Humboldt Prizes
Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin awards prizes for young academics. These include: The Humboldt-Preis for outstanding theses with a special prize on the subject of Judaism and anti-Semitism, the Innovation Prize "Research to Innovation", which is presented by Humboldt-Innovation GmbH, and the University Library's Open Access Award.
Submission deadline 2025 for all awards is 1 July 2025
The awards are officially handed over to the award winners by the President of Humboldt-Universit?t at the beginning of the academic year during a celebratory event.
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Humboldt-Preis for outstanding theses
The Humboldt-Preis is awarded to young academics whose theses are not only outstanding in terms of academic achievement, but also possess qualities that fulfil Humboldt's ideas in a unique way.
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750 euros for Bachelor's theses
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1,500 euros for Master's, Magister, Diplom theses or Staatsexamenarbeiten
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3,000 euros for dissertations
The deans of the Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin are invited to nominate candidates.?
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Special award for research on Judaism and anti-Semitism
The special prize is awarded for outstanding junior academic work on the subject of ‘Judaism and anti-Semitism’.?
- Bachelor/Master/Dissertation: 2,000 euros
The deans of Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin are invited to nominate candidates.?
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Nomination
What needs to be submitted?
The following documents must be submitted for the Humboldt Award for outstanding theses and the special award on Judaism and anti-Semitism:
- Thesis, provided it was completed after the previous year's application deadline
- Curriculum vitae, if applicable with list of publications
- Dean's statement
- two reviews
- Short, comprehensibly formulated summary that expresses the relevance of the thesis in an academic and transdisciplinary context (max. 3,000 characters)
- Degree certificate or doctoral certificate
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How to submit?
Please send the documents in the specified order to:??humboldt-preis@hu-berlin.de
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Further information
Further information on the Humboldt-Preis and the Humboldt Special Award on Judaism and anti-Semitism (nomination and guidelines) can be found on the intranet: https://hu.berlin/intranet-humboldtpreis
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Innovation Prize: Research to Innovation
The Innovation Prize aims to highlight outstanding theses that emphasise the importance of university research for applications in business and society and lay the foundations for innovative products and services.
There are two prize categories:
- Bachelor/Master: 1,000 euros plus two hours of coaching on the topic of ‘Innovation’ or ‘Startup’
- Dissertation: 1,000 euros plus two hours of coaching on the topic of “Innovation” or ‘Startup’
All members of Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin are eligible to apply (self-application); nominations by deans of Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin are also possible.
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Application
What needs to be submitted?
- Thesis
- Short comprehensible summary (max. 1,500 characters) with particular focus on the evaluation criteria (see below)
- CV
- Degree certificate or doctoral certificate
In addition to the general quality of the work, the evaluation criterion is in particular the relevance of the work in an application-orientated context, e.g:
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Description of stakeholders who can benefit from the results of the work
- Descriptions of stakeholders‘ problems which will be adressed within the scope oft he thesis
- Emphasis on the strengths of the work in comparison to the (application-oriented) state of the art
- Outline of the market potential
- Impact on society and the environment, if applicable, when implementing the results of the work
Documents can be provided in German or English.
How to submit?
Please send applications to: innovation@hu-berlin.de with the subject ‘Humboldt-Preis Research to Innovation’. The work to be submitted must have been completed after last year's application deadline (usually 1 July of the previous year).
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Further information
The ‘Research to Innovation’ prize is awarded by Humboldt-Innovation GmbH which is a 100% Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin-owned subsidiary for innovation and transfer.
Further information on the Humboldt Innovation Award can be obtained from?innovation@hu-berlin.de?
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Open Access Award
The award recognises special commitment to publishing in the Open Access model and/or the successful implementation of a project or creation of a product that strengthens Open Access and/or special commitment to communicating and promoting Open Access.
The award money totals 5000 euros and is intended to enable further activities in the field of Open Access.?
Individuals and groups of members of Humboldt-Universit?t zu Berlin are eligible to apply. In the case of groups, at least half must belong to the HU.
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Application
What needs to be submitted?
- Proof of activities/projects from the current or previous calendar year.
How to submit?
Information can be found on the website of the Open Access Award of the University Library: Link
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Further information
Further information on the Open Access Award of the University Library (application and selection procedure). Link
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Award winners
The 2024 award winners with the Vice President for Research, Prof Dr Christoph Schneider.
Photo: Stefan Klenke, HU-Berlin
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To the honoured works 2024
To the archive of award winners
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