Biological Student Competitions

There are many Student Competitions which individual or teams of students can enter. The Society of Biology supports the British Biology Olympiad and Biology Challenge as well as supporting the CREST Awards. More information on these competitions can be found here.

There are other competitions in which students are nominated by their university department and a list of these can be found here.

Below are Student Competitions that are run by our Member Organisations, more information can be found by clicking on the prize title.

Anatomical Society of Great Britain & Ireland – Undergraduate Prize

This is awarded annually at the Winter Meeting of the Society to the best communication by a candidate who must have carried out the work described while an undergraduate.

Biotechnology YES (Young Entrepreneurs Scheme)

The competition has been designed to increase awareness of the commercialisation of bioscience ideas among postgraduate students/postdoctoral scientists and is open to postgraduates. Entry is free with travel, accommodation and meals provided and the winners will receive £1000.

Botanical Society of Scotland – Student Prize

Final year students of a Scottish university who base their dissertation on a botanical investigation during the course of their final year can enter as long as they have been recommended by their course director. The prize consists of a certificate and £100.

British Neuroscience Association – Postgraduate Prize

A postgraduate student who has made a significant contribution to the area of neuroscience and performed outstandingly in their viva voce will receive a £500 prize.

British Pharmacological Society – UK Student Pharmacological Societies Grants

UK Student Pharmacological Societies Grants are small grants (currently a maximum of £200) to student pharmacological societies for the purpose of providing expenses for speakers.

British Pharmacological Society – Young Pharmacologist of the Year TiP's Prize

Pharmacologists with up to five years postdoctoral or post MD status are welcome to enter this competition. The award will be an online subscription to Cell Press.

British Society for Matrix Biology – Poster Prizes

Students or those with less than three years postdoctoral status are eligible to enter and prizes are worth £150.

British Society of Animal Science – The Alan Robertson Fund

The purpose of the fund is to "further research and education in the application of genetics to livestock production". Awards are given to those with an interest in Animal Genetics, including young scientists who wish to attend meetings or undertake projects or study tours.

Experimental Psychology Society (EPS) – Undergraduate Project Prize

In collaboration with the British Science Asssociation awards an annual prize to the best final year in experimental psychology submitted from a UK psychology honours degree programme.

Institute of Horticulture – Aberconway Medal

This is an annual competition where the best dissertation written by students or horticulturists under 30 years old based on a horticultural or closely related subject is rewarded with the Aberconway Medal engraved with the winner's name and £500.

Royal Entomological Society – Student Award

Write an article about an Entomological topic that would capture the attention of the general public. It must be easy to read, in a popular style and no longer than 800 words. The competition is open to undergraduates and postgraduates and the winner receives £300.

Society for Applied Microbiology – Sponsored Lecture Grant

Can I apply? - if you are member of a society with an interest in microbiology and would like to invite a guest speaker but cannot afford to.

Society for Endocrinology – Undergraduate Essay Prize

Submit an endocrine-related essay that is based on a topical aspect of endocrinology and the winning entrant will receive £1000. The competition is open to current undergraduate students.

Society for Endocrinology – Postgraduate Essay Prize

The essay should be on an endocrine subject that enhances public understanding of endocrinology and be no longer than 1500 words. Open to all students registered for a higher degree in the UK or Ireland at the time of essay submission (eg a Masters course or research degree such as MPhil/PhD/MDRes or equivalent).

Society for Endocrinology – Undergraduate Essay Prize

This competition is open to all students currently studying on an undergraduate course. The essay is required to be endocrine-related and based on a topical aspect of endocrinology. The essays must be the original work of the candidate, and written within the current academic year, Extra credit will be awarded for essays illustrating thought - provoking, opinionated and readable content.

Society of Endocrinology – Undergraduate Achievement Award

The Society for Endocrinology Undergraduate Achievement Awards have been established to encourage excellence in the study of endocrinology by undergraduate students.

Society for General Microbiology (SGM) – Undergraduate Prize

SGM offers a prize to all universities for the best performing student in microbiology in the second (or penultimate) year of study. The prize is £150 + one year's free membership of the SGM. Nominations are invited from all eligible universities each year.

UK Centre for Bioscience – Student Award

The annual Student Award offers a chance for UK Bioscience students to voice their opinions about their experiences of learning and teaching in bioscience higher education. Students registered on an undergraduate or postgraduate pure or applied biological science course are eligible to enter.