Prizes and Awards
The Faculty of Humanities wishes to promote its current and prospective students and to make their achievements visible. To this end, the faculty awards prizes for young academics: the GEWI Prizes for Academic Theses and the SPARDI Prizes for Outstanding Pre-Academic Writing by school pupils (VWAs and secondary school theses).
Distinguished members of the faculty
2023
Talentförderungsprämie des Landes Oberösterreich
Katharina Mitter, BEd MEd
Kardinal Innitzer Studienfonds:
Priv.-Doz. Dr.phil. Ingeborg Zechner, MA.
Viktor-Obendrauf-Preis:
Katharina Mitter, BEd MEd
Lehrpreis der Uni Graz: Fokus "We learn for tomorrow"
Anerkennungspreis Lehre
Philipp Wilfinger, BSc MA
Award of Excellence (Preis des Bundesministers für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung für herausragende Dissertationen im Studienjahr 2022/2023)
Mag. phil. Dr. phil. Anna Graf-Steiner, MA
Forschungspreis des Landes Steiermark (Förderungspreis)
Mag.phil. Dr.phil. Thomas Pölzler, MA
Priv.-Doz. Dr.phil. Ingeborg Zechner, MA.
Seraphine-Puchleitner-Anerkennungspreis
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ursula Renz
Anton-Schelnast-Preise für Leistung und Innovation
FOI Claudia Baumgartner (Engagement Einzel)
Mag. Regina Brunnhofer (Engagement Einzel)
Mag. Kanita Kovacevic (Kooperation Einzel)
FOI Evamaria Schafzahl (Kooperation Einzel)
Hans Scherer, BA (Engagement Einzel)
Husserl-Lecture 2023
Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr.phil. Sonja Rinofner
Austrian State Prize for Literary Criticism 2023
Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Klaus Kastberger
Citizen of the City of Graz
A.o. Univ.-Prof. i.R. Dr.phil. Karin Schmiedtlechner-Lienhard
2022
Admission to the Humanities Section of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters Univ.-Prof. Dr. Pekka Kujamäki
"Lorand Chair in Intermediality Studies," 2022-23, at the Centre for Literary and Intermedial Crossings at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Univ.-Prof. Dr.phil. Nassim Winnie Balestrini
Wolfgang-Stegmüller Prize Mag.phil. Dr.phil. Thomas Pölzler, MA
Award of the Federal Minister of Education, Science and Research to the best graduates of diploma or master studies Ines Wukits, BEd MEd
Archduke Johann Research Award of the Province of Styria MMag. Dr. Markus Roschitz
Austrian Humanist Society for Styria (prize for the best thesis): Melanie Reichholf, MEd BEd
Scholarship for the advancement of women of the University of Graz: Kerstin Endes, MA BA BEd Mag. (FH) Sandra Witz, BA MA
Decoration of Honor of the Province of Styria: Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Barbara Stelzl-Marx
Grand Decoration of Honor of the Province of Styria: Ao.Univ.-Prof.i.R. Dr.phil. Helmut Eberhart
Research Award of the Province of Styria (Promotion Award): Priv.-Doz. Dr.phil. Norbert Paulo
Konstantin-Jireček-Medal of the Southeast Europe Society: O.Univ.-Prof. Dr.phil. Karl Kaser
Josef Krainer Sponsorship Award: MMag. Dr. Eva Fauner
Honorary Foreign Membership of the Basque Academy Euskaltzaindia: O.Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernhard Hurch
Teaching Award of the University of Graz:Focus "Promoting Critical Thinking"
Main prize: Teaching awarded to Barbara Grabner, Institute for Cultural Anthropology and European Ethnology, Events anthropocene thinking
Recognition Award: Barbara Reiter, Institute of Philosophy, Basic Questions of Subject Didactics Ethics Education
2021
Languages 2021 Best Paper Award Mag.phil. Dr.phil. Lisa Kornder & Univ.-Prof. Ineke Mennen, PhD
Viktor-Obendrauf-Award: Mag.a Anja Hörzer (LA German & History, Social Studies and Political Education)
Election as President of the International Association for German Studies (IVG): Univ.-Prof. Dr.phil. Arne Ziegler
Seraphine Puchleitner Award for Doctoral Student Supervision/Recognition Award: Assoz. Prof. Mag. Dr.phil. Ulla Kriebernegg
Mannagetta Prize for the History of Medicine (ÖAW): Mag. Dr. Sabine Jessner
Teaching Award of the University of Graz: Focus "Competence-oriented teaching and testing" Victoria Eibinger, Department of English Studies, English for Academic Purposes
Recognition Award: Christopher Pollin, Center for Information Modeling - Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Basic Issues in Computer Science
2020
Austrian Humanist Society for Styria (prize for the best thesis): Mag.phil. Lisa Kos Mag.phil. Clemens Josef Wurzinger
Anton Schelnast Award for Achievement and Innovation: Mag. Ursula Pichler (individual submission) Mag. Petra Steinkellner (individual submission) Mag. Gunter Vasold and Fabio Tosques, M.A. (team submission)
ASciNA Award (in the category "Young Scientist"): Mag.phil. Dr.phil. Thomas Pölzler, MA
Promotio sub auspiciis Praesidentis rei publicae: Mag.rer.nat. Mag.phil. Dr.phil. Gabriel Hofer-Ranz, BA MA (doctoral program in philosophy)
Viktor-Obendrauf-Award: Mag.phil Helene Kortschak, BA (LA English, Spanish) Mag.phil. Stephan Schicker, PhD (LA German Studies)
Teaching Award of the University of Graz: Focus "Special commitment in the Covid summer semester 2020".
