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The world’s leading undergraduate academic awards programme

[ Explore the Awards ]
[ Meet the Highly Commended ]
[ Meet the Regional Winners ]
[ Meet the 2025 Global Winners ]

Showcasing the world’s best undergraduate research and building a global community of future thought leaders spanning cultures and disciplines

Award Recipients
0 K+

from over 48 different countries

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Exceptional Ideas
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peer reviewed by academic & industry specialists

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Global Talent Pool
1 K+

from the world’s finest universities

The Global Undergraduate Awards is the world’s leading pan-disciplinary awards programme celebrating exceptional research. Founded to recognise emerging talent excellence and elevate original academic work, the GUA has grown into a dynamic global platform—connecting high-performing students, academics, and industry leaders across 48+ countries and every major field.

Each year, thousands of students submit their work for independent review by a panel of international academics and industry specialists. Representing the top tier of undergraduate talent worldwide—thinkers, creators and problem-solvers equipped to tackle the most pressing challenges of our time.

At the heart of GUA is a belief in the power of student research to drive real-world impact. With our highest honour, the Clarkson Medal, awarded to students whose work exemplifies integrity, originality and the potential to shape a better future.

The Library

The Undergraduate Library is an open-access repository that preserves and showcases the award-winning work of Global Undergraduate Awards participants. All Highly Commended Entrants, Regional Winners, and Global Winners are eligible to have their recognised submissions published in the Library

Visit The Library

The Global Summit

The Global Undergraduate Summit is a three-day celebration of exceptional student research. Punctuated with dynamic and thought-provoking keynotes, winning presentations, workshops, poster sessions, networking opportunities and an exploration of the challenges shaping our shared global future

The Summit

When the world’s most respected institutions take part, it signals the continued global credibility, academic rigour and prestige of our programme.

The Global Undergraduate Awards continues to attract top-tier talent from leading academic institutions around the globe. Our most recent cycle saw submissions from:

✅ 15 of the Top 25 universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2026)
✅ 13 of the Top 25 universities (Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025)
✅ 4 of the Top 5 Best Global Universities (U.S. News & World Report 2025-2026)

