Scholarships, Grants & Prizes (Undergraduates)

New College offers a variety of grants are prizes to its current students. Some are listed below.

The Boyer Prize

The Boyer prize is awarded annually at the end of Trinity Term to the New College student with the best performance in second year (Part A) University examinations in Mathematics (including Joint Schools). The prize value is £130. There is no separate application for this prize; candidates are selected by the Warden & Tutors' Committee on the recommendation from subject tutors. 

The Colgate Literary Prize

The Colgate Literary Prize is awarded annually at the end of Trinity Term to undergraduate students in receipt of Oxford Opportunity Bursary who achieve excellence in literature in English, Classics or Modern Languages. The total value of the award is £500, and it is funded by a generous benefaction from an Old Member of the College. The award is sometimes split between two students. There is no separate application for this prize; candidates are selected by the Warden & Tutors' Committee on the recommendation from subject tutors. 

The Demuth Prize

In 1971 following a bequest from an old member, William Henry Horner Demuth (1920), the College established an annual prize for an essay on a designated scientific topic. This year’s topic is ‘Identify the greatest scientific development in your lifetime and explain its significance’.

The competition is open to all current undergraduate and postgraduate members of the college. The essay should not be more than 3000 words, excluding references and footnotes. If illustrations prove necessary, only original line drawings should be submitted. The closing date for submissions is Monday of 5th Week of Trinity Term 2017. The essay should be sent in hard copy and electronic form to the Tuition Office by the closing date.

The prize consists of £250 and the winning essay will be published in the New College Record (subject to editorial emendation). The prize will not be awarded if none of the submitted essays is deemed of sufficient quality. The prize will be awarded by the Governing Body on the recommendation of a suitably qualified assessor who will be looking for a striking and original approach to the topic which captures the imagination of the non-specialist while retaining scientific accuracy. The decision of the Governing Body will be final.

The Instrumental Awards

The College proposes to elect FIRST YEAR UNDERGRADUATES to Instrumental Awards should candidates of sufficient merit present themselves. The award is worth £300 p.a. renewable annually at the College’s discretion for a candidate’s undergraduate years. Holders of the award are expected to play a leading role in the College’s musical life. Those holding a New College Organ Scholarship or a New College Academical Clerkship are not eligible for this award.

Undergraduates wishing to enter the competition should inform the Academic Registrar of their intention no later than 1 October in any year; the auditions are usually held on Friday of 1st week.

Candidates will be expected to play a piece of instrumental solo music of between five and eight minutes’ duration. The provision of an accompanist will be the candidate’s responsibility. The minimum level of attainment should be the equivalent of Grade 8 (Associate Board). 

Please visit the Instrumental Awards page for further information.

The Karen Thornton Memorial Prize

The Karen Thornton Memorial Prize is awarded for the best performance in Honour Moderations examination in Mathematics and Joint Schools. The prize value is £100. There is no separate application for this prize; candidates are selected by the Warden & Tutors' Committee on the recommendation from subject tutors. 

The Nick Roth Travel Award and The Morris Long Vacation Travel Grant

The Nick Roth Travel Award (worth £500) is in memory of former undergraduate, Nick Roth, who died in an accident whilst travelling in South America. The Morris Long Vacation Travel Grant (worth £1000) is generously funded by an Old Member of the College. Both awards are advertised at the beginning of Trinity Term each year, and the submission date is Monday of Week 5 of that term. 

To apply, current undergraduates are invited to submit details of a travel project which should include: destination, what the purpose of the project is, and what the academic merits of the project are. Please also include the details of your course and year of study with the application. Applications will be considered for both awards unless applicants make it clear they are applying only for one. The holders of the awards will be expected to write a report of their experiences after the trip.

China Travel Awards

The China Travel Awards (worth up to £1000) support New College students who are planning to travel to mainland China during their vacations. To apply, current students are invited to submit details of a travel project which should include: destination, what the purpose of the project is, and what the academic merits of the project are. Please also include the details of your course and year of study with the application. The holders of the awards will be expected to write a report of their experiences after the trip.

Nicoll Bursary

A grant of £50 in each year of study is available for each undergraduate studying Fine Art. This award will be made automatically during Hilary Term. An additional award of £300 is made to Fine Art students in their final year of study.

Fast Track modern language awards (formerly OPAL)

Fast Track is a year-long, fee-paying programme of courses in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian and Spanish offering a Certificate of Achievement on successful completion. The programme is designed for those who are looking for a small, stable class (average 12) of highly motivated and well-organised language learners, willing and able to put in substantial time and effor to making rapid progress in the target langues. New College has agreed to reimburse half of the Fast Track fees for undergraduate students on successful completetion of the course. If you wish to seek reimbursement, please email tuition@new.ox.ac.uk.

How are Scholarships/Awards paid?

Your scholarship will be paid direct to your Battels account in either quarterly/termly payments or in full depending on the type of Scholarship/Award. If this results in a credit balance on your account it will then be refunded to your bank account details. Please ensure you update the Bursary with your bank details to receive prompt payment of any credit held.  You can update them via the Meals Bookings site on Bank Details tab. Payment runs are made during First Week, then mid and the end of each month.