University of Oxford - SIR ROGER NEWDIGATE PRIZE

Sir Roger Newdigate Prize

You will win about 585 EUR (500 GBP) as a one-off prize for the best poem written in English verse on a theme set each year. This is a competition prize, not a monthly scholarship, organised by the Department of English at the University of Oxford. The prize was established in 1806 and is one of the oldest literary prizes in the UK. The winning poem will be recited at the University’s Encaenia ceremony and held in the Bodleian Special Collections. The prize will only be awarded if an entry of sufficient quality is submitted.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are currently an undergraduate student at the University of Oxford. Master’s and PhD students are not eligible to take part.
• Field of study: Open to students of all disciplines, not just those studying English.
• Nationality: All nationalities welcome.
• What you submit: A poem in English verse on this year’s theme, which must not exceed 300 lines. You may use any metre and rhyme scheme, but dramatic texts (in the style of a play) are not permitted.
• Entries: You may submit more than one poem, each on a separate form.

How to apply

Please submit your poem via the Faculty of English Studies’ online form. Upload it anonymously, accompanied by a short ‘motto’ – a sentence of up to 10 words that identifies you to the judging panel. The closing date for entries is the Monday of week 8 in the Hilary term, which falls at the beginning of March.

How realistic are your chances?

The pool of entrants is narrow: only current Oxford students, and specifically only those who are prepared to write a complete poem on a set topic. The actual field of entrants is therefore much smaller than the student body as a whole. Ultimately, winning depends on the quality of a single poem, which is judged in comparison with others, and only one prize is awarded each year. If you take your writing seriously and the topic inspires you to produce an outstanding piece of work, it is definitely worth taking part.