oxford university essay contest

Essay  COMPETITION

2024 global essay prize, the short list for the 2024 global essay prize was released on wednesday, 31 july..

The John Locke Institute encourages young people to cultivate the characteristics that turn good students into great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis and persuasive style. Our Essay Competition invites students to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting questions beyond the confines of the school curriculum.

Entering an essay in our competition can build knowledge, and refine skills of argumentation. It also gives students the chance to have their work assessed by experts. All of our essay prizes are judged by a panel of senior academics drawn from leading universities including Oxford and Princeton, under the leadership of the Chairman of Examiners, former Cambridge philosopher, Dr Jamie Whyte.

The judges will choose their favourite essay from each of seven subject categories - Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology and Law - and then select the winner of the Grand Prize for the best entry in any subject. There is also a separate prize awarded for the best essay in the junior category, for under 15s.

Q1. Do we have any good reasons to trust our moral intuition?

Q2. Do girls have a (moral) right to compete in sporting contests that exclude boys?

Q3. Should I be held responsible for what I believe?

Q1. Is there such a thing as too much democracy?

Q2. Is peace in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip possible?

Q3. When is compliance complicity?

Q1. What is the optimal global population?  

Q2. Accurate news reporting is a public good. Does it follow that news agencies should be funded from taxation?

Q3. Do successful business people benefit others when making their money, when spending it, both, or neither?

Q1. Why was sustained economic growth so rare before the later 18th century and why did this change?

Q2. Has music ever significantly changed the course of history?

Q3. Why do civilisations collapse? Is our civilisation in danger?

Q1. When, if ever, should a company be permitted to refuse to do business with a person because of that person’s public statements?

Q2. In the last five years British police have arrested several thousand people for things they posted on social media. Is the UK becoming a police state?

Q3. Your parents say that 11pm is your bedtime. But they don’t punish you if you don’t go to bed by 11pm. Is 11pm really your bedtime?

Q1. According to a study by researchers at four British universities, for each 15-point increase in IQ, the likelihood of getting married increases by around 35% for a man but decreases by around 58% for a woman. Why?

In the original version of this question we misstated a statistic. This was caused by reproducing an error that appeared in several media summaries of the study. We are grateful to one of our contestants, Xinyi Zhang, who helped us to see (with humility and courtesy) why we should take more care to check our sources. We corrected the text on 4 April. Happily, the correction does not in any way alter the thrust of the question.

Q2. There is an unprecedented epidemic of depression and anxiety among young people. Can we fix this? How?

Q3. What is the difference between a psychiatric illness and a character flaw?

Q1. “I am not religious, but I am spiritual.” What could the speaker mean by “spiritual”?

Q2. Is it reasonable to thank God for protection from some natural harm if He is responsible for causing the harm?

Q3. Does God reward those who believe in him? If so, why?

JUNIOR prize

Q1. Does winning a free and fair election automatically confer a mandate for governing?

Q2. Has the anti-racism movement reduced racism?

Q3. Is there life after death?

Q4. How did it happen that governments came to own and run most high schools, while leaving food production to private enterprise? 

Q5. When will advancing technology make most of us unemployable? What should we do about this?

Q6. Should we trust fourteen-year-olds to make decisions about their own bodies? 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & FURTHER DETAILS

Please read the following carefully.

Entry to the John Locke Institute Essay Competition 2024 is open to students from any country.

Registration  

Only candidates who registered before the registration deadline of Friday, 31 May 2024 may enter this year's competition.

All entries must be submitted by 11.59 pm BST on  the submission deadline: Sunday, 30 June 2024 .  Candidates must be eighteen years old, or younger, on that date. (Candidates for the Junior Prize must be fourteen years old, or younger, on that date.)

Entry is free.

Each essay must address only one of the questions in your chosen subject category, and must not exceed 2000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, endnotes, bibliography or authorship declaration). 

The filename of your pdf must be in this format: FirstName-LastName-Category-QuestionNumber.pdf; so, for instance, Alexander Popham would submit his answer to question 2 in the Psychology category with the following file name:

Alexander-Popham-Psychology-2.pdf

Essays with filenames which are not in this format will be rejected.

The candidate's name should NOT appear within the document itself. 

Candidates should NOT add footnotes. They may, however, add endnotes and/or a Bibliography that is clearly titled as such.

Each candidate will be required to provide the email address of an academic referee who is familiar with the candidate's written academic work. This should be a school teacher, if possible, or another responsible adult who is not a relation of the candidate. The John Locke Institute will email referees to verify that the essays submitted are indeed the original work of the candidates.

Submissions may be made as soon as registration opens in April. We recommend that you submit your essay well in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute complications.  To submit your essay, click here .  

Acceptance of your essay depends on your granting us permission to use your data for the purposes of receiving and processing your entry as well as communicating with you about the Awards Ceremony Dinner, the academic conference, and other events and programmes of the John Locke Institute and its associated entities.  

Late entries

If for any reason you miss the 30 June deadline you will have an opportunity to make a late entry, under two conditions:

a) A late entry fee of 20.00 USD must be paid by credit card within twenty-four hours of the original deadline; and

b) Your essay must be submitted  before 11.59 pm BST on Wednesday, 10 July 2024.

To pay for late entry, a registrant need only log into his or her account, select the relevant option and provide the requested payment information.

Our grading system is proprietary. Essayists may be asked to discuss their entry with a member of the John Locke Institute’s faculty. We use various means to identify plagiarism, contract cheating, the use of AI and other forms of fraud . Our determinations in all such matters are final.

Essays will be judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, the competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style and persuasive force. The very best essays are likely to be those which would be capable of changing somebody's mind. Essays which ignore or fail to address the strongest objections and counter-arguments are unlikely to be successful .

Candidates are advised to answer the question as precisely and directly as possible.

The writers of the best essays will receive a commendation and be shortlisted for a prize. Writers of shortlisted essays will be notified by 11.59 pm BST on Wednesday, 31 July. They will also be invited to London for an invitation-only academic conference and awards dinner in September, where the prize-winners will be announced. Unlike the competition itself, the academic conference and awards dinner are not free. Please be aware that n obody is required to attend either the academic conference or the prize ceremony. You can win a prize without travelling to London.

All short-listed candidates, including prize-winners, will be able to download eCertificates that acknowledge their achievement. If you win First, Second or Third Prize, and you travel to London for the ceremony, you will receive a signed certificate. 

There is a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category, and the winner of the Junior category, is a scholarship worth US$2000 towards the cost of attending any John Locke Institute programme, and the essays will be published on the Institute's website. Prize-giving ceremonies will take place in London, at which winners and runners-up will be able to meet some of the judges and other faculty members of the John Locke Institute. Family, friends, and teachers are also welcome.

The candidate who submits the best essay overall will be awarded an honorary John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship, which comes with a US$10,000 scholarship to attend one or more of our summer schools and/or visiting scholars programmes. 

The judges' decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

R egistration opens: 1 April, 2024.

Registration deadline: 31 May, 2024. (Registration is required by this date for subsequent submission.)

Submission deadline: 30 June, 2024.

Late entry deadline: 10 July, 2024. (Late entries are subject to a 20.00 USD charge, payable by 1 July.)

Notification of short-listed essayists: 31 July, 2024.

Academic conference: 20 - 22 September, 2024.

Awards dinner: 21 September, 2024.

Any queries regarding the essay competition should be sent to [email protected] . Please be aware that, due to the large volume of correspondence we receive, we cannot guarantee to answer every query. In particular, regrettably, we are unable to respond to questions whose answers can be found on our website.

