College competitions 2026

If you are skilled at public engagement or essay writing, please consider entering one of our competitions. They have a variety of entry criteria and offer valuable experience for your CV as well as opportunities to win a cash prize.

The College currently has 2 competitions open:

the Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize, open to UK-based foundation doctors.
the Science Communication Prize, open to undergraduates, foundation doctors and pathology trainees in the UK.

Further details on each of these are detailed below.

Each year the College runs 2 essay prizes: the Paula Domizio essay prize for undergraduates, and the Hugh Platt Foundation Essay Prize for foundation doctors. The undergraduate essay prize deadline has passed for this year, but Foundation doctors who aspire to specialise in pathology still have time to enter the Hugh Platt Foundation essay competition, in which they are encouraged to explore an area of pathology in greater depth through a written piece. For 2026, the essay subject focuses on pathology tests and their impact on patients.

This year’s essay assignment is ‘300,000 different pathology tests are performed every working day across the UK. Write about an example from your time as a foundation doctor where one of these pathology tests had a significant impact/outcome for either you or your patient.’

The essays will be judged by Dr Matthew Clarke, the College’s Undergraduate and Foundation Lead; Professor Angharad Davies, our Clinical Director for Publishing and Engagement; and Dr Noha El Sakka OBE, our Vice President for Communications. The winner will receive a £250 prize and will be presented with a certificate at a College event. They will also have their essay published on the College website and in the Bulletin. This is a great way for foundation doctors to further enhance their CV ahead of applying to specialty training. The deadline is 23:59 on Monday 11 May 2026. Full details of how to enter and terms and conditions can be found on our website.

Last year’s prize winning essays were published in October’s issue of the Bulletin. Further details on the 2025 winners can be found on the competition page of the website.

Please share details of the essay prize with any foundation doctors in your networks.

The RCPath Science Communication Prize opens this month. It is open to UK undergraduates, foundation doctors and pathology trainees to recognise excellence in science communication throughout the year.

The prizes aim to:

cultivate awareness among pathology trainees and undergraduates about the importance of public engagement
reward and recognise trainees, foundation doctors and undergraduates who have undertaken sustained high-quality science communication activities.

There are 2 categories: Trainee, for UK pathology trainees; and Undergraduate, for UK undergraduates and foundation doctors. A committee will assess the entries and winners will be chosen based on evidence of a sustained commitment to excellence in public engagement. The winner of each category will be awarded £500 and will be invited to accept their award at the College’s New Fellows Ceremony, where it will be presented by representatives of Sonic Healthcare UK who kindly sponsor the prize. An interview with the winners will also be published on the College website.

The closing date for the competition is 23:59 on Monday 27 July 2026. Details of last year’s winners can be found on the competition page of the College website.

Please pass on details of the competition to any undergraduates, foundation doctors or trainees that you know of who are involved in public engagement activities.