The Minds Underground Essay Competitions are free annual academic writing competitions run by Minds Underground (a division of U2 Tuition Ltd., UK) for students aged 8–18 worldwide. Designed to push students beyond their school curriculum, the competitions span 18+ subject areas and give students worldwide a university application talking point and a way to develop independent research and analytical writing skills.
Subject competitions include:
- Architecture, Classics, Dentistry, Economics, Engineering Innovation Challenge, English Literature, Geography, History, History of Art, Languages, Law, Medicine, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, STEM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Mathematics), and Veterinary
Two tracks:
- Young Minds (U14): For students aged 14 and under; explores contemporary questions and debates
- Senior Prizes: Aimed at Year 12 (ages 16–17) but open to all; designed for university applicants
How it works:
Each competition releases a subject-specific question. Students write an independent essay of 1,000–1,500 words (varies by subject), conducting their own research and citing sources in Harvard referencing style. Essays are submitted as PDF or Word documents through the subject-specific submission form on the website.
Judging criteria:
- Originality and depth of thought
- Clarity and sophistication of written expression
- Coherence and structure of argument
- Evidence of wider reading and research
- Awareness of real-world, ethical, or interdisciplinary dimensions
Awards:
Winners, runners-up, and highly commended entrants in each subject category receive prizes and tailored resources to support future university applications. Results are announced by email a few weeks after the submission deadline.
2027 cycle: Entry opens late 2026 with questions released in November–December 2026.