First, take a look to see if you qualify to participate in the Future Proef Award.
Register now for the Future Proef Award 2027!
The Future Proef Award rewards bachelor’s and master’s theses or final projects that contribute to a high-quality living environment. The award celebrates students who, through their final projects, address ecological or environmental challenges. Participants also have the opportunity to win a cash prize of up to €3,000.
Students from all study programs are welcome to participate. Theses may focus on ecological themes such as water and air quality, biodiversity, soil and subsurface, climate, mobility, energy, material use or spatial planning. They may also explore topics such as housing, health, affordability, participation or inclusion, or approach ecological challenges from perspectives such as policy, design, communication or behaviour change.
The Future Proef Award is therefore open to a wide range of disciplinary perspectives, provided that an ecological or environmental challenge—or solution—lies at the core.
Applications are open until 8 October 2026.
Interested in participating? Read on to find out how to apply.
Feeling like joining in? Below, you'll find all the info you need.
Discover here how the selection process for our award unfolds. There is a preselection at the institutional level, followed by a Flemish selection.
The Future Proef Award rewards final projects that focus on sustainability. But what does this mean and how do we assess it? Read all about it here.
Do you want to have a chance to win the Future Proef Award? Great! Below you will find all the information to register. You can do so until October 8
Are you still working on your final project, or haven’t started yet?
Be sure to use the Sustainability Compass as a source of inspiration and guidance. It will help you reflect from the very beginning on how your project can truly make a sustainable impact — and increase your chances of winning a Future Proef Award in a later edition.
Still looking for a relevant, sustainable, and future-oriented topic?
Check out our inspiration page or explore the award-winning projects from 2024 and 2025.
Award Ceremony Future Proef Award 2026
On 28 April, the VAC in Leuven was filled with proud students, lecturers, family members, jury members and partners for the festive award ceremony of the Future Proef Award 2025–2026. It was a warm evening full of hopeful stories, inspiring commitment, strong ideas and students whose final projects genuinely contribute to a sustainable future.
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Competition rules
You can find more detailed information in the competition rules, available for download below.