John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize - Philosophy
$10,000 Scholarship
A prestigious international essay competition for students aged 18 and under to tackle challenging philosophical questions and win scholarships.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Approximately 1 month
Time needed
Depends on individual research and writing time
Eligibility
Age: Open to students 18 years old or younger on the submission deadline. A Junior Prize is available for students 14 and under. Requirements: Must be an original essay by an individual student. Location: Open to students from any country, including India.
- Age range
- 6 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Open to students from any academic background with a strong interest in philosophy and writing.
- Prerequisites
- Must be a student from any country.
- Essay must be an original work of a single individual.
- A strong command of the English language is essential.
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
$10,000
The overall best essay across all categories wins the Grand Prize of a $10,000 scholarship. The winner of the Philosophy category receives a $5,000 scholarship, with second and third place receiving $2,000 and $1,000 respectively. These scholarships are for attending John Locke Institute programs.
Certificate
eCertificate of Achievement
All shortlisted candidates are eligible to download an eCertificate that acknowledges their achievement in this prestigious competition.
Opens doors to
Success in this competition, judged by academics from universities like Oxford and Princeton, significantly strengthens university applications by demonstrating high-level academic and writing skills.
Recognition
International Recognition
Skills your child builds
Key dates
Last edition
- Registration opened
- 2 Feb 2026
- Registration closed
- 31 Mar 2026
- Competition
- 1 Apr 2026 to 31 May 2026
- Results
- 3 Oct 2026
How to apply
- 1Register on the official John Locke Institute website before the registration deadline.
- 2Choose one question from the Philosophy category.
- 3Write an essay of no more than 2000 words.
- 4Submit the essay online through the official portal by the submission deadline.
Rules and guidelines
- The essay must not exceed 2000 words, excluding bibliography, endnotes, and diagrams.
- Each candidate may submit only one essay across all categories.
- Footnotes are not permitted, but endnotes and a bibliography are allowed.
- Plagiarism, contract cheating, and the use of AI are strictly prohibited.
Technology requirements
- A computer with a word processing software.
- Reliable internet connection for registration and submission.
About this opportunity
The John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize is a renowned international competition encouraging young thinkers to cultivate independent thought, deep knowledge, and a persuasive writing style. The Philosophy category invites students to explore complex ethical and metaphysical questions that go beyond the typical school curriculum, fostering high-level critical thinking and argumentation.
This competition is open to students globally who are eighteen years old or younger. Participants must write an essay of no more than 2000 words on one of the designated philosophy questions. The entire process is online, making it accessible to aspiring young philosophers from India and around the world, offering a unique platform to showcase their intellectual abilities to a panel of esteemed academics.
Rounds and format
Single submission round.
How entries are judged
Essays are judged on knowledge and understanding of the material, competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style, and persuasive force. The best essays are those capable of changing someone's mind and addressing strong counter-arguments.
Selection process
Judges select a shortlist of the best essays from each category. From the shortlist, they choose the first, second, and third prize winners for each subject. Finally, one essay from all the category winners is selected for the overall Grand Prize.
Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
The competition is not based on a specific curriculum but requires a deep engagement with philosophical concepts and the ability to conduct independent research.
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