2026 Research Awards
The University’s Research Awards 2026 are now open for entries.
As part of the new Vice-Chancellor’s Awards scheme, the Research Awards will showcase both researchers and professional services staff whose work demonstrates excellence, drives progress against our Research and Innovation Strategy, and addresses real-world challenges.
Excellence can take many forms and we encourage applications from all research themes and associated functions across the University.
Entries with be judged on clarity of purpose, creativity and innovation, and clear outcomes and impact. Winners will receive £1000 towards their next research activity.
Please read the guidelines and eligibility criteria in full before entering.
To apply, complete the Research Awards entry form by 5pm on Friday 20 March 2026.
Award Categories
The four research categories are:
Research & Innovation Community
This award celebrates individuals or teams who have produced outstanding work to support and strengthen a positive and resilient research culture at the University, including:
- Activity that champions open and responsible research, going beyond open access publishing to pioneer new models of accessibility, integrity and shared discovery
- Initiatives that foster collaboration and break down silos, through approaches such as peer-to-peer learning, communities of practice and interdisciplinary partnerships
- Activity that advances equality, diversity and inclusion, ensuring fairness and broad participation across the research community
- Activity that supports career development by providing mentoring, coaching or skills training across roles and career stages.
Research Excellence
This award celebrates individuals or teams whose research demonstrates outstanding originality, rigour and impact across any of the University’s four research themes, including:
- Transformative projects that generate lasting societal, economic or cultural benefits
- Interdisciplinary research that fuels innovation and delivers real-world solutions
- Work that influences policy, practice or public discourse locally, nationally or globally
- Research that pioneers new knowledge or methodology, setting benchmarks for excellence in its field.
Sustainability Research
This award celebrates individuals or teams who have produced world-class research that supports a transition to sustainable and fair future societies, including:
- Interdisciplinary research that harnesses diverse perspectives to co-create solutions for complex societal challenges relating to sustainability
- Research that addresses climate change, delivering innovative solutions for mitigation and adaptation at local, national or global scales
- Projects that protect and restore ecosystems through nature-based approaches to safeguard biodiversity
- Activity that advances sustainable and resilient food systems, tackling global shocks and adapting to a changing climate.
Impact Through Engagement
This award celebrates individuals or teams who have created impact through engagement and collaboration with communities, businesses and organisations outside of academia, including:
- Activity that deepens local and regional engagement, creating partnerships that deliver social, cultural or economic benefits
- Creative approaches to sharing research and engaging diverse audiences, inspiring understanding and dialogue beyond academia
- Activity that translates discoveries into real-world applications, influencing policy or driving innovation and economic growth through commercialisation.
- Projects that have employed innovative ways for external groups to contribute, such as citizen science, participatory action research or industry partnerships.