Berlin Prize for Teaching Excellence in HE 2026 • Dahlem Center for Academic Teaching (DCAT) • Freie Universität Berlin

Berlin Prize for Teaching Excellence in Higher Education

All public higher education institutions in Berlin are encouraged to select and to submit up to four nominees for the prize. The prize, totaling 60,000 euros, will be awarded in several categories, with funds intended to support further development of teaching.

Have you recently taught a course at Freie Universität that is unique, engaging, and innovative in its teaching and learning approach? Does it have the potential to be further developed and implemented elsewhere? Then apply directly to us! All instructors are welcome to apply, regardless of their university status group. There is also a separate prize category for students, for example, student tutors, so students are expressly encouraged to apply.

To apply directly, please send the completed application form (in German) to lehrpreis@dcat.fu-berlin.de The internal application deadline at Freie Universität/DCAT is January 4, 2026.

Have you attended or heard of a course that you think deserves recognition? Then share it with us! All members of Freie Universität are welcome to send in recommendations – particularly students.

For recommendations, please fill out the recommendation form (in German). The deadline for submitting recommendations is November 30, 2025.

The Dahlem Center for Academic Teaching (DCAT) is responsible for organizing and overseeing the internal application and selection process at Freie Universität Berlin. If you have any questions about the prize, please contact us at lehrpreis@dcat.fu-berlin.de

Key Information about the prize

Who can apply?

All instructors are welcome to apply, regardless of their university status group. There is also a separate prize category for students, for example, student tutors, so students are expressly encouraged to apply.

Please ensure that you select the correct prize category in your application.

If you are unsure which of the prize categories below applies to your course, please contact us: lehrpreis@fu-berlin.de

How can I apply?

The Senatsverwaltung für Wissenschaft, Gesundheit und Pflege (Senate Department for Science, Health and Care) has asked the state and state-recognised universities in the state of Berlin to each make an internal pre-selection of candidates for the Berlin State Prize for Teaching Excellence in Higher Education.

Teachers cannot apply directly to the Senate Department.

Recommendations by third parties as well as direct applications need to be submitted internally at FU via DCAT.

Please use the application form (in German) and send it to lehrpreis@dcat.fu-berlin.de

What do I need to apply?

Your application must be based on a course you have taught at the Freie Universität.

The course must have been taught within the last two years (in at least one of the semesters from winter semester 2023/24 to winter semester 2025/26).

Teaching concepts that have not yet been implemented cannot be submitted.

What is the difference between being recommended and applying directly?

Recommendations by third parties

All members of the Freie Universität community are invited to recommend teachers whose teaching they consider worthy of recognition. We particularly welcome recommendations from students.

We will contact the teachers who are nominated and ask them to submit a complete application.

Direct Application

One does not need a recommendation to apply. Teachers of all status groups, including student tutors, can apply to us on their own initiative.

What prize categories can I apply for?

You may apply in one of four categories:

Three categories are based on the different phases of the student life cycle and the corresponding forms of teaching (all teachers except student tutors can apply in these categories).

Award for teaching that imparts fundamental knowledge and skills (15,000 euros)
Award for teaching that promotes the application, transfer, or consolidation of knowledge and skills (15,000 euros)
Award for teaching that promotes independent learning, student-generated knowledge, or (artistic) interpretations of knowledge and skills (15,000 euros)