Sir Roger Newdigate's Prize, more commonly the Newdigate Prize, is awarded by the University of Oxford for the Best Composition in English verse by an undergraduate student.[1] It was founded in 1806 as a memorial to Sir Roger Newdigate (1719–1806).[2] The winning poem is announced at Encaenia.[3] Instructions are published as follows: "The length of the poem is not to exceed 300 lines.[3] The metre is not restricted to heroic couplets, but dramatic form of composition is not allowed."
Where known, the title of the winning poem is given, followed by the name of the author. Each year links to its corresponding "[year] in poetry" article:
↑The set subject for this year was "Memoirs of Tiresias".
References
↑"Prizes and Studentships". www.english.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 April 2023. The prize is open to current matriculated undergraduate students of the university.
↑"Sir Roger Newdigate's Prize". Oxford Poetry. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012. Sir Roger Newdigate's Prize for English Verse was founded in 1806 as a memorial to Sir Roger, fifth baronet (1719–1806) and Oxford university politician.
↑The Historical Register of the University of Oxford: being a supplement to the Oxford University calendar with an alphabetical record of University honours and distinctions completed to the end of Trinity term, 1900. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 1900. p.166.
↑Boyd Litzinger; Donald Smalley (1995). Richard Browning: The Critical Heritage. Routledge. p.93. ISBN0-415-13451-X.
↑"Prizes and Studentships". University of Oxford Faculty of English. Retrieved 27 October 2016. In 2016 the Sir Roger Newdigate Prize was awarded to Mary Anne Clark for her entry 'Sinai'.
↑"Prizes and Studentships". University of Oxford Faculty of English. Retrieved 4 March 2019. In 2018 the Sir Roger Newdigate Prize was not awarded.
↑"Prizes and Studentships". University of Oxford Faculty of English. Retrieved 12 June 2019. In 2019 the Sir Roger Newdigate Prize was not awarded.
↑"Prizes and Studentships". www.english.ox.ac.uk. 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 2 June 2020. The winner for the Sir Roger Newdigate Prize in 2019-20 was Rachel Leung, for her entry 'the summer critter speaks not of frost.'
↑"Prizes and Studentships". University of Oxford Faculty of English. Retrieved 10 May 2021. In 2021 the Sir Roger Newdigate Prize was awarded to Annabelle Fuller for her entry 'Koinobionts'.
↑"Prizes and Studentships". www.english.ox.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. The winner for the Sir Roger Newdigate Prize in 2023-24 was Shaw Worth (Magdalen College), for their submissions: 'At the Papal Palace' and 'After 'Horses, Peacefully Farting & Snoring''.
↑"Prizes and Studentships". www.english.ox.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 21 June 2025. The winner for the Sir Roger Newdigate Prize in 2024-25 was Austin Spendlowe (Lincoln College), for their submissions: 'Jongleurs'.
Sources
Richter, editor, Annie J. (1946). Literary Prizes and Their Winners. R. R. Bowker Co.
