The JASNA Essay Contest is an annual competition run by the Jane Austen Society of North America, open to students worldwide at three levels: high school, undergraduate, and graduate. Each year a new topic relating to Jane Austen's novels is announced; contestants write analytical essays exploring the theme.
Awards per division: First Place $1,000 scholarship + free registration and two nights' lodging for JASNA's Annual General Meeting; Second Place $500; Third Place $250. All winners also receive one year of JASNA membership, publication of their essay on the JASNA website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen's novels.
The 2027 contest topic is announced in November 2026, with submissions accepted from February through June 2027.