There are several types of awards and prizes that students (or graduates) of Charles University can obtain. Fundamentally they can be divided into three groups: rector's (University´s) prizes, faculty prizes and prizes awarded by external entities.

The most important awards given by Charles University include the Bolzano Award, the Rector's Award and the Rector's Special Award.

• The prestigious Bolzano Award is awarded to students for exceptionally revealing work produced during their studies. Bolzano Award is to be granted in three categories as follows: humanities including theology, natural sciences and biomedicine.

• The Rector's Award is intended for the best graduates of Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes. It is awarded annually to one of the graduates in each of five categories as follows: medical programmes (Prof. MUDr. Karl Weigner Award), social science programmes (Prof. JUDr. Karl Engliš Award), natural science programmes (Prof. RNDr. Jaroslav Heyrovský Award), theological programmes (Josef Dobrovský Award) and teacher studies (Prof. Václav Příhoda Award).

• Rector's Special Award, which is given occasionally, is awarded to students for acts of extraordinary bravery or outstanding achievements in the field of science, culture, art or sport. A monetary reward is associated with each award.

• The Arnošt z Pardubic Prize is a prestigious prize of Charles University awarded to academic staff for their outstanding pedagogical activities and to groups of pedagogical or supporting staff for their contribution to the enhancement of the quality of educational activities.

Students can receive a number of other awards at individual faculties of Charles University, which are awarded directly by the deans of the faculties or by endowment funds.

Charles University also nominates its students for awards to external bodies, and students can be honoured with the award of the Prize of the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports and the Josef Hlávka Prize for the best students and graduates.

• The Award of the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports is awarded to students studying in a Bachelor's, Master's or Doctoral programme for outstanding achievements in their studies and in scientific, research, development, artistic or other creative activities. A proposal for a graduate student may be submitted no later than one year after the regular completion of his or her studies.

• The Josef Hlávka Prize for the Best Students and Graduates is intended for talented students in bachelor's, master's or doctoral studies who demonstrate exceptional ability and creative thinking in their field of study, up to the age of 33.

• Awards for research: the Charles University Research Department nominates the University’s researchers for University awards, different types of Czech awards for research and also for foreign awards