University of Birmingham - MSci Smith Prize

What the MSci Smith Prize is

You will receive a one-off award of about 432 EUR if you graduate from the four-year MSci degree programme in Physics at the University of Birmingham with the highest overall mark in your year group. The School of Physics and Astronomy awards this prize, which is named after the University’s first professor of physics. This is a merit-based award, not a monthly scholarship. It is awarded annually to just one person: the top MSci student in their final year. A separate Smith Prize is awarded to the top BSc graduate.

Who can get it

• Degree: You are in the final year of the four-year MSci degree programme in Physics, not the three-year BSc degree programme.
• Where you study: You are studying at the University of Birmingham, in the School of Physics and Astronomy.
• Results: You have the highest total mark of all graduates on the MSci programme in your year group.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.

How to apply

No application is required. The prize is awarded internally on the basis of your examination results, so you cannot apply for it yourself. You qualify by achieving the highest overall mark in your final year of the MSc programme.

How realistic are your chances?

Each year, only one MSc student receives this award – namely, the student with the highest overall mark in the entire graduating cohort – so it is very difficult to achieve. You cannot apply for it; the key factor is that you must be top of your year. Think of it as an honour resulting from outstanding achievement, rather than a source of funding that you can count on.