2026 University Prizes

University awards for outstanding postdoctoral theses, doctoral theses, and Master's theses

KU professors can submit nominations for the following awards:

• Prize for the best habilitation (postdoctoral thesis)
• Prize for the best doctoral thesis
• Prize for the best Master's thesis
• Professor Sutor Foundation Award

The prizes are sponsored by the Eichstätt University Society, Sparkasse Ingolstadt-Eichstätt, Volksbank-Raiffeisenbank Bayern Mitte, and the Professor Sutor Foundation, and are each endowed with 1,000 euros.

Only KU professors are eligible to submit nominations for these awards. Please note that university lecturers may only submit one nomination per award category (i.e., only one nomination each for the Master's Thesis Award, the Doctoral Thesis Award, and the Habilitation Award). However, it is possible to submit nominations for several award categories (e.g., one candidate for the Master's Thesis Award and one candidate for the Doctoral Thesis Award). A thesis may not be nominated for two awards (e.g., Master's Thesis Award and Sustainability Award).

The awards are given to academic theses that were completed and graded at the KU in the summer and winter semesters of the respective year. Self-nominations are not permitted.

The prizes for the best habilitation, doctoral, and Master's thesis can cover topics from all subject areas. The Professor Sutor Foundation Prize honors an academic thesis (Master's thesis, doctoral thesis, habilitation thesis) that focuses on social and/or political ethics or sustainability research.

The following documents must be submitted when proposing an academic thesis (in a single PDF document if possible):

1. Cover letter from the professor naming the person to be honored and the scientific work. The letter must specify the award for which the work is being nominated. It should also explain why the nominated work is worthy of the award. Finally, the letter must state the grade the work received.

2. The letter should also be accompanied by the expert opinion(s), a summary of the work and its results (1 to 2 pages), and a short résumé of the person nominated for the award (max. 2 pages).

3. Finally, the complete work must be attached as a PDF file. In the case of cumulative habilitations, the publications belonging to the habilitation must also be attached (for open access publications, it is sufficient to provide the links).

Please send your nomination to preise(at)ku.de by March 31 of the respective calendar year at the latest.

Application for the Sustainability Prize

Sustainability Prize awarded by the Fritz Gutmann Brewery Foundation for innovative and practice-oriented theses and teaching projects in the field of sustainability.

This Sustainability Prize honors theses and teaching projects with a sustainability focus. The nominated work must have been completed in the respective calendar year.

In addition to lecturers, students may also submit proposals for the Sustainability Prize (it is also possible to nominate yourself).

The following documents must be submitted when applying for the Sustainability Prize:

• Short résumé in table form

• Relevant justification describing and evaluating why the work is worthy of receiving an award (for final theses, please also state the awarded grade); A 4 to 6-page summary of the thesis written by the students themselves, focusing on the following aspects:

  • Methodological and scientific approach, research question
  • Reference to sustainability
  • Contribution of the work’s content or methodology to sustainability research
  • Practical relevance
  • Critical reflection on the results of the work
• Complete digital version of the thesis
• If applicable, an expert opinion by the supervisor of the thesis/project

Please send applications/nominations by e-mail (with PDF attachment) to preise(at)ku.de The application deadline is March 31 of the respective calendar year.

If you have any questions regarding the Sustainability Prize, please contact Ms. Patrizia Hartmann (patrizia.hartmann@ku.de).

University prize for knowledge transfer

Individual researchers and research teams at the KU develop innovative projects and formats for knowledge transfer between the University and various social stakeholders (businesses, public sector, civil society). In research and teaching, they contribute to solving social challenges and shaping a future worth living beyond the boundaries of the University. The KU would like to honor good examples of this practice with the University Prize for Knowledge Transfer. The prize honors the outstanding commitment of KU researchers. It is endowed with 1,000 euros and is awarded on Dies Academicus.

You can submit research projects and initiatives by KU researchers, but also teaching projects in which the transfer character is particularly evident. This can become evident, for example, in the context of transfer-oriented science communication, through special moments of participation with stakeholders in the research process or through the establishment of sustainable collaborations with practice partners. Applications can be submitted for both individuals and teams.

All university members are invited to submit proposals no later than March 31 of the respective calendar year  (preise(at)ku.de).

Describe why the proposed researcher/team should receive a prize (1-2 DIN A4 pages) and structure your text as follows:

1. State the name of the person or group you are proposing for the transfer prize and briefly describe their position at the KU. If applicable, state your personal relationship to the person / group.
2. Describe the specific project or the work of the person / group for which you have submitted the proposal.
3. How do you feel that the nominated person / group is particularly worthy of the award? Where does the person’s / group’s commitment go beyond the expected level? Highlight the extent to which knowledge transfer has been particularly successful here.
4. If appropriate, you can attach documents and/or web links to the proposal that support your arguments. However, please limit your argumentation to a few central, clear pieces of information.