2027 Honours & Awards launches with new student awards

The RCVS Honours and Awards programme recognises veterinary and veterinary nursing students, veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and laypeople, both in the UK and overseas, who are carrying out exemplary work across the breadth of veterinary endeavour.

For next year’s awards it was decided that the previous Student Community Award – which was for both vet students and student vet nurses – should become two separate awards: the Student Community Award for Vet Nursing Students and the Student Community Award for Vet Students. 

Commenting on the changes, Lizzie Lockett, our Chief Executive Officer, said: “Over the years we have received some excellent and inspiring nominations for the Student Community Award, showcasing the very best of what students can do for each other and their wider community. 

“However, the vast majority of the nominations were for veterinary students and so, to avoid confusion and encourage more SVN nominations, we have split the award to make sure that SVNs get full representation.”

The two new awards join the current roster of RCVS awards, all of which are now open for nominations: 

• The Queen’s Medal – an award for a veterinary surgeon who has achieved a highly distinguished career with sustained and outstanding achievements throughout.
   
• The Veterinary Nursing Golden Jubilee Award - awarded to a veterinary nurse who has had a sustained and distinguished career, who can demonstrate a leadership role within the profession and who can act as an ambassador for the value of veterinary nurses and their work.
   
• The RCVS Collaboration Award – awarded to a project that involves more than one individual, organisation or group, that has made a difference to the veterinary professions, animal health or welfare, one health or public health, through working together in a structured way. Self-nominations from within the team are allowed for this award. 
   
• The RCVS International Award - awarded to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses or laypeople, ie those who are neither MsRCVS nor RVNs, who have made an outstanding contribution on issues that are in line with the RCVS mission. Self-nominations are allowed for this award. 
   
• The RCVS Impact Award - awarded to veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses, or a vet- or RVN-led team, that has recently made a considerable impact in terms of clinical or research work, that has led to a profound change in the professions at large, animal health or welfare, one health, or public health. This could include practice-based research, providing it has received appropriate ethical approval. Self-nominations are allowed for this award. 
   
• The RCVS Inspiration Award - awarded to veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses who have demonstrated the ability to inspire and enthuse others consistently throughout their careers. Self-nominations are allowed for this award. 
   
• Honorary Associateship - awarded to laypeople who have made a special contribution to the veterinary sphere and could include, for example, scientists, lecturers, journalists, charity-workers, farriers, farmers and those involved in the commercial field. Please note that those who appear within any category of the RCVS Register, whether that be temporary, practising, overseas-practising or non-practising, cannot be nominated for this award.
   
• The RCVS Compassion Award - awarded to a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse at any stage of their career who has demonstrated compassion towards fellow professionals and/or members of the animal-owning public. Self-nominations are allowed for this award. 

Further details about each of the awards and the downloadable nomination forms can be found on the individual award pages, where you can also find lists of recent winners. 

The closing date for nominations is 5pm on Monday 11 January. 

An overview of all the awards can be found on our dedicated Honours and Awards page.