Key facts
- Type
- Competition
- Deadline
- 6/30/2027
In short
The John Locke Essay Competition is an international essay competition for students 18 and younger, offering scholarships up to $10,000 for John Locke Institute programs and an honorary Junior Fellowship for the overall best essay.
John Locke Essay Competition
CompetitionAccepting applications nowApply by 6/30/2027334 days left
18 years old or younger
Age eligibility
$10,000
Top scholarship prize
10
Subject categories
Oxford, UK
Host location
October 2-4, 2026
Academic Conference
Overview
The John Locke Essay Competition is an annual essay competition hosted by the John Locke Institute, an independent educational organization based in Oxford, UK. The competition aims to encourage young people to cultivate independent thought and develop sound argumentation skills by engaging with challenging philosophical and academic questions. The competition is open to students globally and is divided into two main categories: one for high school students 18 years old and younger, and a Junior Prize for middle school students 14 years old and younger. Participants choose a question from one of ten subject categories including Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, Law, Public Policy, Science & Technology, and International Relations. Essays are expected to demonstrate clear reasoning, critical analysis, and extensive research, often linking back to John Locke's philosophy. Shortlisted essayists are invited to an academic conference and awards dinner in Oxford, where winners are announced. The competition offers substantial scholarships for John Locke Institute programs, with a grand prize of a $10,000 scholarship and an honorary Junior Fellowship for the overall best essay. This opportunity provides a platform for students to showcase their academic abilities, engage with complex ideas, and gain recognition from an esteemed educational institution with professors from renowned universities.
What to build
Participants must write an essay of no more than 2000 words (excluding diagrams, tables of data, footnotes, bibliography, or authorship declaration) on one specific question from their chosen subject category (Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, Law, Public Policy, Science & Technology, and International Relations). Junior contestants may answer any question from any category.
Prizes
Overall Best Essay
Scholarship to attend one or more of John Locke’s summer schools and/or visiting scholars programmes, and an honorary John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship.
$10,000
Subject Category Winner (each category)
Scholarship for attending any John Locke Institute program.
$5,000
Second Place (each category)
Scholarship for attending any John Locke Institute program.
$2,000
Third Place (each category)
Scholarship for attending any John Locke Institute program.
$1,000
Key dates
- Registration TimelineFebruary 2, 2026 - March 31, 2026
- Late Registration Deadline ($10 fee)April 30, 2026
- Submission TimelineApril 1, 2026 - May 31, 2026
- Late Entry Deadline (7-day extension)June 7, 2026
- Late Entry Deadline (21-day extension)June 21, 2026
- Notification of Short-listed EssayistsJuly 7, 2026
- Academic ConferenceOctober 2-4, 2026
- Awards DinnerOctober 3, 2026
Eligibility
Students from all countries and schools can participate. The competition has two levels: one for high school students 18 years old and younger, and the Junior Prize for middle school students 14 years old and younger.
How to enter
- Register for the competition during the registration timeline (February 2, 2026 - March 31, 2026) or late registration (until April 30, 2026, with a $10 fee).
- Choose one question from your chosen subject category (or any category for Junior contestants).
- Write an essay not exceeding 2000 words.
- Submit your essay during the submission timeline (April 1, 2026 - May 31, 2026) or late entry deadlines (June 7, 2026 or June 21, 2026).
- Provide the email address of an academic referee (school teacher or responsible adult not a relation) for verification of original work.
Submission requirements
- Essay length: Maximum 2000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, footnotes, bibliography, or authorship declaration).
- Filename format: FirstName-LastName-Category-QuestionNumber.pdf (e.g., John-Doe-Psychology-1.pdf).
- Academic reference: Email address of an academic referee familiar with the candidate’s written academic work for verification of originality.
Judging criteria
- Analysis of the question and link to John Locke’s philosophy.
- Clear reasoning with evidence drawn from extensive research.
- Engagement in critical analysis, including examination of alternative perspectives and evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of different viewpoints.