KIT Award for Outstanding Doctoral Supervision

Excellent doctoral supervision is an essential factor in successful academic qualification. Not only does it shape the course of a doctoral phase but also the professional and personal development of doctoral researchers. With the newly established KIT Award for Outstanding Doctoral Supervision KIT honors supervisors who demonstrate exceptional commitment to supporting the next generation of researchers.

A framework for the doctoral phase has already been established through the ▶ Guidelines for the Doctorate at KIT. These guidelines apply to all doctoral researchers and their supervisors, provide guidance for a successful doctoral phase, and aim to foster a shared understanding of the responsibilities of doctoral researchers and supervisors.

Did you earn your doctorate at KIT and receive excellent doctoral supervision? Nominate your supervisor!

Target Group of the Award

We are seeking supervisors (individuals or teams) who demonstrate excellence and outstanding dedication in doctoral supervision.

The award aims to highlight exceptional examples of above-average supervision. The KIT Award for Outstanding Doctoral Supervision emphasizes the importance of a supportive and inspiring culture of supervision at KIT.

Nomination Process

All doctoral graduates of KIT are eligible to nominate candidates. Ideally, the nomination should be submitted jointly by at least two people. The ▶ nomination form must be completed, signed, and submitted in PDF format via email to ▶ auszeichnungen∂khys.kit.edu. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, June 12, 2026.

Nominations may be submitted for any KIT members who are authorized to supervise doctoral researchers and who have supervised the doctorate of the nominating doctoral researcher. For nominations of supervisory teams, at least one member of the team must fulfill these criteria.

Selection Criteria

These criteria serve as a guide for nominators:

  • Highly committed and personalized support for doctoral researchers
  • Professional training and academic and personal development of doctoral researchers
  • Promotion of mobility and internationalization
  • Responsible introduction to teaching and student supervision
  • Support with career planning
  • Other exemplary, outstanding aspects of supervision

The questions in the ▶ nomination form refer to these selection criteria.

Selection Process

The selection of the award recipient or a supervisory team is made in consultation with the conventions of doctoral researchers at KIT, the advisory board of doctoral researchers at KIT, and the KHYS Steering Committee.

Prize Money

The prize money of EUR 5,000 is intended for a specific purpose and is to be used to support doctoral researchers at KIT.

Award Ceremony

The KIT Award for Outstanding Doctoral Supervision is expected to be presented at the next "Night of Excellence" in 2027. This event honors outstanding achievements and exceptional contributions to KIT.

Final Information