If you would like to receive helpful tips  from our examiners about what makes for a winning essay or reminders of upcoming key dates for the 2024  essay competition, please provide your email here to be added to our contact list. .

Thanks for subscribing!

The John Locke Institute's Global Essay Prize is acknowledged as the world's most prestigious essay competition. 

We welcome tens of thousands of submissions from ambitious students in more than 150 countries, and our examiners - including distinguished philosophers, political scientists, economists, historians, psychologists, theologians, and legal scholars - read and carefully assess every entry. 

I encourage you to register for this competition, not only for the hope of winning a prize or commendation, and not only for the chance to join the very best contestants at our academic conference and gala ceremony in London, but equally for the opportunity to engage in the serious scholarly enterprise of researching, reflecting on, writing about, and editing an answer to one of the important and provocative questions in this year's Global Essay Prize. 

We believe that the skills you will acquire in the process will make you a better thinker and a more effective advocate for the ideas that matter most to you.

I hope to see you in September!

Best wishes,

Jamie Whyte, Ph.D. (C ANTAB ) 

Chairman of Examiners

Q. I missed the registration deadline. May I still register or submit an essay?

A. No. Only candidates who registered before 31 May will be able to submit an essay. 

Q. Are footnote s, endnotes, a bibliography or references counted towards the word limit?

A. No. Only the body of the essay is counted. 

Q. Are in-text citations counted towards the word limit? ​

A. If you are using an in-text based referencing format, such as APA, your in-text citations are included in the word limit.

Q. Is it necessary to include foo tnotes or endnotes in an essay? ​

A. You  may not  include footnotes, but you may include in-text citations or endnotes. You should give your sources of any factual claims you make, and you should ackn owledge any other authors on whom you rely.​

Q. I am interested in a question that seems ambiguous. How should I interpret it?

A. You may interpret a question as you deem appropriate, clarifying your interpretation if necessary. Having done so, you must answer the question as directly as possible.

Q. How strict are  the age eligibility criteria?

A. Only students whose nineteenth birthday falls after 30 June 2024 will be eligible for a prize or a commendation. In the case of the Junior category, only students whose fifteenth birthday falls after 30 June 2024 will be eligible for a prize or a commendation. 

Q. May I submit more than one essay?

A. Yes, you may submit as many essays as you please in any or all categories.

Q. If I am eligible to compete in the Junior category, may I also (or instead) compete in another category?

A. Yes, you may.

Q. May I team up with someone else to write an essay?  

A. No. Each submitted essay must be entirely the work of a single individual.

Q. May I use AI, such as ChatGPT or the like, in writing my essay?

A. All essays will be checked for the use of AI. If we find that any content is generated by AI, your essay will be disqualified. We will also ask you, upon submission of your essay, whether you used AI for  any  purpose related to the writing of your essay, and if so, you will be required to provide details. In that case, if, in our judgement, you have not provided full and accurate details of your use of AI, your essay will be disqualified. 

Since any use of AI (that does not result in disqualification) can only negatively affect our assessment of your work relative to that of work that is done without using AI, your safest course of action is simply not to use it at all. If, however, you choose to use it for any purpose, we reserve the right to make relevant judgements on a case-by-case basis and we will not enter into any correspondence. 

Q. May I have someone else edit, or otherwise help me with, my essay?

A. You may of course discuss your essay with others, and it is perfectly acceptable for them to offer general advice and point out errors or weaknesses in your writing or content, leaving you to address them.

However, no part of your essay may be written by anyone else. This means that you must edit your own work and that while a proofreader may point out errors, you as the essayist must be the one to correct them. 

Q. Do I have to attend the awards ceremony to win a prize? ​

A. Nobody is required to attend the prize ceremony. You can win a prize without travelling to London. But if we invite you to London it is because your essay was good enough - in the opinion of the First Round judges - to be at least a contender for First, Second or Third Prize. Normally the Second Round judges will agree that the short-listed essays are worth at least a commendation.

Q. Is there an entry fee?

A. No. There is no charge to enter our global essay competition unless you submit your essay after the normal deadline, in which case there is a fee of 20.00 USD .

Q. Can I receive a certificate for my participation in your essay competition if I wasn't shortlisted? 

A. No. Certificates are awarded only for shortlisted essays. Short-listed contestants who attend the award ceremony in London will receive a paper certificate. If you cannot travel to London, you will be able to download your eCertificate.

Q. Can I receive feedba ck on my essay? 

A. We would love to be able to give individual feedback on essays but, unfortunately, we receive too many entries to be able to comment on particular essays.

Q. The deadline for publishing the names of short-listed essayists has passed but I did not receive an email to tell me whether I was short-listed.

A. Log into your account and check "Shortlist Status" for (each of) your essay(s).

Q. Why isn't the awards ceremony in Oxford this year?

A. Last year, many shortlisted finalists who applied to join our invitation-only academic conference missed the opportunity because of capacity constraints at Oxford's largest venues. This year, the conference will be held in central London and the gala awards dinner will take place in an iconic London ballroom. 

TECHNICAL FAQ s

Q. The system will not accept my essay. I have checked the filename and it has the correct format. What should I do?  

A. You have almost certainly added a space before or after one of your names in your profile. Edit it accordingly and try to submit again.

Q. The profile page shows my birth date to be wrong by a day, even after I edit it. What should I do?

A. Ignore it. The date that you typed has been correctly input to our database. ​ ​

Q. How can I be sure that my registration for the essay competition was successful? Will I receive a confirmation email?

A. You will not receive a confirmation email. Rather, you can at any time log in to the account that you created and see that your registration details are present and correct.

TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR SUBMISSION

If you are unable to submit your essay to the John Locke Institute’s global essay competition, your problem is almost certainly one of the following.

If so, please proceed as indicated.

1) PROBLEM: I receive the ‘registrations are now closed’ message when I enter my email and verification code. SOLUTION. You did not register for the essay competition and create your account. If you think you did, you probably only provided us with your email to receive updates from us about the competition or otherwise. You may not enter the competition this year.

2) PROBLEM I do not receive a login code after I enter my email to enter my account. SOLUTION. Enter your email address again, checking that you do so correctly. If this fails, restart your browser using an incognito window; clear your cache, and try again. Wait for a few minutes for the code. If this still fails, restart your machine and try one more time. If this still fails, send an email to [email protected] with “No verification code – [your name]” in the subject line.

SUBMITTING AN ESSAY

3) PROBLEM: The filename of my essay is in the correct format but it is rejected. SOLUTION: Use “Edit Profile” to check that you did not add a space before or after either of your names. If you did, delete it. Whether you did or did not, try again to submit your essay. If submission fails again, email [email protected] with “Filename format – [your name]” in the subject line.

4) PROBLEM: When trying to view my submitted essay, a .txt file is downloaded – not the .pdf file that I submitted. SOLUTION: Delete the essay. Logout of your account; log back in, and resubmit. If resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “File extension problem – [your name]” in the subject line.

5) PROBLEM: When I try to submit, the submission form just reloads without giving me an error message. SOLUTION. Log out of your account. Open a new browser; clear the cache; log back in, and resubmit. If resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “Submission form problem – [your name]” in the subject line.

6) PROBLEM: I receive an “Unexpected Error” when trying to submit. SOLUTION. Logout of your account; log back in, and resubmit. If this resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “Unexpected error – [your name]” in thesubject line. Your email must tell us e xactly where in the submission process you received this error.

7) PROBLEM: I have a problem with submitting and it is not addressed above on this list. SOLUTION: Restart your machine. Clear your browser’s cache. Try to submit again. If this fails, email [email protected] with “Unlisted problem – [your name]” in the subject line. Your email must tell us exactly the nature of your problem with relevant screen caps.

