John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize - Science and Technology
$10,000 Scholarship
An international essay competition for students aged 18 or younger, fostering critical thinking and persuasive writing in Science and Technology.
Mode
Online
Fee
Free
Participation format
Individual
Duration
Approximately 1 month for submission.
Time needed
Depends on individual research and writing time
Eligibility
Students aged 18 or younger from any country are eligible. Requires an original essay (under 2000 words) on a Science and Technology topic and an academic referee's email. Submissions must be entirely original, with no AI-generated content.
- Age range
- 6 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Open to students from any country.
- Prerequisites
- Strong writing and research skills
- Ability to formulate and defend an argument
- Interest in challenging academic questions
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
$10,000
Winners receive scholarships towards John Locke Institute programs, with a grand prize of US$10,000 and category first prizes of US$5,000, second prizes of US$2,000, and third prizes of US$1,000.
Certificate
John Locke Institute eCertificate
All shortlisted candidates receive eCertificates from the John Locke Institute.
Opens doors to
Participation significantly boosts university applications to leading global institutions like Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.
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 online via the John Locke Institute website
- 2Write an original essay addressing one of the provided questions in the chosen subject category
- 3Submit the essay as a PDF file with a specific filename form
- 4Provide the email address of an academic referee for verification
Rules and guidelines
- Essays must not exceed 2000 words, excluding diagrams, tables, endnotes, bibliography, or authorship declaration.
- Only one essay submission is allowed per student per subject category.
- Essays must be original work and free from plagiarism or AI-generated content.
- The contestant's name must not appear anywhere within the essay document itself.
- No footnotes are permitted; however, endnotes and a bibliography are allowed.
Technology requirements
- Computer or laptop with internet access
- PDF reader and creator software
About this opportunity
The John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize in Science and Technology is a prestigious international competition designed for young writers to explore challenging questions beyond their school curriculum. It provides a unique platform to showcase intellectual abilities, foster independent thought, and develop critical analysis skills.
Open to students aged 18 or younger from any country, this competition offers significant scholarships towards John Locke Institute programs, including a grand prize of US$10,000. Participation enhances critical thinking, research, and persuasive writing, significantly boosting university applications to leading global institutions.
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 best essays are capable of changing a reader's mind.
Selection process
Essays are shortlisted based on the quality of writing, argumentation, and originality. Prize winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd) are then selected from the shortlisted entries in each category, with a Grand Prize winner chosen from all first-place entries.
Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
Beyond school curriculum, focusing on challenging and interesting questions in Science and Technology.
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