Global Teacher Prize 2027 ($1,000,000 prize)

Overview

The Global Teacher Prize 2027 is a US $1 million award presented to an exceptional teacher who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession. The prize underlines the importance of educators and recognises the impact of the very best teachers, not only on their students but on the communities around them. In its next chapter, eligibility has been broadened to include digital educators who reach students online, leaders of education programmes, and teachers in refugee and other non-formal settings, alongside classroom teachers around the world.

What you get

The prize is paid to the winner by the Varkey Foundation in equal annual instalments of US$100,000 over ten years, subject to any tax or other withholding required by law.

Who can apply

The prize is open to educators of any nationality in any country, subject to local laws, who have worked in the education of students aged four to eighteen for at least five years. Eligible candidates include classroom teachers in state and independent schools, Early Years teachers working to a recognised curriculum, teachers in non-formal settings such as refugee education, and digital educators whose teaching reaches students through video or other published formats with ongoing cohorts. Founders or leaders of education programmes who design, direct and scale structured learning for students aged four to eighteen are also eligible, including community-based programmes run through networks of centres, facilitators or volunteers. Part-time, contract and self-employed educators are eligible on the same basis as full-time staff.

Candidates whose role is purely administrative or managerial, without a continuing personal hand in teaching, are not eligible, and neither are teachers in further or higher education.

Requirements

Candidates are judged on effective and innovative instructional practice, demonstrable learning outcomes, impact beyond the immediate teaching setting, education for global citizenship and peace, strengthening the teaching profession, and recognition of their work by governments, professional bodies, school leaders, peers, parents, pupils or, for digital educators, the platforms and learning communities where they teach.

How to apply

Teachers can apply directly, and others can nominate a teacher.