Step 1: Category Choice
Below are the 25 categories of the Global Undergraduate Awards Programme, designed to accommodate students from a wide range of disciplines.
These categories have been designed to allow students from a broad range of disciplines to submit their academic coursework to the Programme.
We recommend selecting your category based on your degree title or the subject/module for which the paper was written. Consulting your lecturer or supervisor can also help you determine the most suitable category. Keep in mind that your work may fit into more than one category, and it doesn’t necessarily have to align with your undergraduate subject.
Please carefully review the information provided for each category, paying special attention to specific rules such as group work options, whether the category is portfolio- or essay-based, and the maximum word count, as these can vary.
Once you’ve identified the appropriate category, you’re ready to proceed to Stage 2: Prepare Your Entry.
Select a Category for more information
Architecture & Design
This is a Portfolio-Based Category WITH A Group Entry Option and is for students of Architecture, Construction, Environmental Design, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Design, Product Design, etc.
This is a portfolio-based category. Analytical or critical coursework on the subject of architecture or design should be submitted to the Art History & Theory category.
Entrants MUST Submit an Artists Statement between 300 – 1,500 words, explaining their work, and may submit a maximum of 10 images/slides.
A piece of group work must meet the following criteria to be eligible to submit:
- A maximum of 5 contributing authors
- All contributing authors need to meet the eligibility requirements
- All contributing authors must consent to the entry being submitted
- One contributing author is nominated by the group to submit the entry and represent the group if their entry is awarded
Group work is subject to the same submission criteria, word count and anonymity requirements as all entries into the Architecture & Design category.
Art History & Theory
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of Art History, History of Architecture, Theory of Art, etc.
Entrants with practical artistic coursework should submit to the Visual Arts category.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Business & Economics
This is an Essay-Based category and is for Business and Economics students, including students of related disciplines such as Accounting, Economics (including Econometrics, Urban Economics, Labour Economics etc.), Hospitality, Marketing, Organisational Behaviour, Project Management.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences
This is an Essay-Based category WITH A Group Entry Option and is for students of Chemical Sciences and Pharmacy, including Pharmacodynamics, and Toxicology.
Students of Biology or Biochemistry please submit to the Life Sciences category.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 12,000 words.
A piece of group work must meet the following criteria to be eligible to submit:
- A maximum of 5 contributing authors
- All contributing authors need to meet the eligibility requirements
- All contributing authors must consent to the entry being submitted
- One contributing author is nominated by the group to submit the entry and represent the group if their entry is awarded
Group work is subject to the same submission criteria, word count and anonymity requirements as all entries into the Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences category.
Classical Studies & Archeology
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of Archaeology and Classical Studies, including students of Ancient History, Ancient Civilisations, Celtic Studies etc.
Students of History who wish to submit coursework on Ancient History should also submit to this category.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Computer Science
his is an Essay-Based category WITH A Group Entry Option and is for students of Computer Science, including Computer Systems, Coding Languages, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, etc
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 12,000 words.
A piece of group work must meet the following criteria to be eligible to submit:
- A maximum of 5 contributing authors
- All contributing authors need to meet the eligibility requirements
- All contributing authors must consent to the entry being submitted
- One contributing author is nominated by the group to submit the entry and represent the group if their entry is awarded
Group work is subject to the same submission criteria, word count and anonymity requirements as all entries into the Computer Science category.
Earth & Environmental Sciences
This is an Essay-Based category WITH A Group Entry Option and is for students of the natural environment and ecosystems, including students of Earth Science, Agriculture, Geography, Geology, etc.
Students of Human Geography, please submit to the Social Sciences: Anthropology & Cultural Studies category.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 12,000 words.
A piece of group work must meet the following criteria to be eligible to submit:
- A maximum of 5 contributing authors
- All contributing authors need to meet the eligibility requirements
- All contributing authors must consent to the entry being submitted
- One contributing author is nominated by the group to submit the entry and represent the group if their entry is awarded
Group work is subject to the same submission criteria, word count and anonymity requirements as all entries into the Earth & Environmental Sciences category.
Education
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students training to become primary, post-primary and preschool teachers, as well as all students of Education Theory and Practice, including Early Childhood Education, Adult Education, Philosophy of Education, History of Education etc.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Engineering
This is an Essay-Based category WITH A Group Entry Option and is for students of Engineering, including Computer and Systems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Construction, Built Environment etc.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 12,000 words.
A piece of group work must meet the following criteria to be eligible to submit:
- A maximum of 5 contributing authors
- All contributing authors need to meet the eligibility requirements
- All contributing authors must consent to the entry being submitted
- One contributing author is nominated by the group to submit the entry and represent the group if their entry is awarded
Group work is subject to the same submission criteria, word count and anonymity requirements as all entries into the Engineering category.
