Prizes and Student Bursaries

The Department of Animal and Plant Sciences has a number of prizes which students are eligible to receive. In addition, there are a number of student bursaries for which students may apply.

Prizes

Level 1


Alumni Research Award in Animal Sciences
This Prize was established in 2011 by two former University of Sheffield students. The aim of this prize is to provide a gifted student with the aptitude/desire to progress to further research in animal science with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in research/fieldwork to further their understanding of their subject.
Frequency of the award	One annually
Value of the award	£1000
Eligible candidates	Level 1 undergraduates on courses in Animal and Plant Sciences. Preference will be given to applicants who have achieved a minimum of 65% in practical based modules.
Assessors	Head of the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences; the Director of Learning and Teaching; and an additional member of Professorial staff who should normally be an animal biologist.
Criteria for assessment	A maximum of 500 words to be submitted by eligible students outlining: how and why this award would make a difference to their study of animal science their future plans and how this award would help to further these any other special circumstances they wish to mention as to why they feel they would particularly benefit from this award Applications should be submitted to animal.plant@sheffield.ac.uk by the end of May.
Best/Exceptional Performance in Level 1 Examinations
Frequency of the award	Three annually
Value of the award	Book tokens
Eligible candidates	Level 1 undergraduates on courses in Animal and Plant Sciences
Assessors	Head of Department and Director of Teaching in Animal and Plant Sciences
Criteria for assessment	Performance in level 1 examinations
Sir Basil Blackwell Prize
This prize was made available in 1994 by Blackwell Retail Limited.
Frequency of the award	One annually
Value of the award	£170 to be taken in books supplied by Blackwell's
Eligible candidates	Students taking level 1 examinations throughout the University
Assessors	The Faculty. Recommendations are made by Directors of Teaching in each department.
Criteria for assessment	Outstanding performance in level 1 examinations

Level 2

Best/Exceptional Performance in Level 2 Examinations
Frequency of the award	Three annually
Value of the award	Book tokens
Eligible candidates	Level 2 undergraduates on courses in Animal and Plant Sciences
Assessors	Head of Department and Director of Teaching in Animal and Plant Sciences
Criteria for assessment	Performance in level 2 examinations

Continuing Level 3 students (MBiolSci)

Best Performance in Level 3 Examinations
Frequency of the award	One annually
Value of the award	Book tokens
Eligible candidates	Level 3 undergraduates continuing on MBiolSci courses in Animal and Plant Sciences
Assessors	Head of Department and Director of Teaching in Animal and Plant Sciences
Criteria for assessment	Performance in level 3 examinations

Graduating students (Level 3 and Level 4)

J G Boswell Memorial Prize in Botany
Founded in 1965 from subscriptions in memory of Dr J G Boswell, Reader in Plant Physiology, member of staff of the University from 1931 to 1964, and Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Pure Science for sixteen years.
Frequency of the award	One annually
Value of the award	£100 in books to be chosen by the candidate
Eligible candidates	Level 3 or Level 4 students taking programmes in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences.
Assessors	The Head of the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences.
Criteria for assessment	Criteria for assessment: Project work of a botanical nature and performance at Level 3 or 4 on the above programme of study.
A R Clapham Prize in Ecology
This prize was established in 1993 by The New Phytologist Trust in memory of Professor A R Clapham, Head of the Department of Botany from 1944-1969 (Acting ViceChancellor, 1965) and Editor of The New Phytologist from 1931-61.
Frequency of the award	One annually
Value of the award	A sum not exceeding the income from the endowment to be spent on books.
Eligible candidates	Level 3 or Level 4 students taking courses in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
Assessors	The Examiners in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences.
Criteria for assessment	Project work of an ecological nature and performance at Level 3 or 4 on the above programme of study.
J D Jones Prize in Zoology
This prize was founded in 1980 from subscriptions in memory of Dr J D Jones, member of staff of the Department of Zoology from 1949 to 1980.
Frequency of the award	One annually
Value of the award	£150
Eligible candidates	Level 3 or Level 4 students taking programmes in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences.
Assessors	The Examiners in Zoology for the Final Examinations for the above.
Criteria for assessment	Project work of a zoological nature and performance at Level 3 or Level 4 on the above programme of study.
Thomas Woodcock Prize
This prize is awarded on a rotational basis to candidates in Biomedical Science, Plant Sciences and Zoology respectively.
Frequency of the award	One annually
Value of the award	£75
Eligible candidates	Level 3 or Level 4 candidates for the Degree programmes in Biomedical Science, or the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences.
Assessors	The Head of the Department of Biomedical Science or Animal and Plant Sciences.
Criteria for assessment	Performance at Level 3 or Level 4 for the relevant subject area.
OUP Achievement in Biosciences Prize
This prize depends upon the continuing support of the Oxford University Press
Frequency of the award	One annually
Value of the award	£100 in books to be supplied by OUP
Eligible candidates	Level 3 or Level 4 candidates taking programmes in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
Assessors	The Head of Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
Criteria for assessment	Performance at Level 3 or 4.
The Palaeontological Association Prize
The award of this prize depends upon the continuing support of The Palaeontological Association
Frequency of the award	One annually
Value of the award	Two years membership of the Association and a letter from the President of The Palaeontological Association
Eligible candidates	Level 3 or Level 4 candidates taking programmes in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
Assessors	The Head of Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
Criteria for assessment	Performance in examinations and in project work of a palaeontological nature at Level 3 or Level 4.
Leonard Eastham Prize
This prize was established in 2012 by a former University of Sheffield student in memory of her Head of Department, Professor Leonard Eastham, in gratitude for his inspiration and support.
Frequency of the award	One or more annually
Value of the award	The minimum total amount awarded will £1200
Eligible candidates	Final year undergraduates or Taught Postgraduate students in the department of Animal and Plant Sciences who wish to undertake a research project in the field of Zoology.
Assessors	of the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
Criteria for assessment	A maximum of 500 words to be submitted by eligible students outlining: how and why this award would make a difference to their study of animal science their future plans and how this award would help to further these any other special circumstances they wish to mention as to why they feel they would particularly benefit from this award Applications should be submitted to animal.plant@sheffield.ac.uk by the end of May. Awards will be made based on the academic merit and potential of the student.

Level 4

Professor Ian Rorison Prize in Biology
This Prize was established in 2012 by Dr Monica Rorison, in memory of her late husband, Professor Ian Rorison, who was a former Professor of Plant Ecology in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences at the University of Sheffield between 1961 to 1989.
Frequency of the award	One annually
Value of the award	£150
Eligible candidates	Level 4 undergraduate students on the Masters in Biological Sciences degree (MBiolSci) course in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
Assessors	The Examining Board in the Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
Criteria for assessment	The best Level 4 student on the MBiolSci course based on research they undertake in their fourth year.