The Premier’s Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) Student Awards recognise outstanding achievement by Year 12 graduates.
Award categories
There are 8 award categories for students who graduated Year 12 from 2020, under the new QCE system.
Three new categories were introduced in 2024. These recognise exemplary performance across General subjects in the humanities, the liberal arts, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
Commendation awards
This award recognises students who achieve an A exit result in at least 6 General and/or General (Extension) subjects.
The QCAA identifies recipients after student results are finalised for certification in December. Certificates are available to download from the Student Portal.
Prize
A digital certificate.
This award recognises the students who achieve the highest result in at least one General subject or General (Extension) subject.
The QCAA identifies recipients after student results are finalised for certification in December. Certificates are available to download from the Student Portal.
Prize
A digital certificate.
Major awards
This award recognises students who accomplish exceptionally high achievement across a diverse range of learning options.
Eligibility criteria
Students must meet these initial requirements:
- Be eligible for a QCE
- Achieve 5 final subject results at an A standard in General and/or General (Extension) subjects, including a General English and a General Mathematics subject.
Points allocation
Points are then allocated for:
- relative performance in Units 3 and 4 of each student’s best 5 General and General Extension subjects (criterion weighted at 1.5)
- grade point average in their best 5 General and General Extension subjects
- achieving a subject score of 100 or the highest subject result in a given year
- completing additional General or General Extension subjects at an A standard
- choosing subjects from multiple learning areas (for example, English, Mathematics, Science and the Arts)
- completing VET qualifications above Certificate II level
- high achievement in university subjects
- volume of learning in the Complementary category to recognise other higher level learning options (for example, Australian Music Examination Board studies).
Number of awards
The number of awards varies each year. Most years, approximately 30-35 awards are given.
Queensland’s highest achieving International Baccalaureate student who also achieves a QCE is included in this group.
Prize
Students receive a trophy, $2000 prize money and an invitation to the Premier's QCE Student Awards ceremony held in February.
This premier award recognises the student from the Distinguished Academic Achievers whose achievements best meet the criteria for that award.
Typically, only one winner will be selected. If 2 students cannot be separated, an additional award may be conferred.
Prize
The student receives a trophy, $6000 prize money and an invitation to the Premier's QCE Student Awards ceremony.
This award recognises the highest achieving Aboriginal student or Torres Strait Islander student awarded a QCE.
Students who identify as an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander person are shortlisted using the criteria for the Distinguished Academic Achievers category.
Prize
Students receive a trophy, $2000 prize money and an invitation to the Premier's QCE Student Awards ceremony.
This award recognises the student who achieves the highest grade point average and A grades in all of the following:
- 2 x subjects from General English, English as an Additional Language, Literature, and English & Literature Extension
- 2 x General subjects from the Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) learning area
- 1 x General Arts subject OR 1 x General Languages subject OR 1 x other General HASS subject.
Prize
Students receive a trophy, $2000 prize money and an invitation to the Premier's QCE Student Awards ceremony.
This award recognises the student who achieves the highest grade point average and A grades in all of the following when awarded a QCE:
- 1 x General subject from the Science learning area
- 1 x General subject from the Mathematics learning area
- 1 x General subject from the HASS learning area
- 1 x General subject from the English learning area
- 1 x General subject from the Arts learning area
- 1 x General Languages subject.
Prize
Students receive a trophy, $2000 prize money and an invitation to the Premier's QCE Student Awards ceremony.
This award recognises the student who achieves the highest grade point average and A grades in all of the following when awarded a QCE:
- 2 x General subjects from the Science learning area
- Mathematical Methods AND Specialist Mathematics
- 1 x General subject from either the Health and Physical Education OR Technologies learning areas.
Prize
Students receive a trophy, $2000 prize money and an invitation to the Premier's QCE Student Awards ceremony.
Selection process
Only achievements recorded in a student’s learning account can be considered in the determination of awards.
A selection panel considers shortlisted candidates and determines award winners in the major award categories. The selection panel consists of senior QCAA officers who implement the criteria determined by the QCAA Board.
The selection panel also considers how each student’s program of learning and final achievements reflects the following underlying principles of the QCE:
- For different pathways to the QCE.
- For a wide variety of ways of learning and of demonstrating that learning.
- For students across the spectrum of Queensland society (geographical, cultural, racial, socioeconomic).
- A standards- and qualifications-based certificate, with rigorous criteria.
- Setting challenging but achievable standards.
- Reflecting the goals of Queensland and national curriculums.
- Setting standards that hold national and international currency in education, industry and in the community.
- A passport to multiple future pathways, national and international.
- Recognition by (and entry to):
- higher education (university)
- further education (TAFE and private providers)
- employment
- schools
- general public.
- A certificate that holds high status in the community.
Extract from Norm Hunter, The QCE and the three Rs: Relevance, Rigour and Reputation — a periodic review of the Queensland Certificate of Education (2011).
Selection steps
The process for selection for the major award categories is as follows:
- Before student results are finalised, the QCAA applies the criteria to determine an initial shortlist of candidates for the selection panel to review.
- The selection panel meets in December to consider shortlisted candidates and make final recommendations.
- The QCAA informs award recipients of the outcome and makes public announcements. Each student's school is then notified.
- All awards (except certificates of commendation) are presented at the Premier's QCE Student Awards ceremony in February.
For more information, please email communications@qcaa.qld.edu.au.
Previous QCE system categories
For students who graduated Year 12 between 2014 and 2019, there were 7 award categories:
- Distinguished Academic Achievers
- Outstanding Academic Achiever
- Highest Achievement by an Aboriginal Student or Torres Strait Islander Student
- Highest Achievement by an International Student
- Highest Achievement in the International Baccalaureate
- Certificate of Academic Commendation
- Highest Result on the Queensland Core Skills (QCS) Test
View the list of QCE Achievement Award winners from previous years.
- Last updated:
- 9 September 2026
