John Locke Institute
Global Essay Prize
Overview of Global Essay Prize
The John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize encourages young people to develop strong writing and critical thinking skills by exploring challenging questions across various subjects. Students can build knowledge, refine arguments, and have their work assessed by academics from leading universities. The competition awards prizes for the best essays in categories like Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law, as well as a Junior category and a Grand Prize.
📍Location
Online
📅 Application deadlines
- May 31, 2025
Participants write essays at their own pace before the submission deadlines.
💸 Costs & Aid
- 0
- Entry is free. Late entries incur a fee of 25.00 GBP for a seven-day extension or 75.00 GBP for a twenty-one day extension.
- Prizes are awarded as scholarships towards John Locke Institute programmes. Subject category winners and Junior category winner receive a US $5000 scholarship. Second place receives US $2000, and third place receives US $1000. The Grand Prize winner receives a US $10,000 scholarship.
Eligibility Requirements
📋 General Requirements
Open to students from any country. Essays must address one question from the provided list and not exceed 2000 words (excluding diagrams, tables, endnotes, bibliography, authorship declaration). Essays are judged on knowledge, understanding, use of evidence, argumentation, originality, structure, writing style, and persuasive force. No AI generated content is allowed. Essays must be the original work of a single individual. An academic referee email is required.
👥 Age Requirements
Candidates must be 18 years old or younger on June 30, 2025. For the Junior Prize, candidates must be 14 years old or younger on June 30, 2025.
🌍 Eligible Countries
Citizen, Permanent resident and High school student of Worldwide🌎
Application Process
Registration is required by May 31, 2025. Submissions are accepted from June 1, 2025, until June 30, 2025. Late submissions are accepted with a fee until July 21, 2025. Essays must be submitted as a PDF with a specific filename format. An email address for an academic referee must be provided.
📅 Participants write essays at their own pace before the submission deadlines.
Duration
Essay competition culminating in Fall events
Program Dates
Jun 1, 2025 - Oct 4, 2025
Application Deadlines
- May 31, 2025 — Registration Deadline
Registration is required by this date for subsequent submission.
0 - Jun 30, 2025 — Submission Deadline
All entries must be submitted by this date.
0 - Jul 7, 2025 — Late Entry Deadline (7-day extension)
Late entry with a 7-day extension.
Application Fee:25 GBPFee for 7-day extension.
- Jul 21, 2025 — Late Entry Deadline (21-day extension)
Late entry with a 21-day extension.
Application Fee:75 GBPFee for 21-day extension.