Every year, students at the university are honored for exceptional and outstanding achievements by companies, foundations, and institutions at a central awards ceremony.

Faculties also award (sponsorship) prizes. Further information is available from the respective faculties.

The awards recognize outstanding achievements from all faculties in 2025 (the work must have been graded by the application deadline).

If you would like to apply for one of the prizes listed below, please send your documents by email to Hendrikje Vetter and Cornelia Kamper by March 30, 2026 (inclusive).

The documents must include:

• A reference from your supervising professor – length: approx. one A4 page (e.g., the reference for your thesis or a separate recommendation explaining why this work deserves an award)
• Curriculum vitae with contact details
• Work as a PDF document and a short summary of the work, length: 1-2 A4 pages

Different requirements apply to the calls for entries from the sponsors and alumni of Pforzheim University, the DESIGN PF sponsorship association, the Rolf Scheuermann Foundation, and the Zonta Club. The relevant regulations can be found directly under the call for entries for the respective prizes.
 

Notes:

• Multiple applications are possible!
• Any student can apply. Applications can also be submitted without an explicit recommendation from a professor – however, a reference or recommendation is still required!
• Works marked as confidential must first be submitted as a one- to two-page abstract (this does not apply to the Theo Münch Foundation prize). These will either be submitted to the sponsor at a later date or presented in a presentation if the work is shortlisted.
• Please submit your proposals/applications directly to us and not to the donor. We look forward to receiving your applications!

BLANC & FISCHER Group

The BLANC & FISCHER Group sponsorship award is presented for outstanding bachelor's or master's theses whose content is aligned with the vision of BLANC & FISCHER Family Holding: to create value and make everyday life easier.

The sponsorship award is aimed at students of all disciplines and recognizes academic work that stands out for its high technical quality, innovative strength, and recognizable practical or social added value. With this sponsorship award, BLANC & FISCHER Group aims to promote young talent, support future-oriented thinking, and provide impetus for sustainable, responsible, and practical solutions.

This award may involve discussions between potential candidates and the award sponsor. 

Sponsors and Alumni of Pforzheim University

The sponsorship award from the Sponsors and Alumni of Pforzheim University e.V. is given for impressive commitment within the framework of a student initiative at Pforzheim University.

For this award, potential candidates may be interviewed by the award sponsor.

Furthermore, NO recommendation from a professor needs to be submitted. Instead, a brief explanation of why the proposed person should receive the award is required. This could be, for example, a project in which the person has been particularly involved.

  
Förderverein DESIGN PF e.V.

"Design Personality" – Design your world with heart, courage, and clarity – Support for aspiring designers.

The Förderverein DESIGN PF e.V. is offering an award for committed design students in their second to fourth semester of a bachelor's degree program. We are looking for students who have already developed clear focal points in their studies in the early semesters and an individual field of interest, dealing with topics such as sustainable design, circular economy, inclusive design, digital innovations, social justice, or other relevant issues of our time.

To apply, please submit the following documents:

• Video presentation of your own design personality (in a common video format, e.g., MP4, max. 3 minutes; submission via SwissTransfer)
• Brief description of the submitted project, including its relevance, and project documentation (photos, drawings, boards, etc.; max. 5 pages in PDF format)

PSD Bank Karlsruhe-Neustadt eG

The PSD Bank Karlsruhe-Neustadt eG sponsorship award is presented for projects and theses from the Faculty of Economics and Law that address sustainable and/or ethical aspects to a particular degree.

This prize may involve discussions between potential candidates and the prize sponsor.

RICHARD WOLF GmbH

The Richard Wolf GmbH sponsorship award is presented for an outstanding thesis in the medical technology program that reflects the company's vision for a healthier world and human coexistence in the “spirit of excellence.”

Rotary Club Pforzheim-Schlossberg

The Rotary Club Pforzheim-Schlossberg sponsorship award is presented for an outstanding thesis or project that focuses on an interdisciplinary approach.

For this award, there will be interviews with
potential candidates and the award sponsor. 

Rolf Scheuermann Foundation

The Rolf Scheuermann Foundation's sponsorship award is presented for an outstanding thesis or project in the Faculty of Design that largely meets or takes into account the following criteria:

• Focus on the realities of people's lives (practical relevance)
• Development of innovative, future-oriented ideas, approaches, and projects to overcome upcoming challenges in terms of the environment, sustainability, and inclusion
• Application scenarios for the connections between design and technical implementation

Please note: to apply for this award, instead of a short summary, you must submit a clear, well-structured summary of your work, no longer than three pages. A short statement explaining your motivation for applying is also welcome.

For this award, there may be interviews with potential candidates by the award sponsor.
 

Theo Münch Foundation

The Theo Münch Foundation Award is presented for technically and scientifically excellent theses that are also written in good German.

Witzenmann GmbH

This year, the Witzenmann GmbH sponsorship award will be presented for the best thesis that impresses with fresh ideas and creative solutions in the areas of innovation, sustainability, and/or digitalization!

WSP Economy and City Marketing Pforzheim

The sponsorship award from the municipal enterprise WSP - Wirtschaft und Stadtmarketing Pforzheim is awarded for an outstanding thesis or project that deals with Pforzheim as a business location and/or was created in collaboration with a Pforzheim-based company or institution.

For this prize, there may be discussions between potential candidates and the prize sponsor.

Zonta Club Pforzheim

The sponsorship award from the Zonta Club Pforzheim is given to female students from the Faculty of Economics and Law who have achieved excellent academic results and demonstrated particular social commitment.

Unlike the documents required for the other prizes, please send us the following when applying for the Zonta Club prize:

• Application form "Zonta Women in Business Leadership Award" (click to download, to be completed in English) - The deadlines specified here are not relevant for the university's sponsorship award competition!
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact details (including cell phone number)
• Overview of achievements
• Reference regarding social engagement (e.g., involvement in a student initiative)

In addition to the above-mentioned awards, Ernst & Young GmbH Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft will also present an award in the field of auditing, for which students are not eligible to apply.

Then please contact Hendrikje Vetter (07231 28 6921) or Cornelia Kamper (07231 28 6008).