ASPIRE award categories
Our ASPIRE awards are presented in nine categories
To apply you will be required to submit documentary evidence that demonstrates how you meet the criteria.
You can apply for a maximum of three awards in the same year.
The application window for our 2026 awards is now open.
Please note that the deadline for submission of award applications is 28 February.
Anyone wising to submit an application for the Innovative and Inspirational Approaches to Health Professions Education award must submit an initial letter of intent by 17 November.
All applications are subject to the ASPIRE Awards terms and conditions.
Assessment of Students award
Recognises institutions with outstanding assessment programmes that:
- Promote learning aligned with curriculum objectives
- Ensure fair evaluation of student achievement
- Safeguard patient safety by certifying competence
- Engage in continuous improvement and educational scholarship
Curriculum Development award
Focuses on the development process of curricula that:
- Clearly define aims, outcomes, and learning processes
- Guide learning across diverse settings
- Reflect thoughtful planning and evaluation
Faculty Development award
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Innovative and Inspirational Approaches to Health Professions Education award
Celebrates innovations that:
- Address significant educational gaps or barriers
- Are well-planned, implemented, and evaluated
- Inspire replication through shared impact and scholarship
International Collaboration in Health Professions Education award
Acknowledges global partnerships that:
- Enhance educational practice and crisis response
- Demonstrate meaningful cross-border collaboration in HPE
Simulation award
Recognises excellence in simulation-based education that:
- Is theory-informed and curriculum-integrated
- Enhances training and assessment
- Is continuously evaluated for quality and outcomes
Social Accountability award
Awards institutions that:
- Engage with and respond to community, regional, and national health needs
- Excel in governance, education, research, and service delivery
- Align with global standards for socially accountable medical education
Student Engagement award
Highlights programmes where students:
- Influence policy and decision-making
- Help shape and evaluate the curriculum
- Actively contribute to academic and local communities
Technology Enhanced Learning award
Recognises effective use of educational technologies that:
- Are grounded in sound pedagogy
- Enhance teaching and learning experiences
- Demonstrate clear educational value and impact.
ASPIRE awards frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of applying for an AMEE ASPIRE award?
The benefits of applying for an AMEE ASPIRE award include the opportunity for institutions to engage faculty, staff, and students in the development of excellence and best practice in Health Professions Education.
The AMEE ASPIRE awards criteria provide a framework for excellence that institutions apply to their own context when preparing their award application.
Achieving an AMEE ASPIRE award of excellence also comes with several reputational benefits, highlighting institutions nationally and internationally as global.
Winning an AMEE ASPIRE award also provides solid evidence to an institution’s students, staff and other stakeholders of their commitment to achieving excellence in Health Professions Education often forming part of the institutions vision and mission.
The AMEE ASPIRE awards also spotlights the educational experience at a winning institution is amongst the best in the world.
As well as reputational value the AMEE ASPIRE awards review process provides invaluable feedback and external evaluation of an institution’s direction and progress in the development of excellence in Health Professions Education.
Achieving an AMEE ASPIRE award also grants institutions access to the ASPIRE Academy, an exclusive network of institutions recognised for their excellence in Health Professions Education.
Which category of AMEE ASPIRE award is right for my institution?
When considering which category of AMEE ASPIRE award is right for your institution there are some important considerations.
You will be required to submit evidence to demonstrate how you meet the criteria along with your application, so choose an area where you have, or can easily assemble, documentation to support your application.
You can apply for more than one award in the same year if you feel you meet the criteria but note that there is substantial work involved in preparing an application, and this will be increased with each additional application.
Note that applications for the Innovative and Inspirational Approaches to Health Professions Education award are by invitation only. If you wish to be considered for this award you will need to submit a letter of intent by the deadline of Monday 17 November.
The panel will review all letters of intent and invite shortlisted submitters to prepare a full application.
How do I prepare for my AMEE ASPIRE award application?
To prepare for your AMEE ASPIRE award application ensure you’ve read the criteria fully and downloaded the sample documentation for the award you wish to apply for.
We recommend you form a submissions team and provide us with contact details of at least four individuals who are involved in preparing your application.
If you do not hold a senior leadership role in your organisation you will need to obtain written permission from your Dean, or equivalent, to proceed with your organisation’s application on behalf of the.
Collate your documentary evidence and identify any gaps between the evidence you can provide, and the AMEE ASPIRE award application criteria for your chosen category that will need to be addressed before submitting your application.
