Donated by the Faculty of Health

Harry Shand Memorial Prize

  • Awarded to the Bachelor of Nursing (3005105) graduate with an interest in Community Health Nursing as well as high academic performance over the duration of the course
  • $300
  • Donated by the Far North Division, Australian Dental Association, NSW Branch

Occupational Therapy Australia Prize for Academic Excellence

Osteopathy Australia Prize for the Graduate Osteopath of the Year

  • The Osteopathy Australia prize awarded to the graduating student from the Master of Osteopathic Medicine (1207235) with the highest involvement in professional activities and success in their studies.
  • $500 cash prize and up to 18 months free membership of Osteopathy Australia once registered with AHPRA.
  • Donated by Osteopathy Australia

Positive Student Engagement Award

  • Awarded to the student who has contributed positively to the student culture of the SCU osteopathic program
  • $500 cash prize
  • Donated by Osteopathy Australia partner, Flexeze

Speech Pathology Australia Prize

  • Awarded to the graduating Bachelor of Speech Pathology (3007306) student with outstanding academic achievement and/or excellent clinical achievement throughout the course with demonstrated community engagement.
  • 12 months ordinary membership
  • Donated by Speech Pathology Australia