At the suggestion of the Senate, the Rectorate or a faculty, the Senate appoints Honorary Senators and Honorary Citizens.
Furthermore, at the suggestion of the Senate, the Rectorate awarded the Badge of Honor or the Medal of Honour.
The faculties of the University of Bielefeld can award the honorary doctor (doctor honoris causa, Dr. h.c.) as an award for outstanding scientific achievements or other special merits.
HonoursAs a remembrance of Bielefeld's grand sociologist Niklas Luhmann the Bielefeld Science Award has been conferred by Sparkasse Bielefeld Foundation in close cooperation with Bielefeld University and the City of Bielefeld since 2004.
Since 2019, the Bielefeld University Society (UGBi) and Bielefeld University have jointly presented the Jörg Schwarzbich Inventor Award. This award honours outstanding scientific inventions and innovations that have the potential to make a lasting difference to people's lives.