READ THIS BEFORE YOU EMAIL US.

Do not email us before you have tried the specified solutions to your problem.

Do not email us more than once about a single problem. We will respond to your email within 72 hours. Only if you have not heard from us in that time may you contact us again to ask for an update.

If you email us regarding a problem, you must include relevant screen-shots and information on both your operating system and your browser. You must also declare that you have tried the solutions presented above and had a good connection to the internet when you did so.

If you have tried the relevant solution to your problem outlined above, have emailed us, and are still unable to submit before the 30 June deadline on account of any fault of the John Locke Institute or our systems, please do not worry: we will have a way to accept your essay in that case. However, if there is no fault on our side, we will not accept your essay if it is not submitted on time – whatever your reason: we will not make exceptions for IT issues for which we are not responsible.

We reserve the right to disqualify the entries of essayists who do not follow all provided instructions, including those concerning technical matters.

We're empowering the next generation of thinkers, doers, and leaders to create a better world.

Our mission

Our essay contest provides an avenue for high school students to explore these important challenges, and strive for novel answers. More than ever, the world needs thoughtful, critical thinkers. But, more than this, we want to create a genuine sense of compassion and hope for what humanity might be able to achieve.

Our mission is to empower the next generation, through fostering relentless inquiry and uncompromising originality, to shape the vast number of future generations to come.

• Run by Pivotal
• In partnership with Oxford University's Global Priorities Institute
• Financially supported by

Frequently asked questions

Have a different question and can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email at [email protected] and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

We're here to help and answer any question you might have

Support for contestants

If you have any additional questions, please contact us.

Media inquiries

We have at your disposal a press kit with logos and other resources. We usually respond within a few hours.

Cheating & fraud

"If you have been approached by a contestant to write their essay, or by a service offering to write an essay, please contact us. We will investigate.

Enter Pivotal's Essay Contest for High School Students

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Home → Study Here → Outreach → Essay Competitions

St Hugh’s College runs annual Sixth Form Essay Competitions in the following subject areas: History, Classical Reception, PPE (Politics, Philosophy, and Economics), and Law. These prize competitions are a fantastic opportunity to explore a topic of interest in a particular subject in more depth – whether something you have studied at school has inspired you, or whether you are keen to broaden your horizons in a new academic discipline.

Please note that our 2024 Essay Competitions have now concluded. The competition winners and their essays can be found on the prize webpages accessed via the links below. Details of the 2025 competitions will be published in late January/early February 2025.

To find out more about these competitions, please visit the individual prize webpages using the links below:

Privacy Overview

Tom Rocks Maths: Essay Competition 2024

This competition is now closed.

This exciting competition asks students of all ages and abilities to explain their favourite mathematical topic in an essay aimed at a non-specialist audience. Originally launched in 2020 as a partnership between Tom Rocks Maths and St Edmund Hall, the competition aims to provide the participants with the opportunity to communicate complex ideas in an understandable manner, and to encourage them to engage with maths beyond any curriculum. 

Competition details

There are no eligibility requirements, all you need is a passion for maths and a flair for writing to participate! The closing date is  Monday 1st April 2024  and the showcase of entries (including the announcement of the winners) will take place throughout summer 2024. 

There are two strands of entry:

• 16-18's (student); and
• Over 18's (adult)

Please note: A ‘student' is defined as anyone who is still studying full-time at school or college, university students fall into the ‘adult’' category.

There is no word limit for the essays, but as a guideline 1000-2000 words is sufficient. All entries must be submitted using the online form as PDF or Microsoft Word documents.

The winners will be selected by Dr Tom Crawford, Public Engagement Lead and Departmental Lecturer, and the creator of the award-winning ’Tom Rocks Maths’. All entries will be published on the  Tom Rocks Maths website  as part of the essay showcase. 

The student prizewinner will receive a cash prize of £100 alongside the publication of their winning essay on the University website. 

The adult prizewinner will receive free registration to an  online live-time weekly class (WOW)  of their choosing and the publication of their winning essay on the University website. The full list of courses available can be found here .

Choosing your essay topic

The mathematical topic of your essay can be anything you choose, but if you’re struggling to come up with ideas, here are a few examples to get you started:

• How to build a giant dome - Numberphile
• Which is the Fastest Dinosaur? The Maths of Dinosaurs
• Making Mathematical Art with L-Systems

Previous years' entries:

Previous editions of the competition have received extremely high numbers of excellent submissions, all of which can be found at the links below:

• 2023 entries
• 2022 entries
• 2021 entries
• 2020 entries

If you have any questions about the competition or would like some more information, please contact Tom at  [email protected] .

Data policy

Personal data

Personal data is information that relates to you. In the course of completing this Tom Rocks Maths: Essay Competition submission form, you have provided the Department with information about yourself, which is known as personal data.

What will the Department do with your data?

The Department will collect, process, share, and use personal data for the purposes of notifying you if you are successful in the competition. You will only be notified shortly after the competition closes on Monday 1 April 2024. The Department will normally only discuss your personal information with you, unless you have nominated a third party.

This information will be retained until the winner of the competition has been announced, after which it will be securely deleted.

Legal Basis of Processing

The legal basis for processing your information is that this processing is necessary to notify you if you have been successful in the competition.

Read our full Privacy Policy terms .

Get in touch

If you have any questions, please contact Tom at  [email protected] .

Dr Tom Crawford

Data science, computing and maths, weekly oxford worldwide, open-access short courses.

Oxford Essay Competitions

Essay competitions are brilliant for a number of reasons!

You can use them to:

Here are some of the essay competitions currently open for submissions. Be sure to check any eligibility criteria, requirements and deadlines. This page will be updated when new competitions are announced, so check back regularly! The University also publishes a regularly updated page 🔗 on essay competitions.

Christ Church College, Tower Poetry Competition: English 🔗 🌟 This year, students aged 16-18 were invited to submit their original poetry based on the prompt ‘The Planets’. The competition offers a huge first prize of £3000! This year's competition closed at 12 noon on 24th February 2023. Remember to check back later in 2023 to find out when the 2024 deadline will be.

Oriel College, Lloyd David Philosophy Prize 🔗 Entrants are given a set of philosophical questions from which they will choose one to write an essay on. The judges look for evidence of originality, clarity and critical thinking. Check back to see when Applications open. You can read past winners' essays via the above link.

Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages Flash Fiction: French and Spanish 🔗 These are open to any secondary school students (aged 11 to 18) studying French and/or Spanish. You need to write a complete story in French or Spanish, using no more than 100 words! Deadline: 12 noon on 31 March 2023.

Did you spot a typo or formatting issue? Let us know by emailing us at [email protected] .

The TORCH Humanities and Science Essay Competition

How can musicians use concepts about randomness and order developed by physicists and mathematicians to enrich their compositions? How far is the image showing a patient’s brain scan an aesthetic choice made by the clinician? How can humanities scholars and policy makers help engineers to explore the potential social and cultural impact of their innovations? Is mathematical proof a form of narrative? What can mental health practitioners learn from the arts?

With this competition, we want you to explore the relationship between the humanities and the sciences. We want to examine how new answers can be found – and new research questions can be set – by bringing the disciplines together. To this end, we propose that you write an engaging short essay about a notable scientific moment, invention or discovery and its impact on humanity. 

