Since 1997 the Friends of the German Historical Institute have awarded the Fritz Stern Dissertation Prize for the best doctoral dissertation on a topic in German history written at a North American university. Dissertations on all periods of German history, on German-American relations, on the history of Germans in North America, and on Germany's global engagements or diaspora of Germans are eligible. Candidates are nominated by their dissertation advisers. Dissertations must have been completed, defended, and authenticated between January 1 and December 31. The prize committee will accept nominations through February 15 of the following year.