Level 3 undergraduate award information

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:

1. Reference(s) from organisations that you have been involved with
2. Testimonials from those that you have helped
3. Media coverage of your work
4. Secured placement/internship
5. 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:

• Dean of Sheffield University Management School
• Associate Dean for Education, Sheffield University Management School
• Director of Undergraduate Education, Sheffield University Management School
• Head of External Engagement, Sheffield University Management School

There are four stages of the scoring process:

Stage 1: vetting process

A vetting process is completed by two members of the Panel. This vetting process identifies any applications that should be discounted, because they do not meet the standards and criteria of the award.

The results of the vetting process are shared with the rest of the Panel.

Stage 2: independent scoring

Panel members independently score the remaining applications fully against the criteria. 

The mean of the three total scores will then be calculated and rounded to zero decimal places. Normal rounding rules apply. Scores < 0.5 round down, score ≥ 0.5 round up.

Stage 3: panel meeting

After the independent scoring process, the judging panel meets on an agreed date to finalise and agree scores. 

All applicants who achieve an average score of 65% or higher at the panel stages are put forward to the School’s examination board. 

Stage 4: academic grade

Academic marks are taken from the School’s records. 

All applicants who passed the panel stages and also meet the 65% Weighted Average Grade requirement are confirmed as winners of the award.

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.