For example, you could write an essay on the steam turbine, invented by Charles Parsons in 1884, and the Industrial Revolution’s impact upon the arts and culture. You could write about Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray photograph of B-DNA, which was central to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA. Or, you could write about gunpowder, which was invented in China in the 9th century. It has been a major factor in military technology, and the resulting wars have changed the course of human history.

You might argue that the Humanities and the Sciences are fundamentally different. Alternatively, do they share roots, values, aspirations and a common, contemporary predicament? Persuade us. The most successful essays will be astutely researched and written in a creative and engaging manner.

For inspiration, check out Professor Sally Shuttleworth’s Diseases of Modern Life project, which explores the medical, literary and cultural responses in the Victorian age to the perceived problems of stress and overwork, anticipating many of the preoccupations of our own era. Alternatively, read the blog post Plants, Brain and Imagination by Dr Sarah Watkinson, which outlines a TORCH SciPo event centred around poetry at the Botanic Garden and St Hilda's College, or Dr Jenny Oliver’s wonderful piece on Fungus and fertility in sixteenth-century French poetry: how is a poem like a mushroom?

Categories: 

Entrants must be under 17 years of age (inclusive). 

Entrants may be 18 years or older. 

Please indicate which category you are entering. 

Prizes for each category

First prize = £75

Two runners up will each receive £25 

DEADLINE: 5pm, Tuesday 19th May. 

Rules and regulations: .

1. Your entry must be in English, your own unaided work, and not a translation of another writer. 

2. Your essay must be shorter than 1,500 words . 

3. Please send all entries as a pdf or Word document to [email protected] . Judging is anonymous. Your name and address must not appear on the pieces entered, nor any other marks that could identify you. Please identify yourself in the body of the email, not the attached entry itself. 

4. Maximum two entries per person. 

5. The closing date is 5pm, Tuesday 19th May 2020 . The winning entry, and two runners-up will be notified by 5pm, Friday 12th June 2020 . 

6. TORCH reserves the right to publish the top three entries from each category on our website and social media channels ad infinitum. Authors may also publish their pieces elsewhere. 

7. We will not enter into any correspondence about the winner or entries, nor will we make changes to entries received. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted. The judges’ decisions will be final. Your entry in the competition means you accept these rules.

8. We will abide by good practice in the running of this competition, but cannot be held responsible for circumstances beyond our control such as being unable to access our website services. Prizes may be withheld or altered if we receive no outstanding entries, or insufficient entries.

9. Entry is FREE. No entry form is needed. 

10. Notification of receipt of entry will be by email.

11. Essays cannot be altered or substituted once they have been entered.

12. Entry is taken to be acceptance of these rules.

13. Plagiarism in any form will not be tolerated. 

14. This essay competition is international and welcomes entrants in English from all countries.

15. Entering or winning the competition does not confer a lasting association of any kind with TORCH.

16. In the body of your email, please indicate which category you apply to.

News | 2024 Rex Nettleford Essay Prize opens for entries

2024 Rex Nettleford Essay Prize opens for entries

Essay competition.

The 2024 Rex Nettleford Essay Prize has opened for entries from Year 12 students.

Born in Falmouth, Jamaica, in 1933, Ralston “Rex” Nettleford was a scholar and a social critic as well as a choreographer and activist. In 1957 he studied for an MPhil in Political Science at Oriel College, Oxford, with a Rhodes Scholarship. Then after his studies he returned to Jamaica to take on a role at the University of the West Indies, where in due course he would be appointed Vice-Chancellor.

The essay prize aims to recognise Rex’s contributions to scholarship, education and culture while encouraging students to engage with the lasting influence of colonialism and uncomfortable questions posed by it.

Candidates are asked to submit an answer to one of four questions before Friday 15 March 2024. Prizes will be awarded at Oriel College on the occasion of the 2024 Rex Nettleford Lecture on Colonialism and its Legacies during Trinity term.

While British colonialism sets the specific context for the competition, candidates may address any geographical centre of colonialism in their essays.

At the 2023 Rex Nettleford Lecture Ekow Eshun, Chairman of the Fourth Plinth, talked about how recent works of visual art by the African diaspora are imagining new ways of being Black which are free from the restraints that the legacy of colonialism places on Black people.

The winners of the 2023 Rex Nettleford Essay Prize were Isaac Gavaghan and Rufus Shutter. Special commendations also went to Fatima Dambatta, Elicia Brance and Raian Gantra.

To find out more about the 2024 Rex Nettleford Essay Prize, including details on how to enter, click here .

Generating Genius Degree Taster Day 2024

Update: two golds for oriel athletes at paris 2024 olympic games, john donne’s personal copy of law book rediscovered in senior library.

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Oxford success in the 2024 Lasker Essay Contest

Awards and Appointments General Staff and student stories

16 July 2024

Subashan Vadibeler, a recent Oxford Rhodes scholar and Department of Oncology student, is one of five co-winners of the international 2024 Lasker Essay Contest, sponsored by the Lasker Foundation.

Each year, the Lasker Foundation  invites early career researchers to discuss big questions in biomedical research, with the aim of improving skills to communicate to a wide range of audiences. This year applicants were asked to 'Identify a specific unmet need in biomedical knowledge or a scientific question that is insufficiently addressed in biomedical research today'. 

Dr Subashan Vadibeler, a recent Oxford Rhodes scholar and Department of Oncology student, who is supervised by Assoc. Prof. Eileen Parkes and Prof. Tim Elliott , was one of five winners this year, receiving a $5000 stipend and the publication of his essay in  The Journal of Clinical Investigation .

Subshan's essay 'The (unresolved) antibody paradox' discusses why prior infection doesn't always result in immune protection against re-infection, and can even make reinfection worse (so-called 'antibody-dependent enhancement'). 

Read the full story on the Oxford Cancer website

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Annual Essay Competition

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"Should generative AI have a significant effect on questions of liability in criminal law and/or the law of tort?"

The deadline to participate in the Annual Essay Competition has passed!

The OUULJ is no longer accepting submissions to our 2024 Annual Essay Competition. 

This year's topic asks writers to contemplate the effect of generative AI on liability in criminal and/or tort law. Writers are encouraged to adopt as narrow or broad an approach as they prefer, and the Editorial Board looks forward to receiving submissions that are original, clear, and engage meaningfully with existing sources.

Submission Guidelines: 

Essays are expected to be between 2000-2500 words in length, although this is not a strict guideline. Essays should be typed in a Word Document, with Times New Roman 12 pt font and 1.5 line spacing.

Send your final submissions to [email protected] in an email with the subject line 'OUULJ Essay Competition 2024', no later than 11:59 pm on May 24, 2024 (Friday of Week 5).

Awards: 

The winner of the Essay Competition will receive the OUULJ Essay Prize, generously sponsored by South Square. This entails publication of the winning essay on the OUULJ Blog (located on the Oxford Law Faculty website), a 200 GBP monetary prize, and the chance to be honoured at our Annual Publication Event, which will be held at the Gulbenkian Lecture Theatre on June 10. 

Please ensure you have read the complete guidelines here.

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How Our Essay Competition Works

Submit your entry.

Research and write your essay and then submit it, along with your references, via our short form below.

Entries close at 9pm UK time on 15th April 2024 !

Awards Ceremony

All shortlisted entrants and their parents and teachers will be invited to attend our Awards Ceremony in May 2024, where the winners will be announced.

Over £100,000 Worth of Academic Prizes

Free Conference place

The first thousand students who are successfully shortlisted will be awarded a free place at one of our OxBright Conferences (worth £95) in the autumn. Alternatively, you can put this credit towards an Online Course or Online Internship .

All shortlisted entrants and their parents and teachers will be invited to attend our online Awards Ceremony in May 2024, where the winners will be announced.

