BGA Masters Dissertation Prize

BGA Masters Dissertation Prize

The 2022 BGA Masters Dissertation Prize is now open for submissions.

Eligibility

The competition is open to student members of the BGA who will be completing a dissertation in 2022, either as part of a taught course MEng or a coursework-based MSc at a British University.

The dissertation should be completed in the field of soil mechanics, geotechnical engineering, geo-environmental engineering, engineering geology or an allied subject. It is intended that the dissertation should represent the student’s own work completed as part of the final year assessment for an MEng graduate degree or as part of coursework completed in satisfaction of an MSc postgraduate degree. Dissertations produced as part of MRes or similar postgraduate research based degrees/diplomas etc are not eligible for the award.

Judging

Entries will be judged by a panel of members of the BGA Executive Committee. The panel will contain both practising geotechnical engineers and academics.
Entries will be assessed using a range of criteria, including: scientific quality; originality; depth and breadth of understanding; standard of presentation; practical significance.

The BGA reserves the right to make no award.

Procedure

1. There is a limit of one entry per course from each university, the expectation being that this would be the top-ranking dissertation(s) emerging from the university’s own assessment process for each MSc or MEng course.
2. The entry should be submitted by the Masters course leader or the dissertation supervisor on behalf of the student.
3. If the student is not a BGA member, he/she should be encouraged to join immediately using the Concessionary Student application form available here to ensure eligibility for the prize.
4. The entry should comprise:
   1. a completed application form submitted in Excel format
   2. the student’s masters dissertation, as submitted for assessment, in pdf format
   3. A citation letter from the course leader or dissertation supervisor, briefly outlining why the dissertation is considered prize-worthy, in pdf format
5. The entry should be sent by email to bga@ice.org.uk
6. The closing date for entries is midnight on 31 January 2023.
7. The outcome will be notified during spring/early summer 2023.
8. The winner may be invited to prepare a technical paper, based on the dissertation, for publication in Ground Engineering magazine and to present at the 2023 BGA AGM.

The Masters Dissertation Prize rules and application form can be downloaded below:

BGA Masters Dissertation Prize Rules

BGA Masters Dissertation Prize Application Form

List of winners of BGA Masters Dissertation Prize