The Nobel Prizes, announced annually in the fall since 1901, cover five different disciplines: chemistry, physics, literature, peace, and physiology/medicine. Additionally, there is an economics prize awarded at the Nobel ceremony (not technically a Nobel prize). That means you’ve got at least five—or six, depending on how picky you are—different opportunities every year to win one of these coveted awards. Of course, so does every other person in the world. There is a shot, though. So what does it take to win?
The announcement of winners comes a full year after the process starts. September the year prior kicks things off and is when you’ll need to be ready, as the Nobel Committee invites more than 6,000 individuals to submit names—maybe your name!—for consideration. As you can’t nominate yourself, you’d best become buddy-buddy with someone who can: the mix includes Nobel laureates (a fancy way of saying past winners), members of the Nobel Committees, holders of chairs in chosen prestigious universities, national governing body members, and other selected notable scientists and leaders in each of the categories.
Don’t fret, though. You have until January 31, about four months later, to make your new best friend, because that’s when submissions are due. The committee then screens nominations—sometimes over 1,000 names—and gets a working list, up to 350 names, depending on the field (physics and economics, for example, have the most, but the peace award list is much tighter). By spring that list gets whittled down to maybe 15 names in all, with the help of expert consultation.
The recommendations are given to the prize-awarding institutions, which determine final selections: the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences confers the prizes for physics, chemistry, and economics; the Karolinska Institute confers the prize for physiology or medicine; the Swedish Academy confers the prize for literature; and the Norwegian Nobel Committee confers the prize for peace. Once you’ve secured your victory, keep your calendar clear for a December awards ceremony, where you become an official Nobel laureate and can embrace your cash prize, diploma, and gold medal. Good luck!
In order to become a Nobel Prize laureate you must first be nominated for a prize by an eligible nominator. Self-nomination is not allowed. Except for the Nobel Peace Prize, nomination is by invitation only and nominators must fulfil the criteria set out by the awarding institutions.
FAQ
How much money do you earn from a Nobel Prize?
In 2021, the winners received almost 1m euros. Meanwhile, The New York Times have reported that the winner of the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize will receive a prize of 964,000 euros in October.
What qualifies you for a Nobel Peace Prize?
According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who in the preceding year "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses
Who has refused the Nobel Prize?
The 59-year-old author Jean-Paul Sartre declined the Nobel Prize in Literature, which he was awarded in October 1964. He said he always refused official distinctions and did not want to be “institutionalised”
Who has won 3 Nobel Prizes?
the International Committee of the Red Cross
Since the International Committee of the Red Cross has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize three times (in 1917, 1944 and 1963), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize two times (in 1954 and 1981), there are 27 individual organizations which have been.
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