The Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) recognise teaching excellence and reward the diverse contributions made by individuals and teams to the quality of student learning. 

The Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) consist of three primary award types:

• Citations for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning ('Citations') are awarded to individuals or teams who have contributed to quality student learning in a specific area over a sustained period.
• Awards for Teaching Excellence ('Teaching Awards') recognise Australia's most outstanding individuals or teams who have broadly improved student experiences and learning over a sustained period.
• Awards for Programs that Enhance Learning ('Program Awards') are open for team nominations only, and are awarded to programs and services that have set high standards for education support.

Citations and Teaching Awards cover a range of disciplinary categories and also include additional categories for multi-disciplinary practices and for sessional staff (Citations), as well as for early career academics and Indigenous teaching staff (Citations and Teaching Awards). Program Awards have separate categories around diversity and inclusion, educational partnerships, curriculum transformation, and Work Integrated Learning. Winners will be counted in the top 100 (Citations), 9 (Teaching Awards), and 4 (Program Awards) nominees in the country.

Successful applications for all three award types will need to evidence at least three years of sustained impact on student learning and student experience (two years for early career applicants), a high level of innovation and creativity, a scholarly approach to design and implementation, a commitment to iterative evaluation and improvement, and recognition from colleagues, the institution, and the broader community.

All intending applicants from the University must email Mary Wright to provide notice of intent and receive support for preparing their award nomination well ahead of the internal submission deadline (see below). Complete applications need to be submitted by this internal submission deadline for shortlisting by an internal panel. Each university is permitted to submit only a small number of nominations. This support and shortlisting process is essential to ensure that each intending applicant has the best chance of national success and recognition.

Application support

Support is available from the Educational Innovation team in the DVC (Education) Portfolio such as advice, peer feedback, and view-only examples of successful applications from previous years. Please contact Mary Wright.

Each nominee is required to prepare a submission consisting of a written statement and relevant supporting documents. This submission is referred to as a “nomination”. Once completed, the nomination must be sent to Mary Wright. who is responsible for the online submission of all nominations from the University of Sydney.

Additional resources

• All applicants should read the AAUT Quick Reference document. This document outlines the award types, requirements, categories, subcategories, and (importantly) the assessment criteria. The information and application packs for each award type are available on the AAUT website (expand the 'nominate' heading').
• Tips for writing a successful application, and examples of effective evidence can be found in the 'How to Nominate' section.
• Structuring the argument for a teaching award (pdf, 95KB)
• The Impact Management Planning and Evaluation Ladder (pdf, 400KB)

Key Dates (2026 dates to be announced)

Reimagine Education is a global award program for educational innovation, wrapped around an end-of-year conference. Often characterised as the 'Oscars of Education', Reimagine Education is run by the prestigious QS Wharton group. Entries close typically around September, and a number of award categories can be entered into including hybrid learning, nurturing employability, elearning, ICT tools for teaching, learning, and support, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and more.

Support is available to intending applicants through Educational Innovation. Applications are made directly to Reimagine Education.

The Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) runs a yearly regional award scheme to celebrate individuals or teams working to use technology for teaching and learning in exemplary and evidence-informed ways. Nominees must be members of ASCILITE to submit an application.

Support is available to intending applicants through Educational Innovation. Applications are made directly to ASCILITE.