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Minds Underground

Minds Underground

Minds Underground Essay Competitions 2027

ClosedBiologyChemistryEssay Contest

About the Program

Overview

Minds Underground's official 2027 announcement lists competitions across STEM, engineering, medicine, humanities, economics, law, and other subjects, plus the Young Minds prize for ages 14 and under. The organizer says students aged 8–18 worldwide may enter, essays must be in English, and 2027 entries will open in late 2026 with questions released in November–December 2026. Its submission-guidelines PDF says Senior prizes are aimed at Year 12, usually ages 16–17, but accepts younger entrants too. For most senior subject essays, the guideline limit is 1,000–1,500 words, with Harvard references counted in the word count and the bibliography excluded.

Dates and fees

The official 2027 announcement does not yet provide exact subject deadlines, and the current official webpage and submission-guidelines PDF checked do not state an entry fee. Confirm both the fee and exact deadline with the organizer when the 2027 subject question is released.

Submission format and integrity

Submit as a PDF or Microsoft Word document using the subject-specific form; the organizer advises against Google Docs. The published guidelines permit AI only for background research or idea exploration and prohibit AI-generated wording, arguments, or structure in the essay. The entrant's work must be their own.

Official sources

Eligibility

Official organizer page says competitions are open worldwide to students aged 8–18 and essays must be in English. The Senior prizes are aimed at Year 12, usually ages 16–17, but welcome younger applicants. Official submission guidelines specify 1,000–1,500 words for senior essays in most subjects; exact limits and prompts vary by subject. The 2027 questions are expected in November–December 2026; exact submission deadlines and entry fees are not yet published on the pages checked. Ages 8–18 worldwide. Senior prizes are aimed at Year 12 (usually 16–17); Young Minds prize is for age 14 or younger. International students welcome. Senior prizes target Year 12 (typically age 16–17); younger students may also enter subject-specific categories.

Eligible Countries

Students aged 8–18; English-language essays: All countries Official organizer says competitions are open worldwide to students aged 8–18.

How to Apply

Choose a subject-specific competition (including STEM, Medicine, Law, Economics, Philosophy, or Politics), answer its 2027 question, and submit the essay through that subject's form as PDF or Word. The current official guidelines specify 1,000–1,500 words for senior entries in most subjects; references use Harvard style and count toward the essay limit, bibliography does not. 2027 questions are expected in November–December 2026 and entry is expected to open in late 2026, but no exact deadline or entry fee is stated in the official pages checked. Confirm both with the organizer before beginning.