Prizes for Student Achievement

The Department of History and Welsh History awards a number of prizes each year for the best performance by students in the following categories:

Year 1 - Sir Rees Davies Prize

Awarded for the best overall performance of a History student at Part 1. The prize is in memory of the late Sir Rees Davies, a distinguished medieval historian who was head of department at Aberystwyth for many years.

Year 2 - Alun Lewis Memorial Prize

Awarded for the best performance by a 2nd year student. The prize is in memory of Alun Lewis, an acclaimed poet and short-story writer who studied History at Aberystwyth.

Year 3 - Alun G Davies Dissertation Prize

Awarded for the best 3rd year dissertation. The prize is in memory or Alun G. Davies, a former treasurer of the University.

Year 3 - Joseph Hamwee Prize

Awarded for the best performance by a 3rd year student. The prize is in memory of Joseph Hamwee, a former student.

The department also awards a number of subject-specific prizes:

Welsh History Prizes

These are awarded for the best performance in Welsh History. They alternate between: Gwobr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Aberystwyth/the Aberystwyth National Eisteddfod Prize, and Gwobr T.E. Ellis/ the T.E. Ellis Prize

Robert Harrison American History Prize

Awarded for the best performance in the history of the Americas. The prize is in memory of the late Dr Robert Harrison, who lectured in American history for many years at Aberystwyth and wrote a number of well regarded books on modern American history.

John Davidson Historiography Prize

Awarded for the best performance in work relating to historiography. The prize is in memory of the late Dr John Davidson, a former Head of Department at Aberystwyth, who helped establish the study of historiography as part of the department’s curriculum.