Prizes - Pitch My Dissertation

Africa Pitch My Dissertation Competition

'Inspiring tomorrow's innovation leaders'

Prize and Awards

Our Awards unlock the power of student research by providing financial, academic, and professional support, ensuring that important ideas don’t end in the archives but instead become solutions to real problems.

What we’re looking for:

We’re keen to see entries that demonstrate originality, creativity, relevance, practicality and measurability.

A competitive submission should:

• improve access and quality
• be innovative and bold
• be relevant, applicable and with a high potential for impact.

How to enter

1. Complete and submit your final year Bachelor’s or Master’s dissertation
2. Submit your entry by completing the application form or uploading a short 60-second video. Entries will be shortlisted by a panel of experts. Read our terms and conditions and eligibility requirements.
3. Prepare your 5-minute pitch, if shortlisted for the Pitch Day
5. PMD Competition.

PMD Prize

An annual prize recognizing the most impactful student dissertations in the UK. PMD Prize is designed to recognize, empower and connect amazing master’s students for their impact-focused dissertation.

How it works:

1. Open call for dissertation submissions.
2. Screening and judging by an esteemed panel of academics, industry experts, and policymakers.
3. Finalists are invited to a “PmD Defence Day” to present their work.
4. Winners receive prizes, media features, and further supports for a sustainable impact.

Dissertation Support Award (DSA)

Win a 3-month grant to engage in impactful dissertation research. Check eligibility for the award and make your submission in our next open call.

PmD sources real-world problems from industries, NGOs, and public sector actors. These are packaged into dissertation opportunities that students can apply for. Selected students receive:

- Funding stipends.
- Access to relevant data.
- Mentorship from both academic and industry supervisors.
- A 3-month co-supervised research phase

Categories

Partnered Topics: These are industry funded and curated topics souced by PmD and available for student researchers on a 3-month relationship.
Student-Initiated Projects: We accept research proposals which meet our project and development criteria and provide tailored funded support to recipients of this award.

Judging panel

Shortlisted finalists and winners are assessed by an independent panel of judges. They consist of international experts and seasoned professionals in education, employability, and enterprise from private and public sectors.