Academic Prizes
There are two types of academic prizes – College Prizes come from central funds and School Prizes are funded by individual schools and institutions. If you have been awarded a School Prize, you may find more information about it on your School webpages.
Most College Prizes are funded from historic endowments to Queen Mary University of London - funds that have been donated for the specific purpose of awarding merit-based prizes to students in accordance with the donor's wishes. We have more information from the Queen Mary archives about these prizes and donors and you can read about it below.
How are prizes awarded?
Prizes are awarded for outstanding academic achievement. Schools nominate students to receive Prizes and the Head of School approves them at annual Examination Boards.
Your prize will be recorded on your HEAR digital transcript and you receive a certificate. If you are in your final year of study, your prize is read out at your Graduation ceremony.
Queen Mary University of London has historic links with the Drapers' Company from its origins in 1887. The Drapers' Charitable Fund makes a substantial annual grant to Queen Mary to recognize excellence and achievement, in particular providing prizes for students.
These are open to all subject areas and are awarded for outstanding academic achievement. Nominees need to have achieved a 1st Class degree or 70% average for non-final year students.
The Westfield Trust is a charitable organisation with strong historic links to Queen Mary since the founding of Westfield College in 1882. Among many other initiatives over the years, the Trust has provided long-term support for the establishment and maintenance of the purpose-built Westfield Nursery on Bancroft Road and the pastoral work of the St Benet’s Chaplaincy. The Westfield Trust left an ongoing legacy to provide prizes for our students.
Constance Maynard (1849-1935) was the first Mistress of Westfield College and pioneer of women's higher education. Maynard helped to established Westfield College in 1882 and for 31 years assisted hundreds of women to attain University of London degrees. The Council Minutes and Annual Reports show that she created several funds for students including donating her retirement present of £800 to assist poor students. Upon her death the sum of £2000 was bequeathed to Westfield College in order to establish the Constance Maynard Scholarship Fund. Her personal papers are held in the Queen Mary Archives
This Prize is funded from an endowment. The Gamble Trust Fund was created in 1930 when the Annual Report of Westfield College states that the executors of the late Canon Gamble allotted £1500 to the College.
Caroline Anne James Skeel (9 February 1872 – 25 February 1951) was a British historian. She was a professor of history at Westfield College, and is remembered for her work in Welsh social and economic history. The library at Westfield was named after her in 1971.