Matilda Winner, History, 2023

I’m both thrilled and flabbergasted at the outcome of the competition.

Winning this competition undoubtedly made me feel much more confident in researching and writing in my field from now on, opening a lot of new doors for me!

Regina Winner, Psychology, 2023

I’m very happy and grateful to win such a meaningful competition. I truly learned a lot.

My advice to anyone considering entering is to try to think deeper and further about your chosen topic.

Alex Winner, Philosophy, 2023

Frequently Asked Questions

Entering the essay competition, how will entering the oxbright essay competition help me in the future, why do you run an essay competition.

OxBright is about giving students the edge to help them to succeed, find their purpose and make a difference in the world.

We think it’s the greatest time to be alive, but we’re aware that young people face challenges their predecessors didn’t. We’re passionate about encouraging students to be optimistic about the future by being active thinkers interested in collaborating to create a better future for the long-term. You can read more about this in our Worldview .

Our essay competition combines these two elements – encouraging students to think actively about the future, and giving them tools to help them to succeed.

Who can enter?

Anyone can enter – the only eligibility criteria is that you must be aged between 15-18. You don’t need to have previously joined an OxBright programme in order to take part.

Kindly be aware that to be eligible to take up any of the free places offered as prizes, such as our online courses/internships, winning students must be between the ages of 15 and 18 at the commencement of the programme.

Can I write more than one essay?

Sorry, we only accept one essay per student in each Essay Competition. This is due to the volume of essays we receive.

Can I enter jointly with a friend?

No, we can only accept entries from individuals, and it’s important to make sure that your work is entirely your own.

Is there a fee to enter the OxBright Essay Competition?

No, the essay competition is completely free to enter.

When is the entry deadline?

The deadline has been extended, and is now the 15th April 2024, at 9pm.

Are you connected to any university?

No, OxBright is an independent education organisation which is not connected to any university.

Where can I see the results of the Essay Competition 2023?

You can see the results of our previous Essay Competition, including the winning essay in full, here .

Writing Your Essay

What are the subject categories i can enter for, how long should my essay be.

There are three parts to the essay:

• Essay title: the title of your essay can be up to 100 characters long, including spaces
• Essay: your essay can have up to 3,800 characters , including spaces (this is about 500 words). This includes everything you write, like the main text and in-text citations. In-text citations are little notes you put in your essay to show where your information came from. For example, if you quote something from a book by John Smith, you would add (Smith, 2010, p. 50) right after the quote. These citations are part of your word count, so make sure to include them
• References: as for references, there’s no word limit – you can include as many as you need! These are important for showing where your information came from. Please use the Harvard Referencing Style for your references (you can find how to do this in the guidelines provided here ). This won’t count towards your essay character limit, so please list all the sources you used

What are the evaluation criteria?

We’ll be assessing essays on the following criteria:

• Fluency of written English
• Relevance to the question
• Creativity and originality of ideas
• Use of evidence or examples
• Relevance to the OxBright Worldview

Should I use references?

Please make sure to include references to your sources, using the Harvard Referencing Style (guidelines here ).

What makes a good essay?

Make sure to read our criteria carefully (you can find it in the FAQ above).

We want essays that are thoroughly researched, packed with examples and solid evidence. What really catches our attention are essays with unique analysis. So, we’re not just interested in essays that simply describe things – we want your thoughts, analysis, and fresh ideas.

Don’t forget, it’s crucial to use and mention trustworthy sources for the evidence you provide.

Do you accept personal or descriptive essays?

We’re looking for clear, concise and compelling answers to the question above, written and formatted in an academic style. Please don’t submit personal essays or creative writing samples.

What Happens Next?

When will i hear the results.

We’ll be in touch within two weeks of your entry to let you know whether or not you’ve been shortlisted (all entrants who meet our core standards of relevance and coherence will be shortlisted).

All shortlisted entrants and their parents and teachers will be invited to our Awards Ceremony in May 2024, when the winners in each subject category will be announced.

How are essays assessed?

You can read about the criteria we use to assess your essay in the FAQ above (“What are the evaluation criteria?”).

Essays are assessed using our proprietary system which combines a mixture of technology and personal assessment. Essays which are deemed to be plagiarised or be written by AI will be rejected and our decision on this is final.

There are two stages to our assessment process:

Shorlisting Our first stage assessment reviews whether the essay is relevant and coherent. If so, your essay will be shortlisted, you will be offered a free place at an OxBright Conference and you will be invited to the Awards Ceremony.

Awards Shortlised essays are then given further assessment by our panel. This includes a review of the References. In the application form, we ask for a the name of a teacher who is familiar with your academic work. If your essay is nominated for an Award, we will ask this teacher to confirm that the essay was genuinely written by you.

What are the prizes?

Please click here for more information about the prizes and awards.

Why is the overall prize a place at Oxford Scholastica in 2025, not 2024?

Will i receive feedback.

Unfortunately, due to the volume of entries received, we are unable to provide feedback on essays.

Does everyone who enters get a free place at a Conference?

The first thousand students to who make a valid submission and are shortlisted will be invited to attend an OxBright Conference of their choice, free of charge (worth £95). Conference subjects include Business, Medicine, Law and Psychology. It is optional to attend a Conference.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to choose to apply the £95 credit toward another programme with us.

Does everyone receive a certificate?

Only students who win one of the awards receive a certificate. Certificates are issued in online format.

Do you publish the names of the award winners?

Yes, award winners will be published on our website after the Awards Ceremony.

How can I pass on some feedback about the essay competition?

Academic competitions for schools and colleges

Several colleges and departments of the University of Oxford run competitions which are open to students from schools and colleges.

Preparing an entry for one of these competitions is a valuable experience for academically motivated students, so please do encourage your students to enter. There are also some exciting prizes to be won.

Competitions with up-coming deadlines:

More competitions will be published here throughout the year.

Follow us on social media

Follow us on social media to get the most up-to-date application information throughout the year, and to hear from our students.

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Article Contents

Brain 2023 essay competition.

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Masud Husain, Brain 2023 essay competition, Brain , Volume 146, Issue 7, July 2023, Page 2657, https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awad160

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The response to our inaugural essay competition last year was remarkable. The impressive quality of submissions and diversity of subjects considered by the authors—who included researchers, clinicians, patients, carers, as well as people who have no immediate link to neurology—was extraordinary. The thoughtful and sometimes moving nature of those essays have encouraged us to launch a new competition this year.

We seek writing that stimulates, provokes and makes our readers reflect. We emphasize that essays for Brain are NOT scientific articles. Nor are they academic pieces, but rather writing that provides a broader perspective on life for the general reader. Essays do NOT have to focus on neurological topics or the brain but they should make our readers reflect. They can be opinionated, entertaining or amusing, but most importantly, they should be enlightening, illuminating some aspect of the human condition, and written well.

The best submissions will be published in our Essay section, highlighted on Brain’s website and social media, and made freely available to all readers. Last year’s winning essay was published in the January 2023 issue of Brain, while the two runners-up had their submissions published in February and March of the journal.

What are we looking for in an essay? Aldous Huxley famously began the Preface to his Collected Essays (1960) with: ‘What is true of the novel is only a little less true for the essay. For, like the novel, the essay is a literary device for saying almost everything about almost anything’. According to Huxley, essays often focus either on the personal or autobiographical; or the objective or factual; or the abstract and universal. ‘Most essayists are at home and at their best in the neighbourhood of only one.’ However, he concluded: ‘The most richly satisfying essays are those which make the best not of one, not of two, but of all the three worlds in which it is possible for the essay to exist. Freely, effortlessly, thought and feeling move … from the personal to the universal, from the abstract back to the concrete, from the objective datum to the inner experience’.