Recognition awards: BA. Paige Baralija, MA., Department of English Studies, KS Language Productive and Receptive Skills Mag. Florika Griessner, Department of Theoretical and Applied Translation Studies, KS Italian: Basic Translational Competence II - Oral Text Compet ence Ao.Univ.-Prof. Dr.phil. Brigitte Spreitzer-Fleck, Department of German Studies, SE Bachelor Seminar on Module 3 (Emotions in Medieval Literature) Mag. Dr.phil. Georg Weidacher, Department of German Studies, PS Text Linguistics
Awards at the faculty
The Faculty of Humanities supports its students and prospective students and makes their achievements visible. Therefore, the faculty awards two prizes to young academics: the GEWI Prize for final theses and the SPARDI Prize for outstanding pre-scientific work by students (VWAs and diploma theses).
Here you can find the prizewinners of the last years in conversation.
GEWI Prizes for Academic Theses
Hard facts
Every year, the Faculty of Humanities awards the best master’s and doctoral theses with the GEWI Prize for Academic Theses. Special consideration is given to theses with a subject matter that has high social relevance. From all submissions, the management of the Faculty of Humanities selects the top six theses. The winning graduates receive cash prizes and the theses of the main prize winners are published. The GEWI prizes are presented annually at a ceremony.
Prize money for the best master's theses:
- Prize: € 1.000 (+ publication of the thesis)
- Prize: € 700
- Prize: € 500
Prize money for the best doctoral theses:
- Prize: € 1,500 (+ publication of the thesis)
- Prize: € 1000
- Prize: € 750
Submission deadline
Application deadline: 31.3.2024
Candidates whose degree was awarded no more than 12 months ago at the time of the application deadline (31.3.2024) are eligible to apply.
(Transition period from the old regulation: Degrees that are no further back than 1.10.2022).
Please send your applications to: gewi.dekanat(at)uni-graz.at
Criteria and application documents
Master's Theses
Application documents:
Documents required by graduates of a master’s degree programme:
- A copy of the master’s degree certificate showing that the master’s thesis was assessed as “excellent”.
- An essay on the significance of the thesis for research and society (must be written by the applicant in German and should be approx. 3 pages/1200 words long)
- A letter of recommendation from the supervisor
- A short application statement by the supervisor (max. 1500 characters incl. spaces; reasons why the thesis is suitable for an award; scientific result; (social) relevance of the subject matter; reasons for publication)
- An expert report by a professor specialising in a subject matter closely related to the subject of the thesis (max. 2500 characters incl. spaces; (second) expert report on the thesis)
Applicants should be prepared to have their thesis published.
Target group: Graduates of the following Faculty of Humanities master’s degree programmes:
- Ancient History and Classical Antiquities
- English Studies / American Studies
- Archaeology
- Bosnian/Croat/Serbian
- Digital Humanities
- European Ethnology
- German Language and Literature
- Historical Science
- Greek
- Conference Interpreting
- Art History
- Latin
- Musicology
- Philosophy
- Political, Economic and Legal Philosophy (PELP)
- Romance Studies
- Russian
- Slovene
- Linguistics
- Translation
- Translation & Dialogue Interpreting
Graduates of the following joint/double/interdisciplinary master’s degree programmes:
- European Joint Master's Programme in English and American Studies
- Joint Master's Programme in South-Eastern European Studies
- Joint Master's Programme Translation
- Joint Master's Programme Jewish Studies – History of Cultures of the Jewish
- Joint Master's Programme History of South-Eastern Europe
- Joint Master's Programme Medieval and Early Modern German Studies
- Double Degree Programme Political, Economic and Legal Philosophy (PELP)
- Applied Ethics
- Global Studies
- Interdisciplinary Gender Studies
Important! Only applications will be accepted from graduates:
- who were primarily enrolled at the University of Graz and
- who had a supervisor from the Faculty of Humanities.
Information on the applicable privacy policy is available here. Only theses submitted for the first time will be considered for awards. Submission of the same thesis in two or more award periods is not permitted. Only theses that have not received other awards or prizes will be awarded. There is no legal entitlement to the GEWI Prize.
Doctoral Theses
Application documents:
- An essay on the significance of the thesis for research and society (must be written by the applicant in German and should be approx. 3 pages/1200 words long)
- Assessment reports of both supervisors (grade awarded by both evaluators must be “excellent”)
- A short application statement by a supervisor (max. 1,500 characters incl. spaces; reasons why the thesis is suitable for an award; scientific result; (social) relevance of the subject matter; reasons for publication)
Applicants should be prepared to publish their thesis.
