School of Chemistry prizes and prize winners

We award a number of prestigious undergraduate prizes to students at various points during their degrees. These prizes recognise both outstanding achievement at the point of graduation and particular achievements along the way.

The Hunter Medal

The Hunter Medal is our top prize for the best graduate of the year. The award is an engraved sterling silver medal commemorating Professor Louis Hunter, our founding Professor of Chemistry. Louis Hunter was Professor of Chemistry from 1946 until 1965, initially on the staff of the University College Leicester, which subsequently became the University of Leicester. See our list of past winners of the Hunter Medal.

The Dunlop Polymer Engineering Division Prizes

There are two separate Dunlop Prizes of £150 each, awarded to the best graduating MChem student and the best graduating BSc student. This endowed prize has been awarded each year since 1967. See our list of past winners of the Dunlop Prizes.

The Celltech Prize

The Celltech Prize is a £100 prize to the best graduate in Pharmaceutical Chemistry. The prize was endowed by the leading UK biotech company Celltech plc, which became part of the UCB group in 2004. See our list of past winners of the Celltech Prize.

Industry-sponsored prize

An industry-sponsored prize is awarded annually to final year students (BSc and MChem). The sponsorship changes periodically and the current sponsor of the prize is Waters Ltd. The Waters Prize is a cash prize of £100 awarded to the best graduate from the Chemistry with Forensic Science Degree. See our list of past winners of the industrially-sponsored prize.

Sarah Drabble Prize

Two endowed prizes of £100 each in memory of Sarah Drabble, a student in the School in 2016, are awarded annually for the best final year BSc and best final year MChem research projects and dissertations. See our list of past winners of the Sarah Drabble prize.

Raymond Peacock Prize

The Raymond Peacock Prize is an endowed prize from Professor Raymond Peacock, who was Professor of Inorganic Chemistry in the School from 1965 until 1991. The £100 prize is awarded annually to the best 2nd year student.

Oxford University Press Prize

The Oxford University Press Prize is a cash prize of £100 awarded to the 1st or 2nd year student showing the most significant improvement.

Stuart Trippett Prize

This is an endowed prize from Professor Stuart Trippett, who was Professor of Organic Chemistry in the School from 1969 until 1987. The £100 prize is awarded annually to the best 1st year student.

The Blandamer Prize

This is an endowed prize commemorating Professor Mike Blandamer, who was Professor of Physical Chemistry in the School from 1991 until 2000. This is awarded by the Head of School to a 1st year undergraduate student for excellent conduct.