Department of Chemistry, University College London - Nyholm Prize

The Nyholm Prize

You are to receive a prize of one-off cash prize from the Department of Chemistry at UCL for outstanding achievements in inorganic chemistry. This is the branch of chemistry that deals with metals, minerals and compounds that are not carbon-based. The Department does not disclose the exact amount. Across all prizes, the awards range from approximately 35 EUR to 1,200 EUR (30 GBP to 1,000 GBP). The prize is named after Sir Ronald Nyholm, a chemist who spent much of his career at UCL. It is awarded once a year, usually in October.

Who can win it

• University: You’re studying chemistry at University College London (UCL).
• Study level: You are a Bachelor’s or Master’s student in your final year of study (BSc or MSci).
• Field: His outstanding work is in the field of inorganic chemistry.
• Performance: You have produced the most outstanding work in inorganic chemistry of your entire graduating year.
• Nationality: Anyone, regardless of nationality, can win. What counts is your studies at UCL.

How it works

There is no application process and no form to fill in. The faculty selects the winner internally on the basis of their academic achievements and announces the winner every October.

How realistic are your chances?

This is an individual award presented to just one final-year chemistry student at a university. The pool of candidates is very small, but the bar is set very high: you must be the top student in your year in inorganic chemistry. You cannot apply for it or campaign for it. If your marks and your project work in inorganic chemistry are indeed the best in your year group, you are in the running. Otherwise, you have no choice but to maintain your marks at a high standard.