The Robert Robson Prize for Essays in History is an essay competition run by Trinity College Cambridge, open to penultimate-year secondary school students from any country. The prize encourages interest in history, modern politics and world affairs. The 2026 competition is explicitly closed and winners are published; its verified submission cutoff was July 31, 2026 at 12 noon UK time. No 2027 cutoff or questions are announced.
Historical 2026 essay requirements:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Topic | Chosen from released general questions on modern politics and world affairs |
| Word limit | 3,000 words, including footnotes |
| Deadline | July 31, 2026 at 12 noon UK time |
| Eligibility year | Year 12 / S5 or international equivalent (penultimate year of secondary school) |
Published 2026 prizes:
| Award | Amount | Split |
|---|---|---|
| First Prize | £600 | Equally between student and their school/college |
| Second Prize | £400 | Equally between student and their school/college |
| Commendations | — | Awarded to other outstanding essays |
About the prize:
The Robert Robson Prize is one of several essay prizes offered by Trinity College Cambridge to pre-university students worldwide.
The 2026 eligibility rule required penultimate-year students when questions were released in March, expecting final school results between September 2026 and August 2027. All submitted words had to be the student’s own, without generative AI assistance. These requirements are not rolled forward as confirmed 2027 rules. The page’s generic introduction says submission in August, while its precise 2026 deadline says July 31; the dated rule is retained as history.
Checked November 4, 2026 against the history prize page and shared essay-prize overview. The overview says 2027 information will appear in February 2027; this is not a confirmed application opening. The checked pages do not explicitly state an entry fee or free-entry policy.