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Horizon Academic

Horizon Academic

Horizon Academic Essay Prize

OpenWritingHumanitiesEssay Contest

About the Program

2027 Horizon Academic Essay Prize

The Horizon Academic Essay Prize is an online essay contest for high-school students worldwide. For 2027, entrants choose one of five questions under the theme “Back to the Future,” covering AI, robotics, climate, health and geopolitics.

Eligibility and format

  • Open to students from any country who will be enrolled in high school on May 31, 2027.
  • Submit one original essay in English, up to 1,000 words, excluding footnotes and bibliography.
  • Use MLA 8 citations and omit identifying details from the essay itself.
  • Provide an academic referee's email address.
  • The student must be the only person writing and editing the essay. Discussion, feedback and proofreading are permitted, but all text changes must be made by the student.
  • Declare any AI use. The organizer states that any AI use may negatively affect evaluation and that extensive reliance may lead to disqualification.

2027 dates and fees

  • Free registration deadline: January 17, 2027 at 23:59 ET.
  • Late registration and essay submission deadline: January 24, 2027; the organizer lists a $5 late-registration fee.
  • The 2027 Key Dates section lists shortlist notification on February 8, 2027 and the virtual award ceremony on February 14, 2027. The FAQ on the same page instead lists March 24 for shortlist notification; the dates here follow the explicitly labelled 2027 schedule.

Awards include cash prizes and tuition reductions for Horizon Academic research programs. Those tuition reductions are conditional on acceptance into a Horizon program and do not guarantee admission. The 2027 overview and leading awards block list a US$6,950 tuition reduction for the Grand Visionary winner; a repeated block still lists US$6,450. The 2027 overview is used here.

Sources: official 2027 Essay Prize page; checked November 3, 2026.

Eligibility

Open to students from any country who will be enrolled in high school on May 31, 2027. Submit one original English essay of no more than 1,000 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography), with MLA 8 citations and no identifying information in the essay. An academic referee's email is required. The student must be the sole writer and editor; discussion, feedback and proofreading are permitted, but all changes and writing must be made by the student. Declare any AI use; the competition says any AI use can negatively affect evaluation and extensive reliance may result in disqualification. Must be enrolled in high school as of May 31, 2027; open to students from any country.

Eligible Countries

enrolled in high school on May 31, 2027: All countries Open to students from any country who meet the high-school enrollment requirement.

How to Apply

Register by January 17, 2027 at 23:59 ET for free entry. Late registration costs $5 through January 24, 2027. Submit one essay by January 24, 2027. Choose one of five 2027 prompts under “Back to the Future.” The essay must be original student work, in English, no more than 1,000 words excluding footnotes and bibliography, follow MLA 8, and include required AI-use disclosure. An academic referee email is required.