This state prize, which is financed from study support funds and endowed with 3,000€, is awarded annually to the 55 best diploma and master's degrees at all Austrian universities, universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschulen) and universities of teacher education (Pädagogischen Hochschulen) - out of a total of around 16,000 degrees annually. The proposals for this come from the universities, the Conference of Private Universities, the Conference of Universities of Teacher Education and the Conference of Universities of Applied Sciences. The Würdigungspreis was first presented in 1990.
