Why enter essay competitions?
Academic competitions are one of the strongest ways to demonstrate intellectual curiosity on your university application. Entering an essay prize shows admissions tutors that you can think independently, write persuasively, and engage with your subject beyond the classroom. Below, we have compiled a regularly updated list of competitions open to secondary school students both in the UK and abroad.
Last updated: 10 June 2026
Open competitions
FCDO Next Generation Economics Competition → in collaboration with Hub for Equal Representation and LSE
- UK Secondary Students aged 14-18
- Deadline: June 28th, 2026
- Letter format (Max 1,000 words)
- Subjects: Economics, Geography, Land Economy, History & Economics
Link: FCDO Next Generation Economics 2026 competition – GOV.UK
Queens’ College (Cambridge) – Estelle Prize for Year 12 English students
- Year 12 students or equivalent students
- Deadline: July 3rd, 2026
- Max. 2500 words
- Subject: English/English Literature
Link: Outreach Competitions – Queens’ College
St. Hugh’s College (Oxford) – Julia Wood History Essay Competition
- Year 12 or 13 students or equivalent students
- 2000-4000 words
- Deadline: July 22nd, 2026 (14:00 BST)
Link: Julia Wood History Essay Competition – St Hugh’s College
St. Hugh’s College (Oxford) – Mary Renault Classical Reception Competition
- Year 12 or 13 students or equivalent
- 2000-4000 words
- Deadline: July 22nd, 2026 (14:00 BST)
Link: Mary Renault Classical Reception Essay Competition – St Hugh’s College
Trinity College (Cambridge) – Gould Prize for Essays
- Year 12 or equivalent students
- 1500-2500 words
- Deadline: July 31st, 2026 (12:00 BST)
- Subjects: English Literature
Link: Gould prize for essays in English Literature – Trinity College Cambridge
Trinity College (Cambridge) – Languages and Cultures Prize
- Year 12 or equivalent students
- Up to 3000 words
- Deadline: July 31st, 2026 (12:00 BST)
- Subjects: Linguistics, English Literature, Comparative Literature
Link: Languages and Cultures Essay Prize – Trinity College Cambridge
Trinity College (Cambridge) – R.A. Butler Politics Prize
- Year 12 or equivalent students
- Up to 3000 words
- Deadline: July 31st, 2026 (12:00 BST)
- Subjects: Politics, Politics & International Relations, HSPS, PPE, History & Politics
Link: R.A. Butler Politics Prize – Trinity College Cambridge
Trinity College (Cambridge) – Robert Robson Prize
- Year 12 or equivalent students
- Up to 3000 words
- Deadline: July 31st, 2026 (12:00 BST)
- Subjects: History, History & Politics
Link: Robson History Prize – Trinity College Cambridge
Past competitions (2026)
These competitions have closed but are listed here for reference. Many return annually, so check back for updated deadlines in future cycles.
Girton College, Cambridge | Humanities Writing Competition
Subjects: Ancient History, Archaeology, Classics, English, History, Sociology, Theology & Religion
- Deadline: 20 March 2026 (17:00 GMT) | Closed
- Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent (Year 13 NI / S5 Scotland)
- Word limit: 1,800 words
- Note: Limited to 3 entries per school
Humanities Writing Competition | Girton College
UK Centre for Animal Law | Annual Student Essay Competition
Subjects: Law
- Deadline: 28 March 2026 (23:59 GMT) | Closed
- Eligibility: Open to all students
- Word limit: 1,500 words
Trinity College, Cambridge | Robert Walker Prize
Subjects: Law
- Deadline: 2 April 2026 (13:00 GMT) | Closed
- Eligibility: Students in their final or penultimate year of secondary school, UK and overseas
- Word limit: 2,000 words
- Prize: £300
Robert Walker Prize for Essays in Law | Trinity College Cambridge
Minds Underground | Essay Competition
Subjects: Architecture, Economics, Geography, History, History of Art, Languages, Law, English Literature, Medicine, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Veterinary, Classics, Dentistry, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics
- Deadline: 3 April 2026 | Closed
- Eligibility: Young Minds Prize (14 and under, 1,000 word limit); Senior Prizes (Year 10 to Year 13 or equivalent, UK and overseas)
Minds Underground Essay Competitions 2026
Libra Education | Libra Essay Prize
Subjects: English, Science, History, Philosophy, Economics, Politics, Arts, Mathematics, Law
- Deadline: 14 April 2026 (17:00 GMT) | Closed
- Eligibility: Year 12 and Year 13 or equivalent, UK and overseas
- Word limit: 1,500 to 2,000 words
2026 Libra Essay Prize | Libra Education
Peterhouse, Cambridge | Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition
Subjects: Biological Sciences / Biology
- Deadline: 20 April 2026 (23:59 GMT) | Closed
- Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent students studying in the UK and Ireland
- Word limit: 2,000 words
- Note: Maximum four entries per school (does not apply to sixth form colleges with over 1,000 students per year group)
Peterhouse Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition | Peterhouse
The Royal Institute of Philosophy | The Think Essay Prize
Subjects: Philosophy
- Deadline: 20 April 2026 | Closed
- Eligibility: All students aged 15 to 18, UK and overseas
- Word limit: 1,200 words
Think Essay Prize | Royal Institute of Philosophy
Magdalene College, Cambridge | Armstrong Arts and Humanities Essay Competition
Subjects: AMES, Architecture, ASNC, Classics, Education, English, Geography, History + Modern Languages, History + Politics, History of Art, HSPS, Land Economy, Law, Linguistics, Modern and Medieval Languages, Philosophy, Politics, Theology, Religion
- Deadline: 26 April 2026 (23:59 GMT) | Closed
- Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent students at UK state schools
- Word limit: 2,000 words
Armstrong Arts and Humanities Essay Competition | Magdalene College
View the essay questions (PDF)
St Edmund’s Hall, Oxford | Big Think Competition
Subjects: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Economics & Management, Engineering, English, Geography, History, Law, Materials Sciences, Maths, Medical Sciences, Modern Languages, Physics, Politics, Psychology
- Deadline: 27 April 2026 | Closed
- Eligibility: Year 11 to Year 13 or equivalent students at UK state schools
- Format: Video response (not a written essay)
Cambridge Re:Think Essay Competition 2026
Subject(s): no specific subjects → field of Arts, Humanities, and STEM covered
Deadline: May 10, 2026 | Closed
Eligibility: students aged 14-18
Word count limit: 2,000 words
Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition 2025
John Locke Essay Prize 2026
Subject(s): Economics, History, International Relations, Law, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Public Policy, Science & Technology, and Theology.
- registration required! deadline: March 31, 2026
- deadline: May 31, 2026 | Closed
- eligibility: students born before June 1, 2007
- word limit: 2,000 words
Global Essay Prize | John Locke Institute
Newnham College, Cambridge – Woolf Essay Prize 2026
Subject(s): English Literature, History, Politics, Philosophy or Sociology
- deadline: June 8, 2026 (09:00 BST)
- eligibility: Y12 or equivalent female students
- word count: 1,500-2,500 words