John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize - Public Policy
$10,000 Scholarship
The John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize in Public Policy challenges students worldwide to develop critical thinking and persuasive writing skills.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Approximately 1 month for submission.
Time needed
Depends on individual research and writing time
Eligibility
Open to students worldwide, 18 years old or younger (or 14 or younger for the Junior Prize) on the submission deadline. Participants must submit an original essay demonstrating strong academic and critical thinking skills. An academic referee email is required.
- Age range
- 6 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Open to students from any country and educational background.
- Prerequisites
- Strong command of the English language.
- Ability to write a structured and persuasive academic essay.
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
$10,000
The best essay overall wins a Grand Prize scholarship of $10,000. The winner of the Psychology category receives a $5,000 scholarship, with $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third. These scholarships are for attending John Locke Institute programs.
Prizes
Honorary Junior Fellowship
The Grand Prize winner is awarded an honorary Junior Fellowship.
Certificate
eCertificates of Participation
All shortlisted candidates receive eCertificates, and prize winners receive signed certificates.
Opens doors to
Significantly boosts applications to leading global universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard.
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
- 1Online registration followed by essay submission as a PDF. An academic referee's email must be provided.
Rules and guidelines
- Essay must address only one question from the chosen subject category
- Essay must not exceed 2000 words (excluding diagrams, tables, endnotes, bibliography, authorship declaration)
- No footnotes are allowed; endnotes and/or a bibliography are permitted
- Essay filename must follow the prescribed format
- Contestant's name should NOT appear within the essay document itself
- Essays must be the original work of a single individual
- No AI-generated content is permitted
Technology requirements
- Computer or laptop with internet access
- PDF software for essay submission
About this opportunity
The John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize in Public Policy is an international competition fostering independent thought and clear reasoning among young writers. It invites participants to explore challenging public policy questions, encouraging engagement with complex societal issues and effective articulation of perspectives. This prize aims to cultivate the characteristics that transform good students into exceptional writers.
Open to students worldwide aged 18 or younger, with a separate Junior Prize for those 14 or younger, contestants submit an original essay up to 2000 words. Winners receive substantial scholarships for John Locke Institute programs, including a US$10,000 scholarship for the Grand Prize winner. This opportunity provides invaluable experience, enhancing critical thinking, research, and writing skills, significantly boosting applications to leading global universities.
Rounds and format
Single submission round.
How entries are judged
Essays are judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style, and persuasive force. The most successful essays are those capable of changing a reader's mind and effectively addressing counter-arguments.
Selection process
Essays are initially shortlisted based on adherence to guidelines and initial quality assessment. Prize winners are then selected from the shortlisted essays by a panel of senior academics based on the detailed judging criteria.
Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
The competition is not based on a specific curriculum but requires a deep knowledge of public policy.
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