Global Undergraduate Awards: 2024 winners

The winners of the 2024 Global Undergraduate Awards (GUA) have been announced.

This initiative recognises undergraduate research work from students around the globe, spanning diverse academic fields such as architecture, engineering, life sciences and more.

Garrett Maher, executive director of the Global Undergraduate Awards, said: “The aim of the Global Undergraduate Awards is to empower students, help them realise their full potential, and give them the confidence to utilise their intellect to shape a brighter future. Opportunities for undergraduates to gain recognition beyond their institutions are limited, and we strive to change that by showcasing the significance of their contributions.”

2024 global winners

This year, 25 global winners have been honoured for their submissions, representing universities and institutions from every continent. Each of the global winners will receive a gold medal and a certificate of recognition, and have their work published in The Undergraduate Library. Each one has also been awarded a fully funded trip to attend the highly anticipated UA Global Summit in Dublin, Ireland.

Global winners by category

1. Sara AlMahmoud architecture and design, American University of Sharjah*

2. Amelia Ong Tsi Ying art history and theory, Nanyang Technological University

3. Beverley Cheah Xiao Hui business and economics, University of Warwick

4. Christy Yu-Qing Xie chemical and pharmaceutical sciences, Western University

5. James Kenneth classical studies and archaeology, Western University

6. Bruno Rafael Florentino computer science, University of São Paulo

7. Joshua Hurdiss earth and environmental sciences, University of Sheffield

8. Alethea Yeo Yen Ning education, Nanyang Technological University

9. Balvinder Kaur Dhillon engineering, Queen Mary University of London

10. Koh Horn Ray history, Nanyang Technological University

11. Anne White O’Brien law, University of Galway

12. Sean Phang Kia Ann life sciences, Nanyang Technological University

13. Judit Casas i Riu linguistics, Trinity College Dublin

14. Nurul Syahirah Nadirah binte Noorrisham literature, Nanyang Technological University

15. Hongshu Wang mass communications, Western University

16. Mikko Toivo Johannes Seppälä mathematics and physics, University of Helsinki

17. Muriel Gisa Heitsch medical sciences, Karolinska Institute

18. Rosina Lui music, film and theatre, University College Utrecht

19. Richard Croft nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare, Ulster University

20. Rachael Li philosophy, University of Sydney

21. Kai Ingot Damai Siallagan politics and international relations, Queen’s University

22. Diana Maria Urian psychology, Western University

23. Avery Huang social sciences: anthropology and cultural studies, Yale-NUS College

24. Elizabeth Ng Si Jie social sciences: sociology and social policy, London School of Economics and Political Science

25. Evie Rose Thornton visual arts, University of Dundee

*The Global Winner for the architecture and design category this year is represented by a team led by Sara AlMahmoud, alongside her teammate Maryan AlQassim.

“The calibre of submissions – the depth and breadth of research, and the compelling analysis and arguments presented – was truly remarkable. It felt like we were reviewing chapters of a book rather than essays submitted for the Global Undergraduate Awards,” said Professor Marco Sonzogni, Victoria University of Wellington and chair judge.

2024 regional winners

In addition to the global winners, regional winners have also been recognised. These students, the highest-performing entrants from each region, are celebrated for their outstanding contributions within their respective subject categories.

The GUA regions include Africa and the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Oceania, Ireland, the Americas, and the United Kingdom.

Regional winners are awarded a certificate of recognition, have their work published in The Undergraduate Library, and are invited to attend the UA Global Summit.

For a full list of the 2024 global and regional winners, visit the Global Undergraduate Awards winners page.

Highly commended entrants

Those who ranked in the top 10 per cent of their respective categories are recognised as highly commended entrants. These entrants are awarded a certificate of recognition, gain access to the UA Alumni Network, and have the opportunity to attend the UA Global Summit. Their work will also be published in The Undergraduate Library.

Alumni winners

• James Kenneth (Western University, Canada) – James was a global winner in classical studies and archaeology last year and has achieved global winner status again this year.
• Nurul Syahirah Nadirah binte Noorrisham (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) – Nurul was a highly commended entrant in literature last year and has achieved global winner status this year. Her journey from highly commended to global winner reflects her exceptional growth and academic progression.

The success of alumni winners such as James and Nurul highlights the lasting impact of the GUA, fostering their academic careers and encouraging ongoing innovation and research.

GUA Global Summit 2024

The Global Undergraduate Summit is a unique three-day event designed to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, international collaboration and lifelong connections.

This year, the Global Summit 2024 will take place on 10-13 November in Dublin, Ireland, bringing together top-performing students and recent graduates to celebrate their achievements.

Enter the 2025 Global Undergraduate Awards

Are you an undergraduate student passionate about your research? Do you want your work to be recognised on an international platform? Submissions for the 2025 Global Undergraduate Awards will open soon, offering students a chance to compete for global recognition.

1. Check your eligibility

Undergraduate students in their final or penultimate year, or recent graduates from the past year, may submit their work. Part-time students may enter once they have completed two-thirds of their degree. Integrated master’s students can submit only work from the undergraduate portion of their course.

2. Choose your category

GUA accepts submissions in 25 subject categories, from architecture to medical sciences. Make sure to select the category that best aligns with your work.

3. Prepare your submission

Ensure that your submission is well prepared and meets all GUA criteria. Submissions are assessed on originality, focus and rigour by an international panel of judges.

4. Register and submit

Submitting your work is easy, quick and free. Register and upload your entry via GUA’s online submission platform.

Why enter?

By submitting to the Global Undergraduate Awards, students gain the opportunity to have their work recognised by top international experts, giving them the opportunity to form lifelong connections with fellow high achievers.

Visit the Global Undergraduate Awards website for full details on the submission process, categories and key dates for 2025.