Novo Nordisk Foundation Prize for Science Teachers – Denmark

Deadline: 16-Nov-2026

The Novo Nordisk Foundation Prize recognises teams of two or three university teachers who have made extraordinary contributions to educating and qualifying students in natural science programmes across the Danish Commonwealth of the Realm. The annual prize has a total value of DKK 1.5 million, including a personal honorary award of DKK 25,000 for each winning teacher, while the remaining funds are provided to the university as an educational grant for improving natural science teaching, facilities, equipment, development projects, and academic inspiration. The Novo Nordisk Foundation Prize is an annual recognition for university teachers who demonstrate exceptional commitment to educating and qualifying students in natural science programmes. The prize specifically recognises teams of two or three teachers who have collectively demonstrated an extraordinary effort in university teaching. The programme also aims to highlight excellence in natural science education and recognise teachers whose work can serve as an inspiration at an international level.

The total prize sum is:

The educational grant is intended to support the winning team in developing natural science education. The university’s educational grant can support activities that contribute to the development of natural science teaching.

Possible uses include:

The funds are intended to be used by the winning team to strengthen and develop university-level natural science education. The prize is intended for dedicated and skilled university teachers working in natural science education.

Eligible candidates must:

The eligible geographical area includes:

The prize is specifically awarded to a team rather than an individual teacher.

Each nominated team must consist of:

The teachers should have collectively demonstrated an extraordinary contribution to educating and qualifying university students in natural science. The prize recognises teams that have demonstrated an extraordinary effort in natural science university education.

The award highlights contributions that:

Nominations are submitted by a pro-rector or pro-dean for education. Students and colleagues are encouraged to propose suitable candidates to their university’s pro-dean or pro-rector. The formal nomination must then be submitted through the appropriate university leadership. Each university can nominate one team of teachers per prize. This means universities must select the team they wish to formally nominate before submitting their nomination. The nominated team must consist of two or three eligible university teachers. The prize is awarded annually.

The next decision is scheduled for:

March 2027 A recurring call for applications is expected in: August 2027 Applicants and universities should check the relevant annual call for the current nomination and submission requirements. Students and colleagues who wish to propose a team should identify teachers who have demonstrated exceptional contributions to natural science education.

Useful preparation steps include:

Applicants and nominators should keep the following requirements in mind: The Novo Nordisk Foundation Prize provides recognition for university teachers who make significant contributions to natural science education. In addition to the personal honorary prizes, the educational grant gives the winning university resources that can be used by the team to develop teaching facilities, purchase experimental equipment, support educational projects, and create opportunities for academic exchange. It is an annual prize recognising teams of two or three university teachers for extraordinary contributions to educating and qualifying students in natural science programmes in the Danish Commonwealth of the Realm. The total prize sum is DKK 1.5 million. Each teacher in the winning team receives a personal honorary prize of DKK 25,000. The remaining funds are provided to the university as an educational grant for the winning team to use in developing natural science education. It can support activities such as purchasing experimental equipment, upgrading teaching facilities, developing educational projects, and undertaking inspirational visits to other universities. Each nominated team must contain two or three teachers. Dedicated and skilled teachers permanently employed at lecturer level or higher, or on a tenure track at adjunct level, can be eligible if they teach natural science subjects within natural science programmes at an eligible university. Eligible universities are located in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, which together constitute the Danish Commonwealth of the Realm for the purposes of this prize. Students can propose candidates to their pro-dean or pro-rector for education. The formal nomination is submitted by a pro-rector or pro-dean for education. Yes. Colleagues can propose suitable candidates to their pro-dean or pro-rector for education. Each university is limited to one team of teachers per prize. The next decision is scheduled for March 2027. A recurring call for applications is expected in August 2027. The Novo Nordisk Foundation Prize recognises teams of two or three university teachers who have demonstrated extraordinary contributions to natural science education in Denmark, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. With a total prize of DKK 1.5 million, personal honorary awards for the winning teachers, and an educational grant for the university, the prize supports both recognition of teaching excellence and further development of natural science education. For more information, visit Novo Nordisk Foundation.