Top Global Essay Competitions for High School Students Globally
- Shenaya B
- Nov 10
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 16
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: Organized 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–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.
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.
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).
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