Marvin OnumonuTimes Higher Education has revealed the shortlist for its 2025 awards for the UK and Ireland.
More than 120 institutions sent in over 500 entries, with 69 making the final shortlist across 21 categories.
The event will take place in Scotland for the first time, with winners to be named at the EICC in Edinburgh on 13th November.
A new category, Specialist Institution of the Year, was added this year.
Six universities are up for University of the Year: Heriot-Watt University, Queen Mary University of London, Teesside University, University of East London, University of Hertfordshire and University of Worcester.
Aston University, University of Exeter, University of Hertfordshire, University of Salford and University of Warwick were each shortlisted in four categories.
Chris Havergal, editor at Times Higher Education, said: “At a time of unprecedented challenge for higher education, the THE Awards enter their third decade as a steady and staunch reminder of the exceptional work that continues to take place across the UK and Ireland every day, on campuses and beyond.
“That we received well over 500 entries for this year’s awards is a sure sign that the sector’s commitment to transforming lives for the better is undimmed.
“We offer our sincere congratulations to all those institutions and individuals shortlisted – it really is an achievement to have reached this stage in a very competitive year.”
Havergal added: “At THE, we have long recognised that the sector draws so much strength from its diversity and that there is no single model of success.
“That’s why we are delighted to see such a wide range of providers making the shortlists, including for the new category of Specialist Institution of the Year, which honours some of our truly unsung heroes.
“We are also hugely excited to be taking this year’s awards ceremony to Scotland for the first time.”
He said: “We look forward to you joining us in Edinburgh on 13 November for a special celebration of innovation and excellence in higher education, which in these times go unrecognised or underappreciated far too often.”
Shortlisted for Business School of the Year are Aston Business School, J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at University of Galway, Liverpool Business School, LSBU Business School, Royal Docks School of Business and Law, and University of Exeter Business School. For International Collaboration of the Year, Loughborough University, the Open University, University of Birmingham, University of Exeter, University of Leicester and University of Warwick were named.
Lancaster University, University of Chester, University of Essex, University of Huddersfield, University of Reading and University of Warwick are in the running for Knowledge Exchange/Transfer Initiative of the Year.
Shortlisted for Most Innovative Teacher of the Year are Zemin Chen at University of Lancashire, Cora Beth Fraser at the Open University, Brian Freeland at Dublin City University, Edvard Glücksman at University of Exeter, Matthew Jones at University of Salford, Kate Knight at University of Chester, Jon Newton at University of the West of England and Marie Taillard at ESCP Business School.
Aston University, Cardiff Metropolitan University, King’s College London, Nottingham Trent University, Royal Northern College of Music and University of York are up for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership.
Buckinghamshire New University, Liverpool John Moores University, Royal College of Art, University of Glasgow, University of Leicester and University of Liverpool with upReach were shortlisted for Outstanding Contribution to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
Aston University, Cardiff University, King’s College London, Nottingham Trent University, Teesside University and University of Chichester are in the running for Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community.
Shortlisted for Outstanding Entrepreneurial University are Cranfield University, Imperial College London, Northeastern University – London, Swansea University, University of South Wales and University of Southampton.
For Outstanding Estates Team, the shortlist includes Abertay University, Buckinghamshire New University, ESCP Business School, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, University of Hertfordshire and University of Huddersfield.
Birmingham Newman University, Royal College of Art, Royal Northern College of Music, University of Chichester, University of Strathclyde and University of West London made the shortlist for Outstanding Library Team of the Year.
Edinburgh Napier University, Loughborough University, University of Birmingham, University of Hertfordshire, University of Southampton and University of Wolverhampton were shortlisted for Outstanding Marketing/Communications Team of the Year.
Shortlisted for Outstanding Research Supervisor of the Year are Qammer Abbasi at University of Glasgow, Josie Barnard at De Montfort University, Lars Chittka at Queen Mary University of London, Andy Clarke at University of Lancashire, Stephen Gibson at Heriot-Watt University, Ursula Hurley at University of Salford, Alastair Owens at Queen Mary University of London and Michael Sweet at University of Derby.
De Montfort University, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Salford, University of South Wales, University of Warwick and University of Westminster are in the running for Outstanding Support for Students.
The shortlist for Outstanding Technician of the Year features Jiteen Ahmed at Aston University, Helena Brown at University of Leeds, Phil Chaplain at Robert Gordon University, Alex Laude at Newcastle University, Linda Lightley at Northumbria University, John Nicolson at University of Cambridge, Joe Rees-Jones at University of York and Kate Robinson at Harper Adams University.
Kingston University (in collaboration with the Open University, the Mary Stevens Hospice, Dimensions, MacIntyre and the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group), Northeastern University – London, University of Exeter, University of Glasgow, University of Leicester and University of Salford are up for Research Project of the Year: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Kingston University, University of Birmingham, University of Cambridge, University of Lancashire, University of Reading and University of West London are shortlisted for Research Project of the Year: STEM.
Specialist Institution of the Year finalists are Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, Falmouth University, Harper Adams University, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering and Norland.
Dublin City University, Solent University, University of Cambridge, University of Chester, University of Edinburgh and University of Leeds are shortlisted for Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year.
Liverpool John Moores University, Sheffield Hallam University, the Open University, University of Greenwich, University of Hertfordshire and University of Warwick are in the running for Widening Participation or Outreach Initiative of the Year.
