APS Prize

1. Candidates need not be members of the APS.
2. The APS Prize may be awarded to the student who gains first place at the end of either:
   1. an APAC-accredited program in psychology of four (4) years’ duration leading to a single qualification; or
   2. an APAC-accredited fourth year program in psychology comprising one (1) year equivalent of study.
3. When two (2) or more students gain first place based on their results for the fourth year, the relevant academic organisational unit is required to select one (1) of these students for the APS Prize, based initially on the mark awarded for the fourth year thesis and, if this does not separate the students, then based upon performance in psychology units in their third year.
4. Only students who have completed all work by the end-of-year examination period and whose results have been ratified by the appropriate higher education provider Board of Examiners are eligible for consideration for the APS Prize in that year.

Successful Candidates for the APS Prize will receive:

1. A letter from the APS President that recognizes the excellence of their achievements in studying psychology
2. A certificate
3. An offer of one year of complimentary membership of the Society provided that the successful Candidate makes an application for membership within three (3) months of receiving notice of their Prize. Any successful Candidate who is an existing Student or Associate Member of the Society will be offered membership of the Society for the following twelve (12) months at no cost

3.1 Nomination Process

1. The APS will contact the Heads of School or Department of each higher education provider which fulfils the requirements set out in clause 1(b), calling for recommendation of Candidates for the APS Prize.
2. In response to a call for recommendation, the Heads of Schools or Departments shall recommend Candidates to the APS.
3. In cases where there is more than one Department at the same institution, the Head of School or Department should provide confirmation with the recommendation that appropriate intra-departmental consultation and inter-departmental consultation has occurred prior to making the recommendation.
4. Nominations should be submitted by the Head of School or Department (or their nominated delegate), using the APS’ online nomination form and must include:
   1. The name of the recommended Candidate for that year
   2. The title of the recommend Candidate’s thesis
   3. A copy of the relevant thesis abstract
   4. A copy of the recommended Candidate’s academic transcript.

3.2 Selection Process

1. Board-appointed delegates will be responsible for considering and endorsing recommendations from the Heads of Schools and Departments on behalf of the APS Board.

3.3 Award Presentation

1. All Candidates will be formally notified in writing before any public announcement is made. Successful Candidates will receive a letter of congratulations from the APS President on behalf of the Board.
2. The prize will normally be presented by a representative from the Branch of the APS closest to the campus of the tertiary institution in which the student completed the program of study in psychology, at a presentation event organised by that institution’s Head of School or Department.
3. The list of APS Prize winners and their thesis topics will be published on the APS website.

Each year the nominations for APS Prize will open in November, and nominations received by Monday 20 January the following year.

Nominations can only be accepted from the Head of School or Department.

Online APS Prize Nomination form

Any questions?

For any queries about the APS Prize or the online nomination form, contact the Awards team via [email protected].