Scholarships

Vice-Chancellor’s Student Awards

At a glance

• These awards are open to current ECU students.
• For each of the awards, the winning student or student team, will receive:
  • A $5,000 monetary prize
  • A trophy
  • A certificate

Eligibility guidelines

To be eligible for this award:

• The nominee/s must be enrolled in at least one unit at the time of nomination.
• The nominee/s must have good academic standing.
• All award recipients will have demonstrated behaviour that is consistent with the University’s values of Integrity, Respect, Rational Inquiry, Personal Excellence and Courage.

Selection criteria

Vice-Chancellor’s Student Award for Contribution to University Life is awarded to recognise a student, or a student team, who have significantly enhanced the student experience through exceptional dedication, leadership, and service within the university community.

Vice-Chancellor’s Student Award for Community Engagement is awarded to recognise a student, or a student team, who has demonstrated outstanding engagement with external communities which aligns with ECU’s strategic goals and values by transforming lives and enriching society.

Vice-Chancellor’s Student Award for Reconciliation is awarded to recognise a student, or a student team, who has demonstrated outstanding contribution to develop an equitable community that values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and knowledge.

Vice-Chancellor’s Student Award for Outstanding Research is awarded  to recognise a higher degree by research candidate, or higher degree by research candidate team, who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in research through originality, rigour, innovation and creativity, contributing to the advancement of knowledge.

Vice-Chancellor's Student Award for Research Impact is awarded to recognise a higher degree by research candidate, or higher degree by research candidate team, whose research has made a significant and measurable contribution beyond academia, influencing practice, policy, or community outcomes in ways that align with ECU’s commitment to transforming lives and enriching society.

Vice-Chancellor's Student Award for ECU Career Ready Employability is awarded to recognise a student, or a student team, who has demonstrated strong commitment to their future career through active participation in career development initiatives and student leadership, enhancing their employability skills and professional readiness.

Nominations are evaluated by a committee of staff and students. Award recipients are selected based on the below considerations:

• Depth of Impact - the degree of change and/or influence achieved
• Breadth of impact – the reach of change and/or influence achieved
• Sustainability of impact – the expected longevity of the change and/or influence achieved
• Relevance of Impact – the extent to which change and/or influence achieved aligns with award purpose, ECU’s strategic goals and ECU's values of Integrity, Respect, Rational Inquiry, Personal Excellence and Courage.

Note: where students are in paid roles, nominations will be evaluated based on the degree to which the contribution of the nominee extends beyond reasonably expected paid work contributions

Nominators for a Vice-Chancellor's Student Award must be one of the following:

• University students (self-nominations are welcome)
• University staff
• Representative bodies external to the University

How to apply

1. Start by reading the Guide for Nominators. It covers everything you need to know prior to completing your nomination form.
2. Fill out the relevant nomination form below to add to your submission:
   • Contribution to University Life
   • Community Engagement
   • Reconciliation
   • Outstanding Research
   • Research Impact
   • ECU Career Ready Employability
3. Obtain the required endorsement.
4. Click here to submit your nomination by 11:59pm on  28 August 2026.

For more information

• If you have any questions about this award or need assistance with your nomination, please contact studentawards@ecu.edu.au