Level 3 undergraduate award information
Before you apply for a place on the Dean's List, read this information about making your application, sourcing evidence and the meeting the criteria for the Level 3 undergraduate award.
The Dean’s List is a prestigious award, which recognises and rewards academic merit and unique contribution to the Mission and Vision of the Management School around sustainability, social responsibility and employability. The List is a growing body of alumni (former students) who have demonstrated social responsibility and employability as well as academic achievement.
Application
To apply to be on the Dean’s List you must submit a self-reflective application that demonstrates how you have made an exceptional contribution to the world around you as well as how you have developed your employability skills and expertise. You must also achieve the minimum academic standard of 65% or above.
The application must address the three criteria each for Socially Responsible (SR1-3) and for Employable Students (ES1-3): in a total of six sections.
You are allowed a maximum of 350 words per section to state your activities against each criterion and the difference this has made to others or yourself. If you have examples where you have applied the knowledge and skills learnt on your academic programme (teamwork, leadership, communication etc.), these may strengthen your argument. You must be able to provide evidence, as per the list below, to verify your activities and contribution.
Evidencing success
A Dean’s List winner is required to illustrate, with examples, how they have continued to grow and evolve since commencing their undergraduate study.
The focus should be on your time in Sheffield as an undergraduate student. If you feel that (briefly) outlining previous experience is necessary, then make it clear for the judging panel what you did pre-Sheffield and what you did whilst you were on your current programme.
Remember to emphasise:
- What you have done
- What you have contributed or achieved (i.e. outcomes rather than input)
- Duration of activities (e.g. was this a one-off activity, or did you take part every week for a year, or two?)
- What you feel you have learnt as a result (e.g. how you have grown; what you can take forward as a result into your next move)
The Dean's List winners are those who have gone over and above the requirements of their programme. Therefore the focus should be on what you have done outside of your programme, unless you have exceeded the expectations or parameters of your programme in a particular area (e.g. undertaken a marketing project for a charity as part of your programme, but then gone onto do further significant work for them).
Sources of evidence
You will need to provide evidence of your impact on society and yours or others’ employability skills. If examples are given for which there is no supporting evidence, you will be marked down. If you provide no evidence at all, your application will not be considered.
Sources of evidence can include but are not limited to:
- Reference(s) from organisations that you have been involved with
- Testimonials from those that you have helped
- Media coverage of your work
- Secured placement/internship
- Reference from placement/internship employer
Please do not include items as supporting evidence that cannot be anonymised (such as videos or website links) because the judges will not have the opportunity to view them. If you wish to use an online source as evidence, we recommend taking a screenshot of the source page to attach to your application.
Judging process
Your contribution to the mission will be judged by the case you make as to how you match the criteria. The assessment of your academic performance will be established from our records.
The Dean’s List Panel is comprised of:
- The Dean of Sheffield University Management School
- The Associate Dean for Education, Sheffield University Management School
- The Director of Undergraduate Education, Sheffield University Management School
- The Deputy Head of Professional Services (External), Sheffield University Management School
The Panel will independently score each application against the criteria. Academic marks will be taken from the School’s record. The mean of the three total scores will then be calculated and rounded to zero decimal places. The panel’s judgement is final.
Normal rounding rules apply. Scores < 0.5 round down, score ≥ 0.5 round up.
Scoring guidelines
For each of the six criteria, the judging panel will score between 0-5 based on the following. A total of 30 points can be given across these criteria: i.e. a maximum score for ES 1-3 is 15, and for SR 1-3 is 15.
Descriptor |
Level of Contribution |
Score |
---|---|---|
Exemplary |
Sustained and long-term outstanding engagement with mission (for at least two years of your degree). Demonstrable significant and sustained positive impact on organisations or society. Demonstrating significant and progressive approach to growth in your own employability skills. A well-articulated case explicitly demonstrating exceptionally high standards of commitment to the mission of the school. Indicative of sustainable effort scoring highly in all areas and meeting fully the criteria and objectives. Supported by significant evidence. |
5 |
Excellent |
Engagement with mission for a period of at least one year. Demonstrable positive impact on organisations or society. Demonstrating a strong and progressive approach to growth in your own employability skills. A well-articulated case, though not in all areas, demonstrating exceptionally high standards, a consistent approach and relates soundly to the mission of the school. Indicative of sustainable effort scoring highly in the majority of areas and meeting a large number of the criteria and objectives. Supported by convincing evidence. |
4 |
Good |
Engagement with mission for a period of at least six months and less than one year. Demonstrable positive impact on organisations or society during period of engagement, which is appropriate for a limited period of engagement. Demonstrating a progressive approach to growth in your own employability skills. A clearly articulated case demonstrating an overall high standard, a mostly-consistent approach and relates, partially or to some extent with the mission of the school. Supported by adequate evidence. |
3 |
Limited |
Some engagement with mission for a period of less than six months. Demonstrable positive impact on organisations or individuals during period of engagement, but is limited in scope. Demonstrating limited progression in growth in your own employability skills, A reasonably articulated case but lacking in competency, showed by inconsistency in its approach and does not relates adequately to the mission of the school. Supported by some evidence. |
2 |
Very Limited |
Limited engagement with mission for a period of less than six months. Activities are described, however, it is not clear how a positive impact on organisations or individuals during period of engagement occurred. Demonstrating minimal growth in your own employability skills. A poorly articulated case with obvious inconsistency in its approach and does not relate to the mission of the school. Limited supporting evidence. |
1 |
Not graded |
No Supporting evidence for case. |
0 |