Established in 1836, when the Institute of British Architects awarded the first Silver Medal to George Godwin for his essay on the Nature and Properties of Concrete, the President’s Medals are the RIBA’s oldest awards and are widely regarded as the most prestigious prizes in global architectural education.

The current format of the awards was introduced in 1986 during the Institute’s 150th anniversary celebrations. At that time, a large number of student awards, scholarships, and prizes were consolidated into the Bronze Medal (recognising outstanding RIBA Part 1 design work) and the Silver Medal (recognising outstanding RIBA Part 2 design work). In 2001, the Dissertation Medal was added to honour exceptional written work.

Participation is by direct invitation to schools of architecture worldwide. Each school may nominate one entry for the Dissertation Medal and up to two entries for the Bronze and the Silver Medals. In 2025, the awards received a record 378 entries from 110 schools across 30 countries.

Winners receive their medals from the RIBA President at a ceremony held each December. The event coincides with the opening of an exhibition showcasing selected entries, which then tours the UK and international venues.

In recent years, this exhibition has been hosted in countries including Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, Finland, France, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Kuwait, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

For more information about the RIBA President’s Medals, please contact:

John‑Paul Nunes  

RIBA Head of Education Projects  

presidents.medals@riba.org