History
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of History, including International, Modern and Contemporary History. Coursework on Ancient History should be submitted to the Classical Studies & Archeology category and coursework on Art History should be submitted to the Art History & Theory category.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Law
This is an Essay-Based category and is for undergraduate students of Law and Pre-Law.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Life Sciences
This is an Essay-Based category WITH A Group Entry Option and is for students of the Biological Sciences, including Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Virology, etc.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 12,000 words.
A piece of group work must meet the following criteria to be eligible to submit:
- A maximum of 5 contributing authors
- All contributing authors need to meet the eligibility requirements
- All contributing authors must consent to the entry being submitted
- One contributing author is nominated by the group to submit the entry and represent the group if their entry is awarded
Group work is subject to the same submission criteria, word count and anonymity requirements as all entries into the Life Sciences category.
Linguistics
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of Languages and Linguistics, including Phonetics, Phonology, Sociolinguistics, Syntax, and Pedagogy. All entries must be written in English or translated to English.
Entries discussing literature should be submitted to the Literature category.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Literature
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of English literature as well as literature written in languages other than English.
All papers must be translated into the English language.
Quotes in languages other than English can be included but must be accompanied by an English translation.
We DO NOT accept pieces of creative writing, such as short stories, poems, screenplays etc.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Mass Communication
This is an Essay-Based category WITH A Group Entry Option and is for students of subjects encompassing the areas of Mass Communication including all forms of Journalism, professional writing for PR, and contemporary issues in Marketing, Digital Communication Theory, and New Media practices.
Students in the area of Marketing may also consider submitting work to the Business & Economics category for work relating to Brand and Marketing Management, International Business Strategies, and Analytics.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, **AND** an Essay between 2,500 – 12,000 words.
A piece of group work must meet the following criteria to be eligible to submit:
- A maximum of 5 contributing authors
- All contributing authors need to meet the eligibility requirements
- All contributing authors must consent to the entry being submitted
- One contributing author is nominated by the group to submit the entry and represent the group if their entry is awarded
Group work is subject to the same submission criteria, word count, and anonymity requirements for all entries.
Mathematics & Physics
This is an Essay-Based category WITH A Group Entry Option and is for students of Mathematics and all areas of Physics, including Astrophysics, Geophysics, Theoretical Physics, etc
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 12,000 words.
A piece of group work must meet the following criteria to be eligible to submit:
- A maximum of 5 contributing authors
- All contributing authors need to meet the eligibility requirements
- All contributing authors must consent to the entry being submitted
- One contributing author is nominated by the group to submit the entry and represent the group if their entry is awarded
Group work is subject to the same submission criteria, word count and anonymity requirements as all entries into the Mathematics & Physics category.
Medical Sciences
This is an Essay-Based category WITH A Group Entry Option and is for undergraduate medical students, including health-related disciplines such as Dentistry, Veterinary, etc.
Pre-Med students should also submit to this category.
Pharmacy students should submit to the Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences category.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 12,000 words.
A piece of group work must meet the following criteria to be eligible to submit:
- A maximum of 5 contributing authors
- All contributing authors need to meet the eligibility requirements
- All contributing authors must consent to the entry being submitted
- One contributing author is nominated by the group to submit the entry and represent the group if their entry is awarded
Group work is subject to the same submission criteria, word count and anonymity requirements as all entries into the Medical Sciences category.
Music, Film & Theatre
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of:
Music – including Musical Theory, Musicology, History of Music, Music Technology, etc.
Drama – including Theatre, Dramatic Theory, Performance, Stage Management, Theatre History, Script Analysis, etc.
Film Studies
We DO NOT accept pieces of creative writing, musical composition or films i.e. songs, scores, screenplays, short films etc. This category is for analytical and critical coursework.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Nursing, Midwifery & Allied Healthcare
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of Nursing, Midwifery, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Sport Science, etc.
Medical students should submit to the Medical Sciences category and students of Pharmacy should submit to the Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences category.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Philosophy
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of Philosophy and Theology, including Ethics, Metaphysics, etc.
Students of Religious Studies may also submit to the Social Sciences: Anthropology & Cultural Studies category, depending on the focus of their coursework.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Politics & International Relations
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of Politics, Government, and International Relations.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Psychology
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of Psychology, including Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Neuroscience, etc.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Social Sciences: Anthropology & Cultural Studies
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of Anthropology and Gender Studies, including Religious Studies, Human Geography, Race and Ethnicity Studies, Ethnography, etc.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Social Sciences: Sociology & Social Policy
This is an Essay-Based category and is for students of Sociology and Society, including Criminology, Social Policy, Social Care, etc.
Entrants MUST submit an Abstract of between 100-300 words, and an Essay between 2,500 – 5,000 words.
Visual Arts
This is a Portfolio-Based category and is for students of all practical art subjects, including Photography, Textiles, Sculpture, Fashion Design, etc.
This is a portfolio-based category. Analytical or critical coursework on the subject of art should be submitted to the Art History & Theory category. Students of Product Design should submit to the Architecture & Design category.
Entrants MUST submit an Artist’s Statement between 300 – 1,500 words, explaining their work, and submit a maximum of 10 images/slides.
