University Teaching Award and Special Prize for Outstanding Student Involvement 2026
Freiburg, 03/02/2026
The University of Freiburg is awarding the University Teaching Award and the Special Prize for Outstanding Student Involvement again in 2026. In the future, the University Teaching Award will be split into two lines, each worth 5,000 euros. Nominations must be submitted by 13 April 2026.
In the future, the University Teaching Award will be split into two lines, each worth 5,000 euros. Photo: Sandra Meyndt / Universität Freiburg
The University of Freiburg is awarding the University Teaching Award for outstanding achievements and special commitment in teaching and the Special Prize for Outstanding Student Involvement again in 2026. Nominations must be submitted to the Department of Teaching Strategy and Digitalization via the responsible curriculum committees by Monday, 13 April 2026 using the email address lehrpreise@zv.uni-freiburg.de. Please inquire early on as to the meeting dates and deadlines of the responsible curriculum committee to ensure that the nominations are submitted by the deadline.
New format for University Teaching Award
The University Teaching Award has a new format: In the future, the award will be split into two lines, each worth 5,000 euros. The format of the University Teaching Award has been extensively reworked following a roughly one-year concept phase including the involvement of various university committees and groups, such as the Deans’ Council, the Quality Circle for Academic Affairs, and the Senate Commission on Academic Affairs.
Important
Applications for nominations for the two prizes must be sent by email to the curriculum committee responsible for the applicant in a two-step process. Self-applications without the involvement of the responsible curriculum commission are not permitted. The curriculum committees review the submitted applications.
Line 1 recognizes the following:
- innovative or exceptionally high-quality teaching, learning, or examination formats
- courses with a didactically particularly well-thought-out structure
- exceptionally high-quality degree programme development
- creation of materials that are particularly beneficial to studies, such as a textbook, or creation or further development of open educational resources (OER)
Line 2 recognizes the following:
- teachers who have been teaching at a didactically high level for many years (≥ 10 years)
Lists of criteria as well as integrated application forms are now available for support in completing the application.
Special Prize for Outstanding Student Involvement
In addition to the University Teaching Award, the University of Freiburg is also awarding the Special Prize for Outstanding Student Involvement. This prize – worth 1,000 euros – recognizes student involvement that serves as a model to be emulated by others and benefits both other students and society.
Selection and awarding
For the University Teaching Award, one application each for lines 1 and 2 can be nominated and forwarded by the curriculum committee. For the Special Prize for Outstanding Student Involvement, the curriculum commissions are free to make a selection if several applications are submitted.
The decision on the prize-winners is made by the Permanent Senate Commission on Academic Affairs.
More information and application forms for both calls for nominations are available here: