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: 6 August 2026
Open competitions
These competitions are currently accepting entries. Deadlines are listed in the competition’s own time zone.
Oxford Economics Society and Department of Economics | Essay Competition
Eligibility: Year 12 or Year 13 students as of 1 July 2026, UK and overseas
Word limit: 2,000 words including footnotes
Subjects: Economics
View competitionMarshall Society, Cambridge | Essay Competition
Eligibility: Secondary school students who have not commenced undergraduate studies
Word limit: 1,500 words including footnotes
Note: The Marshall Society is Cambridge’s economics society
Subjects: Economics
View competitionInstitute of Economic Affairs | Monetary Policy Essay Prize
Eligibility: Sixth formers and undergraduates, judged in two separate categories
Word limit: 2,500 words including references
First prize: £1,500
Subjects: Economics, Public Policy
View competitionLSE SU Economics Society | Essay Competition
Eligibility: All secondary school students
Word limit: 1,500 words including references
Subjects: Economics
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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. Use the filters below to search by name or narrow the list to your subject.
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Girton College, Cambridge | Humanities Writing Competition
Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent, which is Year 13 in Northern Ireland and S5 in Scotland
Word limit: 1,800 words
Note: Limited to three entries per school
Subjects: Ancient History, Archaeology, Classics, English, History, Sociology, Theology and Religion
View competitionUK Centre for Animal Law | Annual Student Essay Competition
Eligibility: Open to all students
Word limit: 1,500 words
Subjects: Law
View competitionTrinity College, Cambridge | Robert Walker Prize
Eligibility: Students in their final or penultimate year of secondary school, UK and overseas
Word limit: 2,000 words
Prize: £300
Subjects: Law
View competitionMinds Underground | Essay Competition
Eligibility: Young Minds Prize for ages 14 and under with a 1,000 word limit; Senior Prizes for Year 10 to Year 13 or equivalent, UK and overseas
Subjects: Architecture, Biology, Chemistry, Classics, Computer Science, Dentistry, Economics, English Literature, Geography, History, History of Art, Languages, Law, Mathematics, Medicine, Philosophy, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Veterinary Medicine
View competitionLibra Education | Libra Essay Prize
Eligibility: Year 12 and Year 13 or equivalent, UK and overseas
Word limit: 1,500 to 2,000 words
Subjects: Arts, Economics, English, History, Law, Mathematics, Philosophy, Politics, Sciences
View competitionPeterhouse, Cambridge | Kelvin Biological Sciences Essay Competition
Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent students studying in the UK and Ireland
Word limit: 2,000 words
Note: Maximum four entries per school, which does not apply to sixth form colleges with over 1,000 students per year group
Subjects: Biological Sciences, Biology
View competitionRoyal Institute of Philosophy | The Think Essay Prize
Eligibility: All students aged 15 to 18, UK and overseas
Word limit: 1,200 words
Subjects: Philosophy
View competitionMagdalene College, Cambridge | Armstrong Arts and Humanities Essay Competition
Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent students at UK state schools
Word limit: 2,000 words
Subjects: AMES, Architecture, ASNC, Classics, Education, English, Geography, History and Modern Languages, History and Politics, History of Art, HSPS, Land Economy, Law, Linguistics, Modern and Medieval Languages, Philosophy, Politics, Theology and Religion
View competitionSt Edmund Hall, Oxford | Big Think Competition
Eligibility: Year 11 to Year 13 or equivalent students at UK state schools
Format: Video response rather than a written essay
Subjects: Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, Economics and Management, Engineering, English, Geography, History, Law, Materials Science, Mathematics, Medical Sciences, Modern Languages, Physics, Politics, Psychology
Cambridge Re:Think Essay Competition
Eligibility: Students aged 14 to 18
Word limit: 2,000 words
Subjects: No specific subject requirement, with questions spanning arts, humanities and STEM
View competitionJohn Locke Institute | Global Essay Prize
Eligibility: Students born before 1 June 2007
Word limit: 2,000 words
Note: Separate advance registration is required, well before the submission deadline
Subjects: Economics, History, International Relations, Law, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Public Policy, Science and Technology, Theology
View competitionNewnham College, Cambridge | Woolf Essay Prize
Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent female students
Word limit: 1,500 to 2,500 words
Subjects: English Literature, History, Politics, Philosophy, Sociology
View competitionFCDO | Next Generation Economics Competition
Eligibility: UK secondary students aged 14 to 18
Format: Letter, maximum 1,000 words
Subjects: Economics, Geography, Land Economy, History and Economics
View competitionQueens’ College, Cambridge | Estelle Prize
Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent students
Word limit: 2,500 words
Subjects: English, English Literature
View competitionSt Hugh’s College, Oxford | Julia Wood History Essay Competition
Eligibility: Year 12 or Year 13 or equivalent students
Word limit: 2,000 to 4,000 words
Subjects: History
View competitionSt Hugh’s College, Oxford | Mary Renault Classical Reception Prize
Eligibility: Year 12 or Year 13 or equivalent students
Word limit: 2,000 to 4,000 words
Subjects: Classics, Classical Reception, Ancient History
View competitionTrinity College, Cambridge | Gould Prize for Essays in English Literature
Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent students
Word limit: 1,500 to 2,500 words
Subjects: English Literature
View competitionTrinity College, Cambridge | Languages and Cultures Prize
Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent students
Word limit: Up to 3,000 words
Subjects: Linguistics, English Literature, Comparative Literature
View competitionTrinity College, Cambridge | R.A. Butler Politics Prize
Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent students
Word limit: Up to 3,000 words
Subjects: Politics, Politics and International Relations, HSPS, PPE, History and Politics
View competitionTrinity College, Cambridge | Robert Robson History Prize
Eligibility: Year 12 or equivalent students
Word limit: Up to 3,000 words
Subjects: History, History and Politics
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