Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck - "France" Awards for researchers and students of the University of Innsbruck

France Awards of the University of Innsbruck

You will receive a one-off prize of 500 to 2,000 EUR for an outstanding piece of academic work relating to France. The amount of the prize depends on the category: a Master’s or diploma thesis is awarded 500 EUR, a doctoral thesis 1,000 EUR and postdoctoral research 2,000 EUR. Each prize may be shared between two winners. The University of Innsbruck awards the prize once a year in collaboration with the French Embassy in Austria. The winners will present their work in a short, five-minute talk in French as part of the annual ‘France Day’ celebrations.

Who can apply

• Who you are: You are a graduate or a researcher at the University of Innsbruck.
• Your work: You are submitting a Master’s thesis, a diploma thesis, a doctoral thesis or a postdoctoral thesis completed during the last academic year.
• France connection: Your work deals with a French topic or has resulted from a Franco-Austrian collaboration. This is the key criterion.
• Field of study: All subjects can apply.
• Nationality: All nationalities can apply.
• Who submits: In the case of a final-year dissertation or a PhD thesis, your supervisor must make the entry on your behalf. Postdoctoral researchers submit their work themselves.

How to apply

Please submit your work to the ‘France Focus’ department by 31 July, both in digital form and as a printed, bound copy. Please include a summary of approximately two pages in German and French, as well as a CV. A jury chaired by the Rector and the Head of the ‘France Focus’ department will assess each submission in terms of its academic quality, its significance for the field and its relevance to France.

How realistic are your chances?

The eligibility criteria for this award are quite strict: you must be enrolled at the University of Innsbruck and your work must have a genuine connection to France, meaning that only a few entries meet the requirements. If your final thesis or research project clearly demonstrates this connection to France and is academically sound, your chances are good. Please bear in mind that, in the case of a final-year dissertation or a PhD thesis, your supervisor must submit the entry on your behalf; therefore, please ensure this is arranged well in advance of the deadline.