Award Recipients
1 K+

from over 48 different countries

Exceptional Ideas
1 K+

peer reviewed by academic & industry specialists

Global Talent Pool
2 K+

from the world’s finest universities

Top Universities
10 %

representing the highest ranking universities 

It was an amazing few days getting to know other winners from a range of different categories and countries. The opportunity to present my research and speak with so many brilliant minds is incomparable. I can’t wait to see what everyone achieves in the future.
Maggie Tighe
Maggie TigheClassical Studies & Archaeology - Global Winner 2022
Submitting your papers to contests like the Undergraduate Awards takes minimal effort – you’ve already written the paper, after all – and it can open unexpected doors. Why not throw your hat into the ring?
Rosalind Moran
Rosalind MoranGlobal Winner in the Music, Film & Theatre category
The prize, the medal is a great bonus to have but I think more important are the connections that we have made, and the ideas that we have shared. It's an unbelievable experience.
Kang Rui Garrick Lim
Kang Rui Garrick LimChemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences - Global Winner 2019
It’s nice to have a platform where undergraduate work is recognised as being as revolutionary and groundbreaking as the stuff that’s produced at postgraduate level.
Jay Millard
Jay MillardMusic, Film & Theatre - Global Winner 2019
The research that we conduct is most often impacted by our intimate personal identities and so when you’re sharing your research you are sharing a part of yourself, your life, your identity, and your community with each other.
Istifaa Ahmed
Istifaa AhmedAnthropology & Cultural Studies - Global Winner 2018
If you know an undergraduate anywhere doing great work please have them submit their work.This opportunity should not go to waste, there is too much brilliance demanding to be shared
Kenna White
Kenna WhiteEarth & Environmental Sciences - Global Winner 2022
It’s phenomenal to be recognised for the amount of work you put into your undergraduate research. Even if you think you are not worthy, you are, and you already did the hard part. Submit your work today
Victor Sosanya
Victor SosanyaEconomics - Global Winner 2022
It’s really amazing. It’s a spectacular experience to be able to listen to such great people present what they’re passionate about and how they’ve dedicated their careers to making a change in the world. It really makes me feel like I have to live up to the standard, go out there and make a difference
Michaela Taylor-Williams
Michaela Taylor-WilliamsEngineering - Global Winner 2018
Surreal, really exciting, surrounded by really enthusiastic people like me, hearing what everyone has to say from all over the globe and recognising top achieving thought
Sahil Tiku
Sahil TikuArt History & Theory - Global Winner 2022
It’s a rare opportunity, to have a space to offer thoughts on making a global difference at undergraduate level, and get a sense of that higher thought and your part within it
Seow Ting Low
Seow Ting LowNursing - Global Winner 2022
When I received my postgraduate offer from the University of Oxford, I couldn't help thinking about my experience winning an award from the Global Undergraduate Awards. I believe that winning that award is the best thing that ever happened to me... it brought me into the academic world. It helped me build the confidence I needed to move forward in academia and gave me courage to explore the unknown possibilities in life
Weifeng Tao
Weifeng TaoRegional Winner 2022
Seeing everyone's ideas was amazing, and not just hearing their ideas but getting to know the people. It almost felt like something magical because we were far away in Dublin and we all came together. I don't get to go away much, so going to Dublin felt like a dream. I kept thinking I'd wake up, and none of it would be real
Anna Deregowski
Anna DeregowskiPhilosophy - Highly Commended
Over the four-day Summit I had some of the most interesting conversations ever with some of the greatest human beings I have ever met. The diversity of the people in attendance was astounding as well as their ideas, perspectives and views of the world
Douglas Doyle-Baker
Douglas Doyle-BakerMedical Sciences - US & Canada Regional Winner
I felt empowered, motivated and encouraged to never limit myself to the level of success I can achieve. It was also really nice to be applauded for all the hard work during my undergraduate studies
Esther Olarewaju
Esther OlarewajuBusiness - Highly Commended
The whole conference was amazing. I think my highlight might be the interdisciplinary collaboration. I got to talk to people from so many backgrounds, cultures and disciplines that it was really eye-opening and gave me a lot of ideas
Hilary Pang
Hilary PangLife Sciences - Highly Commended
Thanks to the GUA, my college has awarded me a bursary towards my postgraduate studies and a job. This has given me confidence in my abilities and has inspired me to strive for greatness in all areas of my life
Katie Duggan
Katie DugganSocial Sciences: Social Policy - Island of Ireland Regional Winner
I am a believer that the heart of innovation lies on the borders where diverse fields intersect. The Undergraduate Awards were the literal embodiment of this. When 150 attendees in 25 different disciplines come together, bringing with them an open mind to learn from others, you have the perfect recipe for great ideas and thought-provoking conversations!
Mary (Ke Meng) Wang
Mary (Ke Meng) WangLanguages & Linguistics - Global Winner
The great strength of this event is the people, the dozens of students who come from all over the world and from all disciplinary horizons. It was incredible, a unique opportunity. I come back a person changed, both personally and in my academic and professional perspectives
Mathilde Paillat
Mathilde PaillatAnthropology & Cultural Studies - Highly Commended
Never did I think that I'd ever step into Ireland until the GUA Global Summit, first time in Europe and I will never forget it! Being able to present my paper on Religious Studies on the same platform as other Arts and Science students truly exemplifies the dedication by GUA to the pursuit of truth from different perspectives
Michael Goco
Michael GocoAnthropology & Cultural Studies - Highly Commended
I have no words to express my feelings about how much this award means to me. The Undergraduate Awards has inspired, energised and motivated me to go further in achieving excellence
Sayed Ahmad Saeed
Sayed Ahmad SaeedBuilt Environment - Island of Ireland Regional Winner
At the Summit, I got some extremely valuable advice. The conversation I had has shaped my entire PhD proposal. I met inspiring individuals who generously offered to help with future work applications too. It was truly an awesome experience
Nikhil Jacob
Nikhil JacobEngineering - Europe Regional Winner
Rarely do I have the opportunity to interact with and be inspired by global scholars outside of my STEM bubble. The moment I arrived I felt an instant connection with the other attendees because of our similar yet so beautifully diverse passions for academic work. Truly a life-changing experience
Patrick Liu
Patrick LiuPsychology - Highly Commended
The GUA Global Summit was an amazing experience marked by a rich exchange of ideas among undergraduates from all over the world. It is unlike any other awards programme in existence. Ensuring top-performing students are recognised at an undergraduate level will help to foster the next generation of world-leading academics
Robert Sarich
Robert Sarich Business - Oceania Regional Winner
I left the GUA Global Summit with the overwhelming feeling that the world needs more of what I experienced: From the lecturers to the simple act of meeting so many people from all over the globe, the UA Summit impressed on me, more than anything, the need for cooperation and empathy between nations, between disciplines, and between people worldwide
Wyatt Merkley
Wyatt MerkleyLiterature - Highly Commended
Even though the UA Global Summit was only four days, my life has been forever changed. My eyes have been opened to new possibilities and exciting new ideas. I have a newfound appreciation for international cross-disciplinary collaboration and I feel inspired and motivated to make local and global changes to our world
Talitha Claassen
Talitha ClaassenNursing & Midwifery - Oceania Regional Winner
My personal experience as a GUA Global Winner was one of huge positivity, inclusivity and fun! I can very sincerely say that being involved with GUA was one of my best life experiences - and all because I clicked a button and submitted my paper
Wayne Egan
Wayne EganEarth & Environmental Sciences - Global Winner

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The GLOBAL UNDERGRADUATE AWARDS RESULTS 2025

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