University of Birmingham - Tessella Prize

What the Tessella Prize is

You will receive a one-off cash prize of about 308 EUR (£250) for the best and most innovative use of software in your final-year dissertation in Physics. In addition to the cash prize, the award will be noted on your degree certificate in recognition of your achievement. It recognises programming achievements such as algorithms, machine learning, simulations or other software integrated into your project. The prize is awarded by the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Birmingham. It is sponsored by Tessella, a data science consultancy that is now part of Capgemini.

Who can win

• Degree: You are in the final year of the MSc in Physics (the four-year integrated Master’s programme), not the three-year BSc programme.
• University: You’re studying at the University of Birmingham.
• Field: Physics.
• Your project: In your final dissertation, you demonstrate an outstanding, innovative approach to software.
• Nationality: Anyone, regardless of nationality, can win. There are no restrictions based on your background.

How to apply

There is no application process. The faculty selects the winner from the MSci dissertations submitted by students. So you simply need to do your best on your project.

How realistic are your chances?

This prize is very narrowly defined. Only students in their final year of the MSci Physics degree programme at Birmingham are eligible, and only one project is awarded the prize each year. It is not possible to apply for this award; therefore, your chances depend entirely on how compelling and imaginative your software work is compared to that of the other students in your year group. If programming is one of your particular strengths, then incorporating a truly original software element into your project will be the decisive factor in keeping you in the running.