University Teaching Award
The Senate of the University of Freiburg has decided to award a prize for outstanding achievements in teaching. The prize will be awarded annually.
- What can be nominated?
- Who can be nominated?
- Usage guidelines
- Formalities
- Deadlines
- Award ceremony
- Prize-winners
What can be nominated?
Starting in 2026, the University Teaching Award will be presented in two categories:
Category 1
- Innovative or outstanding teaching, learning, or examination formats
- Courses with a particularly well-designed didactic structure
- Outstanding course development Creation of materials that are particularly beneficial to studies, such as textbooks; or creation or further development/enrichment of open educational resources (OER)
Category 2
- Teachers who have been teaching at a high didactic level for many years (≥ 10 years)
Who can nominate candidates for the University Teaching Award?
- Organizational units of the university responsible for teaching, such as faculties, institutes, and seminars
- Student councils
- Groups of at least ten students
- Working groups of teaching staff
- Individual members of academic staff who teach independently (external or self-nomination)
Important: Nominations must be submitted via the relevant study commission of the respective faculty.
Usage guidelines
The prize money of €10,000 will be divided equally between Line 1 and Line 2 (€5,000 each). The funds may be used for teaching purposes (teaching development, teaching quality, teaching improvement) at the University of Freiburg at the discretion of the prize winners.
Formalities
- To submit an application for the University Teaching Award to your study commission, please use the application form for the respective category.
- Key aspects that, in the opinion of the university, justify an award must be outlined in the application. Possible evaluation criteria for both categories can be found in the respective criteria catalogs.
- Evaluation results and similar information can be included as attachments to the application form. A supplementary description of the project (e.g., films, images, scripts, etc.) can also be provided on the Internet, stating the relevant addresses.
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Bewerbungsformular Linie 1 [de]
2026_Bewerbungsformular_ULP_Linie 1Â (98 KB), 27. January 2026
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Bewerbungsformular Linie 2 [de]
2026_Bewerbungsformular_ULP_Linie 2Â (98 KB), 27. January 2026
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Kriterienkatalog Linie 1 [de]
2026_ULP_Kriterienkatalog Linie 1Â (198 KB), 2. February 2026
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Kriterienkatalog Linie 2 [de]
2026_ULP_Kriterienkatalog Linie 2Â (179 KB), 2. February 2026
Deadlines and further schedule
The study commissions must submit their proposals for the University Teaching Award to the Teaching Strategy and Digitalization Department by April 13, 2026, using the email address lehrpreise@zv.uni-freiburg.de.
Please inquire about the meeting dates and deadlines of the relevant study commission in good time so that the study commission can submit its proposals on time!
Only applications received by the study commissions by the deadline can be considered.
Further schedule for the 2026 call for proposals:
| May 12, 2026: | Selection of winners of the University Teaching Award Line 1 and Line 2 by the Senate Commission for Studies and Teaching |
| June 2026: | Decision on selection by the Rectorate and the Senate |
| July 2026: | Communication of the selection decision to applicants |
| October 2026: | Award ceremony for the University Teaching Prize Line 1 and Line 2 as part of the opening of the academic year |
Award ceremony
The award ceremony is expected to take place during the winter semester as part of the opening of the academic year.
Prize-winners
| 2025 | Prof. Dr. Anke Weidlich Institute for Sustainable Technical Systems (INATECH), Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Anna Schreurs-Morét Department of Art History, Faculty of Philosophy |
| 2024 | Dr. Andrea Kuhnert Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Department of Mental Health PD Dr. Wiebke Semper Hogg Imaging and Implant Diagnostics Section, Clinic for Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine |
| 2023 | Dr. Susanne Knies Institute of Mathematics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics Dr. Jakob Schemmel. LL.M. (NYU) Institute of Political Science and Philosophy of Law, Department 1 (Political Science) at the Faculty of Law |
| 2022 | Dr. Kathrin Drozella Institute of Forest Sciences at the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources |
| 2021 | Prof. Dr. Thomas Filk, Andreas Woitzik and Clara Fuchs Institute of Physics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics |
| 2020 | Anna Immerz, M.A. Freiburg Institute of Music Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine and the University of Music Christian Burkhart, M.A. Institute of Educational Science at the Faculty of Economics and Behavioural Sciences |
| 2019 | Prof. Dr. Horst Fischer Institute of Physics at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics Julia Gurol, M.A. and Ingo Henneberg, M.A. Department of Political Science at the Faculty of Humanities Prof. Dr. Michael Müller, Dr. Stefanie Houwaart and Dr. Dominik Baltes Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy |
| 2018 | Dr. Sarah May Institute of Cultural Anthropology and European Ethnology Faculty of Humanities Dr. Götz Fabry and Dipl.-Päd. Ariane Zeuner Department of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology Faculty of Medicine |
| 2017 | Prof. Dr. Tim Krieger Institute of Economics, Wilfried Guth Endowed Chair for Regulation and Competition Policy Faculty of Economics and Behavioural Sciences Dr. Anna Rosen Department of English Faculty of Philology |
| 2016 | not awarded |
| 2015 | Prof. Dr. Cornelia Herschbach and Dr. Tim Burzlaff Institute of Forest Sciences Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences Prof. Dr. Stephan Lengsfeld Institute of Finance, Accountancy, and Controlling Faculty of Economics and Behavioural Sciences Prof. Dr. Weertje Willms Department of German – Modern German Literature Faculty of Philology |
| 2014 | Dr. med. Sebastian Bode Center for Pediatrics Medical Center – University of Freiburg Dr. Hubert Fehr Prehistoric and Early Historic Archaeology Faculty of Humanities Lisa Hüther-Pape Institute of Psychology Faculty of Economics and Behavioural Sciences Prof. Dr. Marcus Krüger Center for Pediatrics, Medical Center – University of Freiburg Dr. Stefan Seeber Department of German, Faculty of Philology Christine Straub M.A. Center for Pediatrics Medical Center – University of Freiburg |
