Student awards

Undergraduate student awards

Please visit this page for general information about awards within the Department of Philosophy.

Jim and June Young Memorial Scholarship

One or more scholarships are awarded to undergraduate or graduate students in the Department of Philosophy. Applications together with a letter outlining the students’ involvement with social democracy and/or industrial democracy must be submitted to the Chair of the Department by March 15th.

In the case of an undergraduate student, selection will be made by the Senate Committee on Awards upon the recommendation of the Department of Philosophy. In the case of a graduate student, selection will be made by the Graduate Awards Committee upon the recommendation of the Department of Philosophy.

The Rodger Beehler Outstanding Essay Prize

Each year the department invites faculty to nominate undergraduate student papers they believe to be of outstanding quality. The chair determines the $100 prize recipient.

The David Kaplan Book Prize in Honours Philosophy

This $100 prize is awarded each year to the student graduating in Honours Philosophy with the highest standing in those Philosophy courses offered for the degree.

The Anna Bertha and Frank Kluge Scholarship

This scholarship is awarded to a student with the highest standing entering fourth year of an honours program in the Department of Philosophy. The value of the award varies but has been as much as $250 for past recipients.

Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards

The department is able to nominate up to three students for this prestigious undergraduate award. Learn more about the Jamie Cassels Undergraduate Research Awards. The deadline to submit applications to the Philosophy Undergraduate Advisor is July 15^th.

Murray and Lynda Farmer Award for Critical Thinking*

One or more awards are given to a continuing undergraduate student in the Faculty of Humanities with a declared Philosophy major who demonstrates originality, critical thinking, good work habits and organizational skills in their coursework, has a GPA of at least 5.0/9.0, and demonstrates community or on campus involvement through volunteerism.

Applicants must submit:

• a personal statement (maximum 500 words) detailing both their volunteer experience and their originality, critical thinking, good work habits and organizational skills in their coursework.
• a letter of reference from a UVic Professor attesting to the student’s originality, critical thinking, work habits, and organizational skills
• a letter of reference (maximum 300 words each) from a volunteer organization.  Referees cannot be related to the applicant.

Approval of the recipient(s) will be made by the Senate Committee on Awards upon the recommendation of the Department of Philosophy.

First disbursement September 2023.

*Funded by the University Of Victoria Foundation

Application deadline: May 31st.

The John A. Farvolden Book Prize in Ethics

A book prize is awarded to the student who achieves the highest standing in Philosophy 335: Moral Philosophy.

Edward Mothersill Scholarship In Philosophy

One or more scholarships are awarded to undergraduate students entering 3^rd or 4^th year in a Major or Honours program in the Department of Philosophy.

The Zwicky Prize

The Zwicky Prize is awarded to a student who displays enthusiastic dedication to the study of philosophy and who manifests a commitment to encouraging or facilitating philosophical inquiry by fellow students. The award carries with it a $100 gift certificate. Recipients will also receive a copy of Professor Zwicky’s books Lyric Philosophy and Wisdom and Metaphor. Eligible recipients must be majoring in philosophy. The prize honours the diverse and valuable contributions to philosophy made by Jan Zwicky, a former Professor of Philosophy at the University of Victoria. Professor Zwicky’s remarkable body of work and her standing as an insightful philosopher, celebrated poet and dedicated teacher inspired and continue to inspire serious engagement with fundamental philosophical issues by students, faculty and the general public. For Professor Zwicky, “Philosophy is thinking in love with clarity.” This prize celebrates students who pursue wisdom with a seriousness of purpose and who seek to help others join that pursuit.

Nominations for the Zwicky Prize should be made each year by March 31. A nomination should include a brief explanation of why the nominee is a good candidate for the prize. Nominations should be submitted to the Chair of Philosophy.   

Award Winners