Sir Roger Newdigate's Prize, also known as the Newdigate Prize, is given by the University of Oxford for the best poem written in English by an undergraduate student. The prize was created in 1806 to honor Sir Roger Newdigate, who lived from 1719 to 1806. The winning poem is shared during a special event called Encaenia. Rules for the prize say: The poem must be no longer than 300 lines. It can be written in any meter except for dramatic forms. Heroic couplets are allowed.

Overview

The first winner was John Wilson ("Christopher North"). Well-known winners have included Robert Stephen Hawker, John Ruskin, Matthew Arnold, Laurence Binyon, Oscar Wilde, John Buchan, John Addington Symonds, James Laver, Donald Hall, James Fenton, P. M. Hubbard, and Alan Hollinghurst.

The parallel award given at the University of Cambridge is the Chancellor's Gold Medal.

Past titles and winners

If known, the name of the winning poem is listed, along with the author's name. Each year links to its related "[year] in poetry" article: /think