Literary prizes

The University of Sydney's annual literary prizes have a long history, with many dating back to bequests received at the beginning of the 20th century. 

All literary prizes require an application and the submission of written work, typically an essay or poem, on a selected topic. Written work should be submitted under a nom de plume.

All prizes and medals are awarded subject to providing a signed and dated Copyright Release Form (pdf, 37KB). The University of Sydney reserves the right not to award a prize if submissions are not deemed to be of sufficient standard. 

• Wentworth Medal
• Adrian Consett Stephen Memorial Prize
• Beauchamp Prize
• Henry Lawson Prize for Poetry
• Henry Lawson Prize for Prose
• HM Moran Prize
• Robert A Dallen Prize
• Venour V Nathan Prize

Wentworth Medal

Value: $20,000 and medal

Eligibility: All students enrolled at the University of Sydney (except for previous winners of the Wentworth Medal).

2024 Topic: Over the last 200 years Australia has suffered the largest documented decline in biodiversity of any continent. Despite efforts to manage threats and pressures to biodiversity in Australia, it is still in decline. What interdisciplinary approaches could be used to address this complex issue?

Open Date: 15 July 2024

Close Date: 15 August 2024

Please note that early, late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances. All submissions will be screened through TurnItIn for Academic Integrity.

How to Apply:

Students intending to apply will need to self-enrol and submit their essay via Canvas, as well as submit a pen-name here.

Incomplete submissions (missing pen-name / missing essay) will not be considered.

Background:

Established in 1854 from a gift of £200 from WC Wentworth, this medal was initially presented as a reward for the best essay in English prose and now seeks to reward an outstanding essay addressing a nominated question.

The topic or topics for the essay will be set each year and the examiners of the essay will be appointed by the Wentworth Medal Committee (who have the power to co-opt). The committee consists of the:

• Chair of the Academic Board
• Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education)
• Deans of:
  • the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  • the University of Sydney Business School
  • the University of Sydney Law School.

The committee reserves the right to share the prize if two or more entries are judged to be of equal, highest, and sufficient merit.

The essay should be approximately 3000 words (not including referencing). It should demonstrate a breadth of research, be of a high scholarly standard and include appropriate referencing. In assessing the quality of the essay the panel will consider:

• its clarity and accessibility
• the quality of the argument upon which it is constructed
• its originality (specifically its ability to shed new light on the given topic).

Adrian Consett Stephen Memorial Prize

Value: $1,500

Eligibility: Applicants must:

• be enrolled at the University of Sydney in an undergraduate degree, and
• submit a short story or play that they have written.

This Prize is funded by a bequest from Emilie Ann Consett Stephen.

Terms and conditions (pdf, 725kb).

Beauchamp Prize

Value: $10,000

Eligibility: Applicants must be one of the following:

• enrolled at the University of Sydney in an undergraduate degree, or
• a graduate of the University of Sydney who completed an undergraduate degree no more than five years previously at the time of their application.

The Beauchamp Prize is awarded for the best essay on some matter of literary or historical interest. This Prize is funded by a gift from his Excellency the Right Honourable William Lygon, Earl Beauchamp, KCMG, Governor of New South Wales. 

Applicants must submit an essay on some matter of literary or historical interest with a word limit between 5000 and 7500 words.

Terms and conditions (pdf, 137.7KB).

Henry Lawson Prize for Poetry

Value: $5,000

A maximum number of 3 prizes may be awarded each year between the Henry Lawson Prize for Poetry and the Henry Lawson Prize for Prose.

Eligibility: Applicants must:

• be enrolled at the University of Sydney in an undergraduate degree,
• have not graduated from another degree at the University of Sydney,
• submit an English verse.

This Prize is funded by a gift from subscribers to the memorial of Henry Lawson, Australian poet and prose-writer.

Terms and conditions (pdf, 651KB).

Henry Lawson Prize for Prose

Value: $5,000

A maximum number of 3 prizes may be awarded each year between the Henry Lawson Prize for Prose and the Henry Lawson Prize for Poetry.

Eligibility: Applicants must:

• be enrolled at the University of Sydney in an undergraduate degree,
• have not graduated from another degree at the University of Sydney,
• submit an original composition on an Australian theme in the form of a short story or descriptive sketch.

This Prize is funded by a gift from subscribers to the memorial of Henry Lawson, Australian poet and prose-writer.

Terms and conditions (pdf, 653KB).

HM Moran Prize

Value: $600

Eligibility: Undergraduate students who are catholic.

The HM Moran Prize was established in 1945 from a gift of £250 from Dr HM Moran and is awarded for the best essay. Applicants must submit an essay (maximum 5000 words) on the history of medicine and science.

Terms and conditions (pdf, 136.1KB).

Robert A Dallen Prize

Value: $5,000

Eligibility: Applicants must be one of the following:

• enrolled in the third year of their degree, or
• a graduate of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences who graduated no more than two years previously at the time of their application.

Applicants must submit a composition on The Influence of the Bible on Later Culture and Literature.

This Prize is funded by a donation from Robert A Dallen.

Terms and conditions (pdf, 136KB).

Venour V Nathan Prize

Value: $3,500

Eligibility: Applicants must be one of the following:

• enrolled at the University of Sydney, or
• a graduate of the University of Sydney who graduated no more than 8 years and 4 months previously at the time of their application.

The Venour V Nathan Prize is awarded for the best essay on a subject connected to Australian or Imperial history. This prize is funded by a donation from Venour V Nathan.

Applicants must submit an essay (5000-7500 word limit) on a subject connected to Australian or Imperial history.

Terms and conditions (pdf, 642KB).