We want an essay to be a coherent, carefully crafted piece of writing that aspires to achieve all these elements, providing an absorbing experience that stays with our readers long after they have enjoyed the text.

If you’re interested to submit an essay, or know someone who does, please read the following carefully :

This competition is open to anyone who would like to write an essay.

Essays have a limit of 2000 words. Please provide a word count at the end of the text.

Essays do not have an abstract but must have an introductory paragraph (∼100 words) to set the scene or summarize the contents for the reader.

Ideally, they don’t have subheadings but could have breaks within the text to divide up sections.

To reiterate, Essays are NOT scientific articles or academic texts. They do not have to cover neurological topics. They are supposed to stimulate, provoke and make our readers reflect.

If necessary, you can add up to 10 references, but Essays don’t have to have any references.

Please consider adding up to two images, ideally without copyright, to accompany your text.

Submit your text to the Brain pre-submission email address: [email protected]

Please DO NOT put your name, affiliation or any other information that can identify you anywhere on the text. Submissions will be judged by a panel that is blind to who you are or where you come from.

Only one submission per author is allowed.

All the information you need is provided here—if you read the text carefully. Please don’t send in further questions about the competition.

Deadline for submission: 15 October 2023.

We’re very much looking forward to reading your essays.

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Prizes and Studentships

A number of different prizes are available for students and graduate students. If you have any queries about the Faculty's prizes, please contact the Faculty Office .

The prize competitions invite students to interpret the title to produce work that they think addresses or unfolds it in interesting ways; literary and creative and analytic approaches -- or a combination of all three --are equally welcome.

When submitting your entry for a prize the term 'motto' denotes a short phrase (10 words maximum )  by which a candidate can be identified to the judges while remaining anonymous. An identifying motto can be anything you like: a motto, a quote, a song lyric, a Latin phrase; e.g. live laugh love, I have a dream, Mr Brightside, ad Astra .

Please complete the ‘CONTACT DETAILS FORM’ and submit this alongside your entry to the English Faculty Office.

Essays and Compositions

Jon Stallworthy Poetry Prize

The winner for the Jon Stallworthy Poetry Prize in 2023-2024 was Riley Faulds ( Worcester College ), for his entry ' Selfslip '. The judges would like to thank all those who entered; the award ceremony was held at Wolfson College on Thursday 18 January 2024.

The English Faculty and Wolfson College are delighted to announce this year's poetry competition for Oxford postgraduate students. This competition has been set up in memory of the late Professor Jon Stallworthy (1935-2014), poet and Fellow of Wolfson College, and is open to any student currently enrolled in postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford. The funding for the prize has been provided by generous donations to the English Faculty and to Wolfson College (Oxford) from Old Possum's Practical Trust and from the Derek Hill Foundation.

The subject for 2024-25:  The prize will be awarded, provided there is an entry of sufficient merit, for the best poem in English verse (not exceeding 40 lines in length) on the subject of ‘ Opposites ’. The value of the prize is £1,000, and entrants may submit up to two poems. The judges will include the Oxford Professor of Poetry, A.E. Stallings. Entries should be submitted by email with the subject “Jon Stallworthy Poetry Prize” to the English Faculty Office , not later than Friday of 8th week, Michaelmas Term (6 December 2024). Authors should conceal their names and identify their entry documents with a motto; multiple entries should be numbered. Please complete the  contact details form  and submit this alongside your entry. The award ceremony will be hosted by Wolfson College on Thursday 16 January 2025.

Matthew Arnold Memorial Prize

In 2022-23, the Matthew Arnold Memorial Prize was awarded to Oliver Bingham (Hertford College). The judges would like to thank all those who submitted an entry, and wish them luck in the future. No prize was awarded in 2024.

The Matthew Arnold Memorial Prize, the value of which is £500, providing there is an entry of sufficient merit, is open to members of the University, who, on the closing date for receipt of essays, have qualified by examination for the Degree of BA and have not exceeded seven years from matriculation or have qualified by examination for any other degree of the University and have not exceeded four years from matriculation or, not being graduates of the University, are pursuing a course of study leading to a postgraduate degree of the University and have not exceeded three years from their matriculation. An additional prize, of £350, may be awarded.

The subject for 2024 - 2025:  An essay in response to the following prompt 'We are only safe from one another's tyranny when no one has any power,—. ' Entries should be submitted by email with the subject " Matthew Arnold Memorial Prize" to the  English Faculty Office , not later than Monday of 7th week, Hilary Term 2025. Authors should conceal their names and identify their entry documents with a motto. Multiple entries should also be numbered. Please complete the  contact details form  and submit this alongside your entry.

Deadline for submission:  Monday of 7th week, Hilary Term (3 March 2025)

Chancellor's English Essay Prize

In 2023-24, the Chancellor's English Essay Prize was awarded to Constance Everett-Pite (Corpus Christi College). Millie Dean-Lewis (Wadham) was awarded proxime/second place for her essay titled: ‘/vɛʁ/’. The judges would like to thank all those who entered.

The Chancellor's English Essay Prize, the value of which is £500, providing there is an entry of sufficient merit, is open to open to students of the University. Essays should not exceed 7000 words in length (excluding bibliography) and may be considerably shorter than this.  The prize will not be awarded twice to the same person.  

The subject for 2024-25:  The essay subject for 2024 -25 is ‘Shadows’. Entries should be submitted by email with the subject " Chancellor's English Essay Prize " to the  English Faculty Office , not later than Monday of 8th Week, Hilary Term (10th March 2025). Authors should conceal their names and identify their entry documents with a motto. Multiple entries should also be numbered. Please complete the  contact details form  and submit this alongside your entry.

Deadline for submission:  Monday of 8th Week, Hilary Term (10 March 2025)

Shelley-Mills Prize

In 2023-24 the Shelley-Mills Prize was awarded to Daniella Sakota (St Hilda's College) for her submission “Listening to Wind-Song: Soundscapes, Nets, and the Music of The Tempest”. The judges would like to thank all those who entered.

The purpose of the Shelley-Mills Prize  is to promote the study of the works of William Shakespeare. This prize is open to all students of the University, who have not been a member of any other university for more than a year. prize of £500 will be awarded, providing there is an entry of sufficient merit, for the best essay of about 5,000 words on the subject.

The subject for 2024 - 25 : The essay subject for 2024 -25 is ‘ Shakespeare and the natural world_ ’. Entries should be submitted by email with the subject "Shelley-Mills Prize" to the  English Faculty Office , not later than Monday of 8th Week, Hilary Term 2025. Authors should conceal their names and identify their entry documents with a motto. Multiple entries should also be numbered. Please complete the  contact details form  and submit this alongside your entry. Candidates must also submit a statement by the Head or Senior Tutor of their College that they have not been a member of any university other than Oxford for more than one year.

Sir Roger Newdigate Prize

The winner for the Sir Roger Newdigate Prize in 2023-24 was Shaw Worth (Magdalen College),  for their submissions: ‘At the Papal Palace’ and ‘After ‘Horses, Peacefully Farting & Snoring’’.  Liv Goldreich (St John’s College), was also given an 'Honourable Mention' for their poem 'The Fish-Eaters to Cambyses: A Reckoning'. The judges would like to thank all those who entered.

The Sir Roger Newdigate Prize is awarded for the best composition in English verse not exceeding 300 lines in length.  The prize is open to current matriculated undergraduate students of the University. The value of the prize is £500.

