Student group awards
Our student groups provide students with opportunities to meet new people, learn new skills, and best of all, have fun. They build communities and friendships that can last a lifetime.
The student group awards are about recognising the contributions, successes and impact of our different student groups.
Best student group
This award is for the student group that has demonstrated outstanding impact for its members and the wider student community since September 2025.
The winning group will be able to clearly show how they have built a welcoming, inclusive and sustainable community, beyond just running events. This might include responding to a challenge (e.g. low engagement, member conflict, accessibility barriers) and showing how that action led to improvements.
We will be looking for evidence such as:
- Clear planning and reflection on group activity across the year
- Meaningful responses to member feedback
- Inclusive practices that reduced barriers to participation
- Evidence that members felt more connected, or supported as a result of the group
For example, a strong nomination might describe how the group noticed that new members were not returning after their first session, introduced a buddy system and structured introductions, and saw improved retention and confidence among first-year students.
This award is about impact and community-building, not just attendance figures.
Best new student group
This award is for a group established since September 2025 that has made a great start and laid strong foundations for long-term success.
The winning group will show how they identified a gap in the student community and responded proactively. Rather than simply recruiting members, they will show how they created purpose, structure and engagement from scratch.
We will look for:
- Clear vision and goals for the group
- Evidence of overcoming start-up challenges
- Creative approaches to recruitment and engagement
- Strong organisation from the start
For example, a new group might explain how they struggled initially with visibility, developed an outreach plan, and built a core community that now meets regularly.
Best student group event
This award is for a student group that has delivered an event (or a related series of events) since September 2025 that had a meaningful and lasting impact on attendees.
The winning event will demonstrate clear planning and objectives and thoughtful delivery. Judges will look beyond attendance numbers and consider how the event contributed to community and provided a fun or enriching experience.
We will look for:
- The purpose behind the event
- Clear planning and risk management
- Consideration of accessibility and inclusion
- Evidence of attendee feedback and outcomes
- Reflection on what was learned and improved
For example, a strong submission might describe how the group recognised that commuter students felt isolated, designed an early-evening social with structured activities to encourage interaction, and received feedback that attendees made new friends and felt more connected to campus.
Best committee member
This award is for an individual committee member who has shown great standards of work and had a positive impact within their group.
The winning individual will show how they have actively strengthened their group’s culture, organisation and member experience.
We will look for evidence that the nominee:
- Was faced with a challenge and implemented a solution
- Followed process and logistical procedures responsibly
- Actively asked for and responded to member feedback
- Supported other committee members
For example, a strong nomination might describe how an events officer noticed that attendance at group events was inconsistent and that new members often left early without engaging. They gathered informal feedback and realised events lacked a welcoming atmosphere, and fun. In response, they introduced assigned committee roles at an event so that someone was dedicated to welcoming students, and incorporated games to encourage a fun atmosphere. As a result, repeat attendance increased, and members reported having more fun. The society also saw stronger engagement across the year.
This award recognises impactful contribution, not just popularity.
How to nominate
To nominate a student group, committee member or event, submit a nomination. The deadline for submissions is 12:00 (noon) on Monday 23 March.
Group committee members means presidents, finance officers and events and admin officers only.
The best student group, best new group and best group event are limited to nominations from group committees. The committee members in each group should work together to submit one nomination for each award.