The University of Sydney People’s Choice Award

Last updated:  03 May 2024
Shortlist announced

The University of Sydney People’s Choice Award ($5,000) is voted for from the shortlists for the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-fiction. 

2024

Shortlist announced

Voting is now open for this year's University of Sydney People's Choice Award. Cast your vote to go in the draw to win one of two packs of all 12 shortlisted books. 

People's Choice covers

Vote now

In 2024, The University of Sydney have sponsored the People's Choice Award for the second time. The winning writer will receive $5,000.  

Past winners

2023

Book cover image of Every Version of You
    Winner
Every Version of You
Affirm Press

2022

The Shut Ins
    Winner
The Shut Ins
Allen & Unwin

2021

The Dictionary of Lost Words
    Winner
The Dictionary of Lost Words
Affirm Press

2020

Cover image of the book The Yield.
    Winner
The Yield
Penguin Random House

2019

Boy Swallows Universe cover
    Winner
Boy Swallows Universe
HarperCollins Publishers

2018

Book of Dirt cover
    Winner
The Book of Dirt
Text Publishing

2017

Book cover image for Vancouver 3 in the series Wisdom Tree by Nick Earls
    Winner
Vancouver
Inkerman & Blunt

About the award

The University of Sydney People’s Choice Award is not open to entry, but voted for from the shortlists for the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction and the Douglas Stewart Prize for Non-fiction. 

The People’s Choice Award was introduced in 2009 to mark the 30th anniversary of the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards.

Since 2023 the University of Sydney People's Choice Award has been generously sponsored by the University of Sydney. 

Award Information

$5,000

For more information, please contact the Awards team.

awards@sl.nsw.gov.au

Phone: (02) 9273 1767, or alternatively (02) 9273 1770.