The UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research acknowledges a high level of achievement in research and scholarship. The award could enhance the winner's resume and/or graduate school application. Each winning submission receives a $2,000 or $1,000 cash prize. Winners will be featured on the UBC Undergraduate Prize in Library Research website. Winners will be asked to give a short presentation on their research at the celebration event in May.

Eligibility to submit for the prizes are as follows:

• Applicants must be currently enrolled in their first UBC undergraduate program at either at UBCV or UBCO.
• Applicants from any discipline or major, and from both campuses, are encouraged to apply.
• Group projects may be submitted

Yes.

Yes.

Work done in an undergraduate course or a course assignment for an undergraduate course completed between September 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022, and for which UBC library materials, services and personnel were used. For the 2024 prize, the library will be looking for work completed in courses between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023.

Yes. Group assignments and projects are eligible. All group members who contributed to the assignment must be listed, and the prize money will be shared equally among all group members.

As an individual, you may submit more than one paper/project but will only be eligible to be considered for one prize. However, if you are submitting a group assignment application, you may also submit an individual application. In addition to an individual submission you may also be part of a group submission.

During your first UBC undergraduate program at either at UBCV or UBCO you may apply every year.

The research paper/project should be a major component of a course grade, but can be any length. The reflective statement, on which this Prize is judged, regarding the research paper/project will be between 600-1000 words.

Generally speaking a research paper/project that requires research using library resources would include a bibliography. If your submission does not include a bibliography please address that (explain why not) in your reflective statement.

Applicants are required to submit:

• A research paper or project
• A reflective statement of between 600-1000 words
• A letter of support from Faculty member who taught the course for which the paper or project was created

The Prize Adjudication will be carried out by Librarians, Faculty, student representation from both UBCO and UBCV and led by the Associate University Librarian Research and Scholarship. The committee will strive to reflect the mix of disciplines available on both campuses.

Check with your faculty registrar for confirmation if you are unsure of what year of study you are in.

If your original assignment was written in a language other than English, you do not have to translate the assignment for this application. However, your reflective statement must be in English. Additionally, submissions of works in other languages may benefit from the inclusion of an English translation.

The support letter may be authored by the TA and must include comments from the Professor.

Yes. Please refer to the Instructor Information page guidelines.

Yes, You may endorse as many as you like.

What if a group of students submits a group project; do I need to endorse each student separately?

For group applications, you only need one letter of support for the group.

All prize winners and applicants will be notified by early-April 2023. 

No. Applicants will however receive a confirmation email of receipt after applying.

To support the Undergraduate Prize in Library Research, and ensure that UBC Library can continue to develop and recognize the research skills of our students, please contact the Library Development Office at library.development@ubc.ca.

Please email library.ugradprize@ubc.ca.