Spotlight your fave teacher at the Students' Choice Teaching Awards

Got a teacher who made a positive impact on your learning? Nominate them for an award!

Published on the 21 July 2026

Teacher interacting with diverse group of engaged students during study session around table, with books and educational materials in background, creating a collaborative learning atmosphere

What are the Students' Choice Teaching Awards?

The Students' Choice Teaching Awards (SCTA) are UNSW's way of celebrating those teachers who have helped make learning engaging, inspiring and memorable.

It's an annual award handed out to five teachers who have gone above and beyond in teaching, inspiring and motivating their students.

What makes the SCTAs unique is that all nominees are submitted and voted on by UNSW students. That's right, you and your university peers have a say in who gets nominated and decide who will win the award.

This is a special honour in which UNSW students will not only have their voices heard, but it's also an opportunity to showcase the lecturers, tutors, demonstrators, counsellors and advisors who have motivated and pushed them to be the best versions of themselves at university.

Past SCTA winners

Why are the SCTAs important?

Have you ever had a lecturer who not only made classes interesting but also inspired you? Or perhaps there's that tutor who seemed to know everything and had an otherworldly ability to help you easily understand the course material?

Many amazing teachers at UNSW have helped countless students get through those difficult uni moments and have left a profound impact. Yet, teachers in general are underappreciated despite the important work they do.

That's why the SCTAs exist.

It's a way to show recognition for all the hard work teachers do, to highlight their contributions and to allow the students whom they've inspired to spotlight them.

Nominate the teachers who made a real difference

This is your chance to shine the (metaphorical) spotlight on the teachers who have made a real difference to your time at UNSW.

Not only will you have the opportunity to recognise a teacher who had a profound impact on your learning, but you'll get a $50 gift card if you submit a winning nomination.

Nominations are open from Monday 13 July to Sunday 16 August (midnight). The winners will be announced at the 2026 UNSW Education Festival.

Don't miss out on this chance to show some recognition to the teachers who have inspired, motivated and changed your worldview for the better.

Submit your nomination

The SCTAs nomination and judging process

If you have a teacher you want to nominate, the first step is to write a short statement explaining how and why the educator deserves an award. The winner will be judged on the content of that statement, with an emphasis on teachers who inspire, motivate and change a student's worldview, self-image or aspirations.

Nominations will be de-identified and judged by a panel of students who will choose the final five winners. To give your nomination the best chance of winning, try to include details and examples that illustrate the impact this teacher has on their students.

Who can I nominate?

It's pretty open in terms of nominations! You can nominate lecturers, tutors, demonstrators and basically anyone you've encountered at any point in your time at UNSW.