All the information about the criteria, the process and the required documentation is available for each of our nine AMEE ASPIRE award categories and you must read through this thoroughly before paying the application fee.
If you have any questions about the process or the level of evidence required, please reach out to our team prior to payment.
You can reach out to the Panel Chair in advance with general questions to determine whether you are ready to submit or would be advised to wait another year.
What are the fees for submitting an AMEE ASPIRE award application?
The fees for submitting an AMEE ASPIRE award application are as follows.
Standard submission fee per AMEE ASPIRE award category application is £2,500.
Institutions may submit a maximum of three applications in the same twelve-month period. If you intend to submit more than one application, please contact our Aspire Awards team in advance to discuss.
The standard submission fee when applying for two or more categories of AMEE ASPIRE awards in the same twelve-month period is reduced to £2,000 per application.
The charge for institutions from emerging economies to apply for an AMEE ASPIRE award is £1,500 per application. This is reduced to £1,250 per application for two or more submissions in the same calendar year.
Please note that payment must be received before you can submit your application.
AMEE ASPIRE award resubmissions are accepted within three years of the original application, with a charge of £2,000 for a resubmission.
List of emerging economies
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Bangladesh
- Belize
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Comoros
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Congo, Republic of the
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Gambia, The
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Korea, Dem People’s Rep
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Micronesia, Fed States Of
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Palestine
- Palestinian Territory
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Rwanda
- Samoa
- São Tomé and Principe
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
How do I pay the AMEE ASPIRE award application fee?
To pay the AMEE ASPIRE award application fee you first need to choose the specific award category you are applying for.
Follow the links to all the relevant information which details the application process including the full criteria and details of the Expert Panel.
Payment is by invoice and the “Ready to apply?” section at the end of the category details pages is where you can request to raise an invoice.
You will need to make payment before accessing the submissions portal, so we strongly advise requesting an invoice as early as possible in your application process.
How do I submit my AMEE ASPIRE award application?
You submit your AMEE ASPIRE award application via our online submission portal. Access to the portal for your chosen AMEE ASPIRE award category will be granted after successful payment of the AMEE ASPIRE award application submission fee.
In the submission portal, you can:
- Review the submission criteria and forms
- Submit your completed application and evidence
- Interact with the panel if you have questions
Can I submit my AMEE ASPIRE award application in my institutions language(s)?
You can submit your AMEE ASPIRE award application in your institutions language(s) where supporting documentation and evidence that accompanies your submission originates in your institution’s local language(s).
However, whilst supporting documentation may be provided in its original language, we require that you provide the narrative part of your application in English, along with an English summary to accompany any non-English documentation.
How will my AMEE ASPIRE award application submission be evaluated?
Your AMEE ASPIRE award application submission will be evaluated by a team of three assessors who submit their report to be considered by the relevant AMEE ASPIRE award panel.
Recommendations from the panel are then endorsed by the AMEE ASPIRE award board.
The reviewers and/or panel chair may contact you if there are questions about the information you have supplied.
When will I know if my AMEE ASPIRE award application was successful?
You will know if your AMEE ASPIRE award application was successful in June of the application year.
The process of reviewing each submission is extensive to ensure that each application considered fairly on its merits.
When the AMEE ASPIRE award board has met to ratify the decisions of each of the AMEE ASPIRE award panels, applicants will receive the decision along with relevant feedback.
If successful, you will be invited to receive your award, in person, at the AMEE Annual Conference.
Can I resubmit my AMEE ASPIRE award application if I was not successful?
Yes, you can resubmit your AMEE ASPIRE award application if I was not successful. In fact, we welcome resubmissions in the same or different categories.
When resubmitting your AMEE ASPIRE award application, please ensure that all feedback from the panel has been addressed.
A common and completely avoidable reason for rejection of a resubmission is the failure to address the points raised by the AMEE ASPIRE award panel.
AMEE ASPIRE awards are criteria-based, and your feedback will indicate which criteria you have not evidenced in your application, along with how you might address this.
Can I appeal the decision regarding my AMEE ASPIRE award application?
The AMEE ASPIRE award board and panels make the final decision on whether an application has met the necessary criteria.
We will consider appeals against the board’s decision only under highly specific circumstances and usually only where a clear breach of policy or process can be demonstrated.
You should contact the ASPIRE Awards Team if you have any queries about this or any other aspect of the application process.