The subject for 2024-25:  The essay subject for 2024 -25 is ‘Echo/echoes’. Entries should be submitted by email with the subject ‘Sir Roger Newdigate Prize’ to the  English Faculty Office , not later than Monday of 8th Week, Hilary Term 10th March 2025). Authors should conceal their names and identify their entry documents with a motto. Multiple entries should also be numbered. Please complete the  contact details form  and submit this alongside your entry.

Lord Alfred Douglas Memorial Prize

In 2023-24, the Lord Alfred Douglas Memorial Prize was awarded to Jordan Maly-Preuss (Merton College), for her submission: 'Selvage’.  Austin Spendlowe (Lincoln College) was commended for their submission: ‘We Workshop Love’. The judges would like to thank all who entered and wish them luck in the future.

The Lord Alfred Douglas Memorial Prize is awarded provided there is an entry of sufficient merit, for the best sonnet or other poem from 14 to 28 lines in length, written in English in contemporary diction and strict rhyming metre .  Any member of the University, who is registered for a degree of the University, whether as an undergraduate or a graduate student, may enter for the prize. The maximum number of entries per person is three.  The prize shall not be awarded more than once to the same person.  A copy of the winning entry shall be deposited in the Bodleian Library. The value of the prize is £500.

The subject for 2024-25:  A   ' sonnet or other poem from 14 to 28 lines in length, written in English in contemporary diction and strict rhyming metre. '  Entries should be submitted by email with the subject "Lord Alfred Douglas Prize" to the English Faculty Office , not later than Monday of 1st Week, Trinity Term 2025. Authors should conceal their names and identify their entry documents with a motto. Multiple entries should also be numbered. Please complete the  contact details form  and submit this alongside your entry.

Deadline for submission:  Monday of 1st week, Trinity Term (Monday 28 April 2025)

Sir John Rhŷs Prize

The winner of the  Sir John Rhŷs Prize 2023 was Elisa Cozzi (Queen’s College),  for her entry 'From Dánta Grá to Dante: Irish-Italian Genealogies, 1350–1850'. The judges would like to thank all those who entered.

Sir John Rhŷs Prize This prize, the purpose of which is to promote the study of Celtic Languages, Literature, History, and Antiquities, is administered by the Trustees of the Rhŷs Fund. The prize is open to members of the University who, on the closing date for entries, have not exceeded eight years from their matriculation. Finishing MPhil students and undergraduate finalists are very welcome to submit their entries. £500 will be awarded, providing there is an entry of sufficient merit, for the best essay on a subject relating to Celtic Language, Literature, History and Antiquities. Entrants may submit more than one piece. Candidates are free to choose their own subject.

The judges have the power to recommend to the trustees that grants be made out of the Rhŷs Fund towards the expenses of printing the whole, or parts, of any essay and/or to enable the successful candidate, or candidates, to carry on the work which has been the subject of the essay. The judges have the power to recommend to the trustees that presents of books may be made to unsuccessful candidates whose essays have shown special excellence. More information about about "Sir  John Rhŷs Prize" is available on this information sheet :  https://english.web.ox.ac.uk/sitefiles/sir-john-rhys-further-particulars...

The subject Sir John Rhŷs Prize 2024:  Students are free to choose their own topic.  Entries should be submitted by email with the subject "Sir John Rhŷs Prize" to the English Faculty Office, not later than Friday of 8th Week, Michaelmas Term 2024. Authors should conceal their names and identify their entry documents with a motto. Multiple entries should also be numbered. Please complete the  contact details form  and submit this alongside your entry.

Deadline for submission:  Friday of 8th Week, Michaelmas Term (6 December 2024).

English Poem on a Sacred Subject

The English Poem on a Sacred Subject Prize for 2021-2022 was jointly awarded to Audrey Southgate (Merton) and Maya Krishnan (All Souls College) for their entries on the subject of  ‘In heaven it is always Autumn’ (John Donne) or ‘Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.’ (Proverbs vi.6) . The judges would like to thank all those who entered.

The English Poem on a Sacred Subject Prize runs every third year.  The next Prize will be open in 2025. The subject is yet to be announced.

The poem must consist of not less than sixty or more than 300 lines. It may be blank verse or in any form of verse rhymed in couplets or stanzas. There is a tradition which discourages dramatic form of composition for this prize.

Candidates for the prize (value of at least £1,250) shall be members of the University who, not later than the closing date for entries for the competition, shall have qualified by examination for a degree of the University; or shall hold the Degree of Master of Arts by incorporation or by decree or by resolution; or shall hold the status of Master of Arts; or shall have qualified by examination for a degree of any other university. The judges may, at their discretion, also make an award to the proxime accessit. Should no such award be made the value of the main award will be increased. The prize may not be awarded more than twice to the same person.

Entries should be submitted by email with the subject  "English Poem on a Sacred Subject Prize"  to the English Faculty Office , not later than Monday of 8th Week, Trinity Term 2025. Authors should conceal their names and identify their entry documents with a motto. Please complete the  contact details form  and submit this alongside your entry.

In addition, candidates must also submit details of the degree awarded (title, university and date, of which the Faculty will require proof, before award of the prize).

Examination Prizes

Passmore edwards prizes for classics and english.

There are two prizes, each valued at £200. One will be awarded, if there is a candidate of sufficient merit, by the Examiner in the Preliminary Examinations in Classics and English to the candidate whose performance in that examination they judge the best.

The other prize will be awarded by the Examiners for the Final Honour School of Classics and English, to the candidate whose performance in that examination they judge the best. No special application is required for either prize.

Charles Oldham Shakespeare Prize

Two prizes will be offered, if there are candidates of a sufficient merit, each of a value of £250. The first shall be for the best performance in Course I Paper 1 of the Final Honour School in English and its associated Joint Schools (as judged by the board of examiners for the relevant School).

The second shall be for the best dissertation on a subject dealing with the works of Shakespeare submitted by a candidate for the MSt in English or for Transfer from PRS to DPhil status (as judged by the board of examiners for the MSt course).

The Mrs Claude Beddington English Literature Prize

The prize, value about £150, will be awarded, if there is a candidate of sufficient merit, by Examiner in the Preliminary Examinations in English Language and Literature in Trinity Term each year to the candidate whose performance in that examination, or in part 2 of the Preliminary Examination in English and Modern Languages in the same term, they judge to be the best. No special application is required.

The Violet Vaughan Morgan Prize

A prize of £100 shall be awarded for the best dissertation or dissertations, awarded the highest marks by the examiners for the Final Honours School in English Language and Literature in that academic year. No person shall be eligible for a prize who, on the date fixed for the written examination, will have exceeded nine terms from matriculation.

Gibbs Prizes

The Gibbs prizes in English Language and Literature are awarded as follows.

Prizes of £750 each are awarded for the following:

• the best overall performance in Course I of the Honour School; and
• the best overall performance in Course II of the Honour School.

A prize of £500 is awarded for the best dissertation, Paper 7.

Seven prizes of £250 each, called ‘Book prizes’, for the next best overall performances.

Any individual Gibbs Prize can be split between two equally meritorious candidates.

The Swapna Dev Memorial Book Prize

The Swapna Dev Memorial Book Prize for the best doctoral thesis in English literature at the University of Oxford was established in 2018 according to the wishes of her husband, and supported by his generous gift. The prize honours the interest that Swapna Dev had in English literature.  The prize will be £150 of books, to be chosen by the winner.