Target group: Graduates of the following doctoral degree programmes at the University of Graz
- Doctoral Programme of Philosophy
- Doctoral Programme in Ancient and Modern Cultures and Societies in the European Context
Important! Only applications will be accepted from graduates:
- who were primarily enrolled at the University of Graz and
- who had a supervisor from the Faculty of Humanities.
Information on the applicable privacy policy is available here. Only theses submitted for the first time will be considered for awards. Submission of the same thesis in two or more award periods is not permitted. Only theses that have not received other awards or prizes will be awarded. There is no legal entitlement to the GEWI Prize.
Award winners
2022
1st Prize Doctoral Theses: Susanne Katharina Christ "Fictions of Dementia: Narrative Modes for Presenting Dementia in Anglophone Novels" (de Gruyter, 2022). Essay, Podcast (in german)
1st Prize Doctoral Theses: Dimitri Smirnov "Auditory Violence. Literary Sounds in Postcolonial Prose Fiction" (Graz University Library Publishing, 2022). Essay, Podcast (in german)
1st Prize Master's Theses: Christina Sophie Bäck "Memory Cultures within Italophone Migration Literature. An Analysis of Memories in the Literary Works of Shirin Ramzanali Fazel and Igiaba Scego" (Graz University Library Publishing, 2022). Essay, Podcast (in german)
1st Prize Master's Theses: Marco Patrick Jandl "Universitäre Erinnerungskultur in Österreich nach 1945 am Beispiel der Universität Graz" (Clio Verlag Graz, in press) Essay, Podcast (in german)
Excellence Award
Award for the best English and American Studies graduates
The Excellence in English and American Studies Award was established in 2003 by Ao.Univ.-Prof. Dr. Bernhard Kettemann to honour extraordinary achievements for the students in their studies, to make these visible and at the same time to create additional motivation. It is awarded to the best graduates each year.
The winners are selected and notified by the department. Independent application is not possible.
Information about the award and the previous winners.
Contact:
Department of English Studies
anglistik(at)uni-graz.at
+43 316 380 - 2475
Prizes in the Fields of Classics
Prize for the best master's thesis
Once a year, the Humanistische Gesellschaft Steiermark awards a prize for the best thesis in the subjects of Classics, Archaeology, Ancient History, Ancient Legal History and related disciplines. The prize is endowed with € 250. Applicants may apply themselves or at the suggestion of the supervisors.
All required documents (thesis, résumé, curriculum vitae) must be sent to the chairperson.
Further information and announcement.
Contact
Humanistische Gesellschaft Steiermark
Chairperson: Univ.-Prof. Dr.phil. Ursula Gärtner
ursula.gaertner(at)uni-graz.at
+43 316 380 - 2432
Prize for pupils (VWA)
Once a year, the Humanistische Gesellschaft Steiermark awards a prize for the best pre-academic writing by a pupil in the subjects of Classics. The prize is endowed with € 100. Applicants may apply themselves or at the suggestion of the supervisors. The paper may not be submitted simultaneously to another comparable institution.
All required documents (thesis, résumé, curriculum vitae) must be sent to the chairperson.
Further information & announcement
Contact:
Humanistische Gesellschaft Steiermark
Chairperson: Univ.-Prof. Dr.phil. Ursula Gärtner
ursula.gaertner(at)uni-graz.at
+43 316 380 - 2432
VWA Price (SPARDI)
Hard Facts
This year, the Network for Didactics of Foreign Languages (SPRADI Network) of the University of Graz awards a prize for the best pre-academic paper written in a foreign language in addition to the already existing JuniorAcademic and Hans-Riegel prizes. This project is supported by KinderUni Graz and aims to motivate students to write their pre-academic secondary school papers in living foreign languages (English, French, Italian, Spanish, etc.). The winner will receive a book voucher worth € 400 and the school will be additionally supported with a book voucher worth € 100.
Accepted subjects
All students who have written their pre-academic paper in one of the following humanities subjects can apply for the SPRADI prize:
- History
- Foreign languages
- Philosophy/psychology
- Music
Criteria and application documents
Submission
Applications for the competition must be submitted online via the website of the KinderUni Graz.
The following documents must be submitted:
- PDF of the pre-academic paper
- Completed and signed statement of the supervising teacher (in German)
- Signed declaration of consent of the legal guardian (for underage applicants, in German)
Evaluation criteria
The submitted papers will be reviewed by our jury consisting of experts in the respective foreign languages, and evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Originality of the topic
- Comprehensive and logically coherent discussion of the topic
- Clear and scientifically correct language use with special focus on the suitable use of the respective foreign language
- Objective, non-emotional presentation
- Use of suitable graphs and images
- Correct use of citations and references
- Self-initiative in academic research, study of specialist literature and/or self-gathered sources (e.g., transcription of interviews)
We would like to thank our sponsors at the University of Graz!
Faculty of Humanities
Department for English Studies
Department for Romance Studies
Department for Slavic Studies
Malvinenstiftung