Academic Award 2026

Studienpreis (Image: Kompetenzwerkstatt)

Studying isn’t just about learning and passing exams. Your time at university is also a period during which you discover new perspectives, develop your interests, and learn to tackle complex problems.

The TH Köln 2026 Student Award highlights student perspectives and provides impetus for the further development of academic programs, teaching, and research. Under the motto “University for You! Opening Perspectives – Shaping Your Future”, TH Köln invites its students to submit their own projects, initiatives, or experiences that explore the connection between academic learning and personal development.

The following questions, for example, may play a role:

• How can opportunities arise during studies where students can combine their subject knowledge with personal experiences and societal issues?
• What role do interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary projects play in understanding complex problems and developing new perspectives?
• How can exchange formats such as mentoring, study groups, or student initiatives support students in their development?
• What ideas exist for further developing studies and learning at the university?

We are looking for projects, initiatives, or ideas from students that demonstrate how to learn successfully during their studies—academically challenging yet personally enriching.

We are particularly interested in submissions that …

• … develop new learning or exchange formats within the academic program, …
• … promote interdisciplinary collaboration, …
• … incorporate social issues into the academic program, or …
• … create spaces for reflection and personal development.

It is also important that you describe how the prize money will be used.
Please send your submission, including attachments in PDF format (two to three A4 pages), with the subject line “Study Award” by 📅 June 8, 2026, to lehrundstudienpreis@th-koeln.de.

The study prize, worth €2,500, will be awarded on the Day of Excellent Teaching 2026 on 📅 October 2, 2026.

The Competence Workshop will support you every step of the way, from developing a proposal idea to submitting your entry. To that end, we are offering an online workshop on 📅 May 12, 2026, from 🕙 10:00 AM to 🕦 11:30 AM.

To register for the workshop and receive the login details, please send us an email at kompetenzwerkstatt@th-koeln.de. Additionally, feel free to contact us at any time with questions or ideas.

The jury—comprising the Vice President for Teaching and Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Axel Faßbender, and one representative from each faculty—will evaluate the submissions based on the following criteria:

Link between academic content and personal development

Academic content is convincingly linked to personal development

• Technical content is effectively integrated with personal development (e.g., reflective skills, attitude, self-management skills).

Social relevance

• The submission addresses current challenges (e.g., sustainability, AI, social cohesion) and critically examines them.
• The role of the academic program in these contexts is reflected upon.

Innovative content

• New learning formats or perspectives are introduced.

Quality of implementation or elaboration

• The submission is presented clearly, comprehensibly, and in a structured manner.
• In the case of projects, the implementation is well-founded and well-thought-out.

Impact and Transfer Potential

• The submission has potential for other students, degree programs, or the university as a whole.
• Transferability or further development is possible.

Depth of Reflection

• The submitters engage with their experiences, learning processes, and challenges in a nuanced manner.