The quality of research at the University of Bremen is illustrated by the high number of national and international academic accolades awarded to the University’s scholars and scientists. Among these, no less than three Bremen researchers have been awarded the coveted DFG Leibnitz Prize since 1999 alone. It is also a tradition that outstanding performance on the part of young researchers is rewarded by the University itself: together with its friends and partners, the University of Bremen offers awards for excellent degree theses and doctoral dissertations in all disciplines.
| Year | Award | Award Winner | Awarded by |
| 2011 | Frederick W. Taylor Research Medal | Prof. Dr. Ekkard Brinksmeier | Society of Manufacturing Engineers |
| Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz-Preis | Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Hinrichs | DFG | |
| Reinhart-Koselleck-Projekt | Prof. Dr. Rolf Drechsler | DFG | |
| Reinhart-Koselleck-Projekt | Prof. Dr. Ekkard Brinksmeier | DFG | |
| Alfred-Wegener-Medaille | Prof. Dr. Gerold Wefer | European Geosciences Union | |
| World Champion RoboCup Standard Platform League | Team „B-Human“ | RoboCup Federation | |
| 2010 | ERC Advanced Investigator Grant | Prof. Dr. Ekkard Brinksmeier | European Research Council |
| ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant | Dr. Kathrin Mädler | European Research Council | |
| World Champion RoboCup Standard Platform League | Team „B-Human“ | RoboCup Federation | |
| 2009 | Deutscher Umweltpreis 2009 | Prof. Dr. Bo Barker Jørgensen | Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt |
| ERC Advanced Grant 2009 | Prof. Dr. Kai-Uwe Hinrichs | European Research Council | |
| DECHEMA Award | Prof. Dr. Lutz Mädler | Max-Buchner-Stiftung | |
| World Champion RoboCup Standard Platform League | Team „B-Human“ | RoboCup Federation | |
| Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques | Prof. Dr. Gisela Fiebel | Republik Frankreich | |
| 2008 | Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz-Preis | Prof. Dr. Antje Boetius | DFG |
| ERC Starting Independent Researcher Grant | Prof. Dr. Kurosch Rezwan | European Research Council | |
| Fellow | Prof. Dr. Gert Goch | Society of Manufacturing Engineers | |
| Dobson-Preis | Dr. Björn-Martin Sinnhuber; Dr. Veronika Eyring | Internationale Ozonkommission | |
| ESA Lunar Robotics Challenge | Team der Universität Bremen | European Space Agency | |
| 2007 | Communicator-Preis 2007 | Prof. Dr. Heinz Miller | DFG |
| XXXIV. Internationaler Italianistikpreis Flaiano | Dr. Dagmar Reichardt | Italienisches Außenministerium | |
| Lupac-Wissenschaftspreis | Prof. Dr. Herbert Obinger | Österreichisches Parlament | |
| Fellow | Prof. Dr. Ekkehard Brinksmeier | Society of Manufacturing Engineers | |
| 2006 | William-Nordberg-Medaille | Prof. Dr. John Burrows | Committee on Space Research |
| 2005 | Julius-von-Haast Fellowship Award | Prof. Dr. Gerold Wefer | Neuseeländisches Ministerium für Forschung |
| 2004 | G. Evelyn Hutchinson-Preis | Prof. Dr. Bo Barker Jørgensen | American Society of Limnology and Oceanography |

Each year, selected graduates of the University of Bremen are awarded the Bremer Studienpreis for outstanding degree theses and doctoral dissertations. This prestigious prize for outstanding achievement has been donated by the Association of Friends of the University of Bremen and Jacobs University Bremen (unifreunde) since 1983.
Doctoral Thesis in the Natural and Engineering Sciences
Johannes Jaerisch, Fachbereich 03 – Mathematik und Informatik
"Thermodynamic Formalism for Group-Extended Markov Systems with Applications to Fuchsian Groups"
Diplom Thesis in the Natural and Engineering Sciences
Nils Heidmann, Fachbereich 01 – Physik/Elektrotechnik
"Hardwarenahe Entwicklung und Implementierung eines K-Best MIMO Detektors für LTE-Systeme"
Doctoral Thesis in the Social Sciences and the Humanities
Tatjana Evas, Fachbereich 06 – Rechtswissenschaft
"Coherence in Application of European Union Law. Case Study of Post-Communist Member States. Comparative assessment of Estonian and Latvian Courts 2004 - 2009."
Diplom Thesis in the Social Sciences and the Humanities
Lea Rohmeyer, Fachbereich 08 – Sozialwissenschaften
"Die Nachnutzungsoption des Wohnens in revitalisierten innerstädtischen Hafenarealen am Beispiel der Überseestadt Bremen"
Two special awards were granted in the Natural and Engineering Science.
The Bruker Daltonik GmbH Award
Stephan Eggersglüß, Fachbereich 03 – Mathematik und Informatik
"Robust Algorithms for High Quality Test Pattern Generation Using Boolean Satisfiability"
The Rotary Club Bremen-Roland Award
Charles Etienne Robert, Fachbereich 01 – Physik/Elektrotechnik
"Investigation of Noctilucent Cloud Properties and their Connection with Solar Activity"