Brief bio of Swapna Dev [1949-2001]

After receiving her B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from Delhi University, Swapna taught for many years on the B.A. Pass and Honours courses in English at the Jesus & Mary College, one of the leading colleges of Delhi University. After moving to the US, she became a visiting scholar in Folklore & Mythology at Harvard University from 1983 to 1985. At Harvard, Swapna worked on the metaphysical symbolism of Buddhist Stupas. Professor Hugh Flick was her tutor at Harvard.

A lot of Swapna's writings, articles ranging from her childhood  to diagnosis of her cancer, were discovered by her husband after her death. These were collected and published as a book titled, "Reminiscences of a Departed Soul," and is available from the publishing company, Blurb [US].

Graduate Studentships

Details on studentships available for graduate study may be found on the Funding & Scholarships page .

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• September 17, 2024 Issue
• Young Surgeons: Submit Ess...

Young Surgeons: Submit Essays for History and Archives Committee Competition

September 17, 2024

The ACS History and Archives Committee offers a Young Surgeons Essay Competition that is intended to recognize and support young surgeons who are interested in the historical roots of the surgical profession and are dedicated to studying it. The objective is to produce a scholarly essay for publication using original historical research that will advance knowledge of the past, thus promoting both young surgeon historians and the history of surgery itself.

Young surgeons are invited to submit an essay on a historical topic of their choosing. The winner and runner up will be invited to publish their paper in a surgical journal, with publication costs covered, if accepted.

Entries are invited from young surgeons who must be the first and primary author.

Young surgeons are defined as:

• Fellows 45 or younger
• Associate Fellows 45 or younger
• Resident members
• Medical student members, who must be the first and primary author

Fellows older than 45 years of age may serve as additional or senior authors.

Submissions for the 2025 essay competition are now open, and the deadline to submit an entry is January 10, 2025. View the guidelines for the essay contest, including how and to whom to submit, and contact ACS Archivist Michael Beesley at [email protected]  for more information. 

In This Issue

Register Today for 2024 ACS Simulation in Surgical Education Course

Sign up for a chance to learn how simulation can teach and refine essential surgical skills; the course will take place November 13–16 in Dallas, TX.

Attend Academy Virtual Grand Rounds on the Learning Environment and Culture

Don't miss the Academy Virtual Grand Rounds this Thursday! Panelists will discuss learning culture in surgical education.

Mild TBI May Have Longer-Term Consequences on Cognitive Impairment

Listen to Dr. Mallory Jebbia discuss postdischarge cognitive impairment in certain brain injury patients.

Read about Evolving Management of Pancreatitis

Improving outcomes and quality of life for patients with pancreatitis may soon go beyond current approaches to include AI and genetic testing.

Learn Who Was Honored for Volunteerism and Humanitarian Efforts

ACS H.O.P.E. has announced the recipients of the 2024 ACS/Pfizer Surgical Volunteerism and Humanitarian Awards.

Register for New Traumatic Brain Injury Guidelines Course

The new course is for offers key recommendations in mortality reduction for clinicians committed to improving patient outcomes.

Participate in Hands-On Decision-Making and Ergonomics Clinics

The Surgical Metrics Project and the Surgical Ergonomics Clinic will return to the exhibit floor at this year’s Clinical Congress.

Second Victim Syndrome Must Be Addressed at Institutional Level, Article Suggests

Second victim syndrome can cause significant damage psychologically and adversely impact a clinician’s ability to provide patient care in the future.

Index Cholecystectomy for Acute Cholangitis Shows Better Outcomes versus Delayed

Acute cholangitis is a potentially life-threatening illness, and management is guided by the Tokyo Guidelines.

Intravenous Amino Acid Infusion May Reduce AKI Risk after Cardiac Surgery

Acute kidney injury is a significant complication following cardiac surgical procedures, due, in large part, to reduced renal perfusion.

Surgeons Discuss Recent Trends in Management of Acute Cholecystitis

Listen to Drs. Clancy Clark and Trang Nguyen discuss some of the latest trends in management of acute cholecystitis.

6 Benefits of Essay Writing Competitions

30 Jan, 2024 | Blog Articles , Get the Edge

5. They don’t require any funding or background knowledge

Most essay competitions are free to enter, and a good essay can be written based on your own ideas and public resources. They can be completed at any time and place, and panels will often accept entries from around the world.

Most can be found online if you look around – a quick Google search usually turns up the most reputable ones. If you’re keen to develop in the STEM field, the Oxford Scientist’s Schools Competition might take your fancy (2). Was the Scholastica Law summer school program (3) right up your alley? Trinity College Cambridge has competitions in many areas, including Law (4).

These, and many other, opportunities are open to anyone, even if you don’t have prior experience.

6. Now is the best time to enter!

Essay competitions are usually based around deadlines. While this may seem scary and overwhelming, it’s the number one reason to start now. With tight time frames, you won’t be able to procrastinate.

Similarly, many are only open to certain year groups or age ranges – so it’s best to seize any opportunity when it arises. That shows proactivity, and gives you more knowledge and skills to build on later. You can apply these new skills to another competition, a job, summer course or your degree.

Read more about how to write the perfect essay

Next steps for passionate writers

• Read some top tips on academic writing in English .
• Oxford University have a list of essay and creative writing competitions for students covering a range of subjects
• Keen to try out UK university life? Sign up to one of our Oxford Scholastica summer schools today!

References and Further Reading:

1) https://www.oxfordscholastica.com/oxford-summer-courses/

2) https://oxsci.org/schools/

3) https://www.oxfordscholastica.com/oxford-summer-courses/#law

4) https://www.trin.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/essay-prizes/

Looking to boost your university applications?

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Rendell Center launches essay contest for classrooms

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Students in South Philadelphia helped launch a special essay contest on Tuesday in honor of National Constitution Day, and your classroom can participate.

Fourth and fifth graders at Edwin M. Stanton School are participating in the citizenship challenge.

The Rendell Center kicked off the six-week essay competition asking students to weigh in on whether they agree with the Electoral College system.

Former Action News anchor Jim Gardner held a discussion with the students about that topic.

The challenge is now open for fourth and fifth grade classrooms across our area.

To learn how you can participate, visit: rendellcenter.org/citizenship-challenge-2024

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VFW Youth Scholarship Contest Entries Due October 31

Deadline approaches for voice of democracy and patriot’s pen contests.

The deadline for the Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen scholarship contests is fast approaching. Any middle and high school students interested in participating should complete and submit their essays by October 31 at midnight.

The Voice of Democracy contest, established in 1947, is open to students in grades 9 through 12. Each year, about 25,000 high school students enter the audio-essay competition. The national winner will receive a $35,000 scholarship, which helps fund college or technical school tuition. 

The Patriot’s Pen contest, for students in grades 6 through 8, focuses on exploring American history and society. Participants are required to author a 300- to 400-word essay. The Patriot’s Pen winner at the national level will receive a $5,000 scholarship. 

This year’s Patriot’s Pen theme is: “My Voice in America’s Democracy.”

Students interested in entering either competition should contact their local VFW Post. Additional information about the contests is at vfw.org/YouthScholarships .

VFW Programs Director Lynn Rolf said Posts that are interested in participating in the contest should start by making a phone call to the school. Rolf added that contacting a school counselor, principal or history teacher is a good starting point.

“The purpose of these contests is to encourage personal growth and foster a greater understanding and appreciation for America, as well as its history and values,” Rolf said. “It is inspiring to watch these students every year chase their dreams. The Voice of Democracy and Patriot’s Pen contests provide them a platform to do so.”

This article is featured in the 2024 September issue of Checkpoint. If you're a VFW member and don't currently receive the VFW Checkpoint, please contact VFW magazine at [email protected] . 

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