| 2013 | Prof. Dr. Hannah Bast Faculty of Engineering Prof. Dr. Bernd Becker Faculty of Engineering Dr. Jessika Nowak Faculty of Humanities Dr. Philipp Späth Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences |
| 2012 | Prof. Dr. Bernd Kenkmann Faculty of Chemistry, Pharmacy, and Earth Sciences Dr. Flavio Bessi Faculty of Economics and Behavioural Sciences Prof. Dr. Bernhard Neumärker Faculty of Economics and Behavioural Sciences Dr. Till Pistorius Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences |
| 2011 | Dr. Janina Kirsch Faculty of Biology Prof. Dr. Jan G. Korvink Faculty of Engineering Bent Gebert Faculty of Philology |
| 2010 | Prof. Hans-Helmut Kotz Faculty of Economics and Behavioural Sciences Prof. Dr. Yiannos Manoli Faculty of Engineering Dr. Martin Faber, Prof. Dr. Thilo Jakob and PD Dr. Marcel Müller Faculty of Medicine |
| 2009 | Prof. Dr. Otto Haller Faculty of Medicine Dr. Anna-Bettina Kaiser, LL.M. Faculty of Law Dr. rer. nat. Vitus Oberhauser Faculty of Biology Prof. Dr. Judith Schlehe Faculty of Humanities Prof. Bernd Fitzenberger, Ph.D. Faculty of Economics and Behavioural Sciences |
| 2008 | Prof. Dr. Jürgen Bauhus Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences Prof. Dr. Georg Bier Faculty of Theology Prof. Dr. Horst Fischer Faculty of Mathematics and Physics Sebastian Bode and Nienke Lynn Hansen Faculty of Medicine Prof. Dr. Eva Kimmich Faculty of Philology Dr. Dr. Michael Walter Faculty of Humanities |
Outstanding Student Involvement
Since 2012, the University of Freiburg—following the example of the state of Baden-Württemberg—has been honoring individual students or groups of students for exemplary commitment. The prize is endowed with 1,000 euros, and the prize money can be divided among several winners.
What can be awarded?
- The following are eligible for the award:
Exemplary student engagement that serves as a role model and directly benefits other students and/or society. Both individual projects and exemplary, continuous engagement can be recognized. Student engagement in the form of committee work or regular participation in meetings cannot be awarded on its own.Participation in working groups, for example within the student body, which can be specifically distinguished from regular committee work as a project, can be nominated for the special student award.
Who is eligible for the award?
- Individuals (students, including doctoral candidates)
- A group of students
- If a group of students submits an application, the application must specify which person initiated the proposed initiative and what contributions the other persons mentioned have made.
Important: Applications must be submitted via the relevant study commission of the respective faculty.
Usage guidelines
The prize money amounts to €1,000 and can be shared.- The prize money must be used to promote student interests at the university, at the discretion of the winner. The prize money cannot be used for private purposes.
Formalien
- To submit an application for the special award for outstanding student commitment to your study commission, please use the application form.
- Key aspects that support the award should be outlined in the application.
- Supporting data/information, such as additional links, images, etc., can be attached to the application form.
Deadlines and further schedule
The study commissions must submit their proposals for the special prize for outstanding student engagement to the Teaching Strategy and Digitalization Department by April 13, 2026, using the email address lehrpreise@zv.uni-freiburg.de.
Please inquire early about the meeting dates and deadlines of the relevant study commission so that the study commission can submit its proposal by the deadline of April 13, 2026.
Only applications received by the study commissions by the deadline can be considered.
The further schedule for the 2026 call for proposals:
| May 12, 2026: | Announcement of the winners Special prize for outstanding student engagement awarded by the Senate Commission for Studies and Teaching |
| June 2026: | Decision on selection by the Rectorate and the Senate |
| July 2026: Â Â Â | Communication of the selection decision to applicants |
| October 2026: | Special award for outstanding student commitment presented at the opening of the academic year |
Award ceremony
The award ceremony is expected to take place during the winter semester as part of the opening of the academic year.
State Teaching Award
The State Teaching Award has not only led to a fundamental debate on the subject of teaching and the criteria for good teaching at Baden-Württemberg’s universities, but has also stimulated competition between ideas and implementations of good teaching both within and across universities, thereby contributing to an overall improvement in quality. The State Teaching Award is presented every two years.
2019
The Freiburg researchers Julia Gurol and Ingo Henneberg from the Department of Political Science have received the 2019 State Teaching Award together with colleagues from the University of Tübingen for their cross-locational seminar with video conference technology.
All University of Freiburg Prize-Winners:
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Anna Rosen
2017
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Thomas Kenkmann
2012
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Janina Kirsch
2011
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Yiannos Manoli
2010
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Andreas Bihrer
2008
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Heiner Schanz
2007
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The Department of Computer Science summer camp
2006
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Martin Flashar
2005
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Caroline Röhr
2004
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Sieghard Beller
2003
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The ‘Forest Ecology Online’ working group
2002
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Franz-Josef Leithold
2001
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Eva-Maria Faber
2000
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Barbara Henze
2000
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Eveline Dürr
1999
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Fred Krüger
1999
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Frank Welz
1999
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Peter Jung
1998