Criteria and guidance

The University wishes to honour an individual or a named small team (not entire large departments), who have delivered exceptional service in supporting and serving the University or the wider community, and demonstrated strong alignment to the University’s values.

There will be a maximum of 5 awards made to individuals or teams in any normal year.

• Nominees can be an individual student or staff member from any staff group (academic, professional services, technical or other, including in those in our subsidiary companies), or a team.
• Nominated staff should have worked for the University during the 12 months since 1 June 2025 and nominated students must either be currently studying at the University or have graduated during the academic year 2025/26.
• Previous winners cannot be re-nominated within 5 years of their award.

Please note: The University has a process for recognition of long service by members of staff and the Principal’s Medal should not be seen as a way to recognise such service.

• Any current member of the University community may nominate for this award (as at 1 June 2026).
• Previous nominations may be re-nominated.
• Self-nominations are not accepted.

• Achieve excellence in all that we do, always being principled, considerate and respectful.
• Undertake teaching and research that is relevant to society, ensuring we are diverse, inclusive and accessible to all.
• Be ambitious, bold and act with integrity, always being willing to listen.
• Foster a welcoming community, where staff, students, alumni and friends feel proud to be part of our University.
• Strengthen our deep-rooted and distinctive internationalism, attracting the world’s best minds and building innovative global partnerships for research, teaching and impact.
• Sustain a deep allegiance and commitment to the interests of the city and region in which we are based, alongside our national and international efforts, ensuring relevance to all.
• Enable the University to be a place of transformation and of self-improvement, and driven to achieve benefit for individuals, communities, societies and our world.

More information about the University's values can be found on the Strategy 2030 website:

• Benefit – How has the University, and its strategic priorities, or the wider community (e.g. disadvantaged groups, local charities, public outreach, environmental projects) substantially benefitted from this nominee's service?
• Participation – How much does the nominee exceed expectations in actively participating, interacting, and collaborating with the campus community to provide exceptional service to the University, or in helping build relationships with communities?
• Lasting Impact – How has the nominee’s service beneficially impacted the University or the wider community over an extended period of time?
• Base of Operation – How does the nominee’s exceptional service relate to the expectations of their position?

The guidance and criteria is also available as a PDF: