Faculty of Arts

Application enquiries should be directed to the Prizes and Scholarships Office, Arts Faculty via Email: artsprizes-info@unimelb.edu.au

This Prize aims to encourage postgraduate students at the University of Melbourne who are enrolled in Creative Writing to submit an extended prose manuscript, with the opportunity for professional development and possible publication.

Postgraduate students enrolled in Creative Writing in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne

The Selection Panel will short-list a maximum of six (6) manuscripts. The Penguin Group will then select a winner from the short-list. In the event that Penguin does not select a winner, the Prize will not be offered for that year.

Selection Process dates

• Nov-Jan - Applications are accepted.
• 1 Feb - Entries close.
• March-April - Selection Panel short lists a minimum of six manuscripts for consideration.
• May-June - Penguin Group select a winner from the short list and announce it to the Selection Panel.
• July-Winner is announced.

The short list for the prize will be judged by the Selection Panel. Members of the Panel will consult with each other and agree on the composition of the Selection Panel and terms of reference. The Selection Panel will consist of:

• three Faculty staff members of the University, one of whom will act as Chair of the Selection Panel; and either
• a nominated representative of Penguin Books or
• other persons that the Parties agree would contribute to the integrity of and reflect the values of the Prize.

A short-list of entries will be prepared by the selection committee and the final selection will be made by Penguin Books Australia.

The Penguin Group will then select a winner from the short-list. The winner will be announced in July. In the event that Penguin does not select a winner, the Prize will not be offered for that year.

Penguin Group has the first right of refusal over the winning manuscript.

• Entry is available to University of Melbourne Masters or PhD creative writing students who have been enrolled during the 12 months prior to competition entry date.
• Entrants must be Australian citizens.
• Manuscripts submitted for this Prize must be at least 40,000 words but can be part of a longer manuscript;
• The Prize is open to works in any prose genre (poetry and scripts are excluded);
• Only one manuscript per student per competition is allowed.
• The Prize is open to emerging writers who do not have a significant publication record. In line with the general outline set out by the Australia Council for "New Work - Literature" grants a writer with a significant publication record is one who has:
1. more than two full-length literary works published (including works of young adult literature or junior fiction over 30,000 words) or
2. more than three full length works performed; or
3. more than seven children's books published (up to 30,000 words)
• Contestants with a significant publication record  should not enter for this Prize.
• Contestants warrant that:
1. the manuscript is an original work, has not been previously published or made available in any form anywhere throughout the world and is in no way whatever an infringement of any existing copyright or licence or any other right of any person or otherwise actionable at law;
2. the manuscript contains no defamatory matter, any material in breach of official secrets laws or any matter which invades any individual’s rights of privacy and all statements in the Work purporting to be facts are true; and
3. the work is capable of protection by copyright.
4. Contestants who want to be considered for the Prize must be aware that Penguin Group has first right of refusal over the winning manuscript.  Penguin Group has sole discretion to decide whether or not it wants to publish the manuscript or enter into a commercial arrangement with the Prize-winner. In the event that Penguin Group decides not to enter into a commercial arrangement with Prize-winner, then the Prize-winner will be free of commitment to Penguin Group.

In electronic applications, applicants must include:

• Postgraduate Scholarships/Prizes Application Cover Sheet and Budget Cover Sheet
• academic record
• A manuscript with at least 40,000 words of a book-length creative prose (do not write your name on the manuscript only the title )(5 copies)
• details about whether they are a full- or part-time student
• a certified copy of their birth certificate or other proof of Australian citizenship.

Part-time students please note that the University is required to withhold tax from scholarship payments.

Submit five (5) hard copies of your manuscript and one copy of all other documentation to:

Attention: Penguin Manuscript Award

C/- Scholarship and Prizes Officer

Arts & Music Student Centre

Rm 104 (Ground Floor) Old Arts Building
T: +61 3 8344 5321/+61 3 8344 6395
F: +61 3 9347 0424
Email: artsprizes-info@unimelb.edu.au

The judges' decision will be final and the University reserves the right not to award the prize in the event it is considered that no work of sufficient merit has been submitted.