Here, you’ll find a range of writing contests, hosted by our website and other renowned platforms. These contests challenge you to think critically and write passionately, providing a chance to sharpen your skills, gain exposure, and win exciting prizes.

1. St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition 

Topic: In recent years and going forward, nations across Asia, Africa and Latin America are emerging as new centres of global power. This shift towards a multipolar world extends across several dimensions, incl. economic, political, technological, societal, cultural and demographic ones. Overall, it represents one if the fundamental trends today's and tomorrow's leaders need to grapple with and comprehend. 

Global power is shifting. What's your innovative idea to address a related risk or opportunity? 

You're required to register at their website before submitting your entry. 

Open to: Students enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate programme (Master level or higher) in any field of study at a regular university. 

The entrants should have been born in 1995 or later. 

Length: 2,100 words 

Language: English 

The top 100 selected by Jury from the submitted essays will qualify as a Leader of Tomorrow for an expense-paid participation in the 54th St. Gallen Symposium (6-8 March 2025). 

Three awardees will be selected by the Jury and awarded a total prize money of CHF 20,000 split among them. 

The very best competitors (including the awardees) will present their ideas on the big stage at the Symposium. For this, the students will be asked to pitch their idea on video beforehand. 

Deadline: February 1, 2025

Details here. 

2. The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition 2025

Open to: Students, worldwide, aged 13-18 years 

Prompts: Will be announced on February 10, 2025

There will be two rounds of submission: Regional and Global. The 15 Regional Finalists will be given a week to elaborate on their regional submission and submit their cumulative essay. 

You're required to register on their website before you submit your entry. 

Registration Deadline: 31 January, 2025

Regional Essay Submission: February 17, 2025

Global Finalists Announcement: February 28, 2025

Global Essay Submission: March 5, 2025

Global Winners Announcement: March 15, 2025

Regional submissions for this contest fall under the following: 

• APAC ( East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Oceania)
• Europe, Russia, and Central America
• Middle East, North Africa, Central and South Africa 
• LATAM (South America, Central America, Mexico, and the islands of Carribean)
• North America 

Global Prizes:

The top 9 submissions (3 Creative Winners, 3 Argumentative Winners, and 3 Journalistic Winners), of the final 75, will receive the following:

a) Cash:

1st ($1,000), 2nd ($750), 3rd ($500)

b) Crimson Mentorship Credit:

1st ($1,000), 2nd ($750), 3rd ($500)

c) Free participation for the Summer Journalism Course by the Harvard Crimson.

d) Publication of their essays on the Official Harvard Crimson Essay Competition Website 

e) Award of Global Champion Certificate 

There will also be an English Language Learner Award of 100, and a unique certificate

Details here. 

3. Immerse Education Essay Competition 

Open to: Students, worldwide, aged 13-18 years 

Topic: Choose from a subject of interest highlighted on their website 

Length: 500 words 

Prizes:

a) Runners-Up

40 Runners-Up will be awarded partial scholarship of 75% to study their chosen subject with Immerse. 

b) 1st place 

10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship for their exceptional work. 

c) Runners-Up

The last category of 150 entrants will receive partial scholarships worth 50%. 

If you win a scholarship, you can use it toward one of Immerse's renowned online programmes or one of their award winning residential courses in any of their locations including Oxford, Cambridge z London, Sydney and New York to name a few. 

Merit Awards:

Top ranking essays that don't receive. Scholarship will be eligible for the option of a £1000 award for our residential programmes, a £500 award for our Online Research Programme or a £250 award for our Group Online Research Programme. 

Deadline: January 16, 2025

Details here. 

4. Church Monuments Society Essay Competition 

Open to: Those who have not previously published an article in the Church Monuments. Entrants may not be members of the Church Monuments Society. 

The focus of essay must be a monument/s in a church, churchyard or cemetery, of any period and location. 

Language: English 

Length: 6,000-10,000 words, with a maximum of 10 illustrations

Prize:

The winning entry will receive £500, and a certificate publication in the peer-reviewed Journal Church Monuments. 

Deadline: January 31, 2024

Details here. 

5. Salem Essay Contest 

Open to: Young people, aged 14-19 years, currently residing in Pakistan

Write an essay about phenomena that would seem unconnected to the casual observer - the greater the apparent disconnect, the better - and show us how, through careful consideration, you were able to perceive hidden commonalities.

Length: 1,000 words 

Prize:

Winning entries essays will be published on the Imperial College Website. Winners will be awarded certificates, as well as a set of books on Abdus Salamand on Theoretical Physics. 

Deadline: January 15, 2025

Details here. 

6. The AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition 

Question: How will Artificial Intelligence change cyber-security, and what are the implications for Europe? Discuss potential strategies that policymakers can adopt to navigate those changes. 

Open to: Individuals worldwide who are experts in the fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence ("AI").

Length: 800-1,200 words 

Award:

1st place - €10,000

2nd place - €5,000

3rd place - €2,500

4th-5th place - €1,000

The author of the winning essay will be invited to attend the 2025 Munich Security Conference (February 13-16, 2025), where they will be honoured at the award ceremony. 

Deadline: January 2, 2025

Details here.