Top Global Essay Competitions for High School Students Globally
- Shenaya B
- Nov 10, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 21
Description: An international essay competition offering full or partial scholarships to attend Immerse summer programmes (Cambridge, Oxford, Sydney, etc.).
Eligibility: Ages 13–18.
Categories: Vary by subject — Humanities, STEM, Social Sciences, and Business.
Dates: Opens around September and closes in early January each year. There are two rounds, so keep track of that.
Rewards: Up to 100% scholarship for Immerse summer programmes.
Format: Online submission of a 500-word essay.
Fee: Free.
Description: Organised by the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, it encourages high-school students to explore research-oriented writing in multiple disciplines. (Winners get a scholarship to Lumiere Research programs)
Eligibility: Global high-school students (Grades 8–12).
Categories: Social Sciences, STEM, and Humanities.
Dates: Varies, 2025 submissions closed in November.
Rewards: Certificates, publication opportunities, and consideration for research mentorship.
Fee: Free.
Northeastern University Essay Competition
Description: Hosted by Northeastern University’s London campus, this competition invites students to write essays on global issues, leadership, and innovation.
Eligibility: Ages 16–19.
Categories: Politics, Philosophy, Economics, and History.
Dates: Varies.
Rewards: Recognition for your writing by an internationally recognized university.
Fee: Unsure
Shiv Nadar University Essay Competition
Description: Conducted by SNU’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, it encourages critical thinking and creative writing among Indian students.
Eligibility: Grades 9–12 Indian Citizen students
Categories: Philosophy, Politics, Society, and Culture.
Dates: Varies, 2025 competition closed in October.
Rewards: Mentorship opportunities with faculty and Award recognition.
Fee: Unsure
Brewer Foundation International Public Policy Forum
Description: A global team-based essay and debate competition sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and NYU. Combines essay writing with live debate rounds.
Eligibility: High school students worldwide (teams of 3–5).
Topic: Annual policy resolution announced each September.
Dates: Essay submission by November; debates from December to May.
Rewards: $10,000 grand prize and a fully funded trip to the NYC finals. The top 15 teams also receive a cash prize.
Fee: Free.
Note: My friends and I participated in this in 2024 and made it to the Top 64 team globally. It was honestly a rewarding experience that required in-depth research and critical analysis of the topic.
Royal Institute of Philosophy Think Essay Competition
Description: UK-based global philosophy essay competition for students interested in moral, metaphysical, and political philosophy.
Eligibility: Ages 16–18.
Categories: Philosophy and Ethics.
Dates: Opens in October and closes in March.
Rewards: Publication in the Think journal, cash prizes (£100–£200), and certificates.
Fee: Free.
Description: Hosted by the Cambridge Centre for International Research, this allows students to explore academic research topics in the humanities, sciences, and global issues.
Eligibility: High school students worldwide.
Categories: Multiple disciplines (Economics, Politics, Science, Literature, etc.).
Dates: Open January, closes in May (2025 dates).
Rewards: Scholarships for CCIR’s summer research programmes and certificates.
Fee: Free.
Bennington Young Writers Award
Description: A prestigious U.S.-based competition hosted by Bennington College, open to creative writers globally.
Eligibility: Grades 9–12.
Categories: Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction.
Dates: Opens in September and closes in early November.
Rewards: Cash prizes (up to $1,000) and publication on Bennington’s website.
Fee: Free.
Speech and Debate India Essay Competition
Description: A national-level Indian competition encouraging middle and high-school students to articulate and write on socio-political topics. Leads to selection for the national debate competition hosted by SDI.
Eligibility: Grades 6–12.
Categories: Debate Essays and Policy Writing.
Dates: Conducted annually around August–October.
Rewards: Certificates, mentorship, and publication.
Fee: Free.
Note: My friend and I participated in this competition and were selected for the debate; both of us made it to the Quarter finals, and I got 5th Best Speaker nationwide.
Harvard Crimson Essay Competition
Description: A global essay competition hosted by The Harvard Crimson in partnership with Crimson Education, encouraging high-school students to showcase creativity, critical thinking, and writing skills through essays on global issues.
Eligibility: Ages 13–18, open internationally.
Categories: Creative, Argumentative, and Journalistic.
Dates: Conducted annually from October to March (regional and global rounds).
Rewards: Up to $1000 USD, publication opportunities, certificates, and potential mentorship.
Fee: There is a registration fee that varies based on the time you register (early bird is $10).
Note: My friend participated in this and was shortlisted as one of the 5 Asia Journalism category writers, and had to write a second essay to qualify for the next round.
Georgetown High School Essay Contest: International Relations
Description: This is a prestigious essay contest that challenges students to analyze global political, economic, and diplomatic issues through the lens of international relations.
Essays are expected to demonstrate a nuanced understanding of geopolitics, institutions, and power dynamics. The competition is especially valuable for students interested in global affairs, diplomacy, political economy, or international law.
Description: The John Locke Essay Competition is a prestigious international academic writing contest organised by the John Locke Institute (UK). It challenges students to engage critically with complex questions across disciplines such as philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, law, and theology.
Details: The competition is open to students 18 and under, with a separate Junior category for those 14 and under. Essays are typically up to 2,000 words and are judged on originality, depth of reasoning, and clarity of argument.
Queens Commonwealth Essay Competition
Description: The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest international school writing competition, run by the Royal Commonwealth Society. It is open to students from Commonwealth countries.
Details and Categories: Participants are divided into Junior (under 14) and Senior (14–18) categories and respond to a set annual theme that reflects Commonwealth values such as equality, sustainability, identity, and global citizenship. Senior essays are usually up to 1,500 words.
Winners and runners-up receive certificates, international recognition, and may be invited to a cultural and educational programme in the UK, often including an awards ceremony. The competition is especially beneficial for students interested in international relations, social issues, and creative nonfiction writing.
New York Times Photo Essay Competition
Submit 6-8 photos telling a story about your hometown. Open to ages 13-19 worldwide. Great for building a portfolio in visual journalism.
Deadline: January 14, 2026.
The objective of the Horizon Academic Essay Prize is to push young students to engage with the world around them critically.
All essay entries are judged by their Academic Advisory Board, a panel of distinguished professors and scholars from leading global universities.
The competition is open and free for all current high schoolers. Through this essay prize, Horizon Academic aims to elevate student scholarship and foster critical dialogue on the ideas shaping our collective future.
Deadline: February 1st 2026
Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest
Participants in the contest submit a short-form article on a topic in international affairs. Each submission will be read and scored by the Harvard International Review.
Some contestants will be selected as finalists, who are invited to participate in a virtual HIR Defence Day. At the Defence Day, students will have the opportunity to give a 15-minute presentation and oral defense to Harvard International Review judges.
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