John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize - Theology
$10,000 Scholarship
An international essay competition for students 18 and under, offering scholarships for insightful essays on challenging theological questions.
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 of any nationality, including India. Candidates must be eighteen years old, or younger, on the submission deadline.
- Age range
- 6 to 18 years
- Eligibility region
- Available nationwide across India
- Academic requirement
- Open to students from any school or curriculum background.
- Prerequisites
- A strong command of the English language is essential for writing the essay.
- Participants should have a keen interest in theological, philosophical, and ethical questions.
- The ability to conduct independent research and formulate a persuasive argument is required.
See if your child qualifies.
Rewards and recognition
Award
$10,000
The Grand Prize winner receives a $10,000 scholarship. Winners in each subject category (including Theology) receive a $5,000 scholarship, with $2,000 for second place and $1,000 for third. These scholarships are for John Locke Institute programs.
Certificate
Certificate of Achievement
All shortlisted candidates receive a downloadable eCertificate to acknowledge their achievement. Prize winners who attend the ceremony in London receive a signed certificate.
Opens doors to
Winning or being shortlisted for this prestigious international prize is a significant academic achievement that can strengthen applications to top universities worldwide.
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.
- 2Choose one essay question from the Theology subject category.
- 3Write a compelling essay of no more than 2000 words.
- 4Submit the essay in PDF format through the online portal by the submission deadline.
Rules and guidelines
- The essay must not exceed 2000 words, excluding bibliography and endnotes.
- Each student may submit only one essay per subject category.
- Essays must directly answer one of the official questions provided for the Theology category.
- Essays must be the original work of the student, and AI-generated content is prohibited.
- Footnotes are not permitted; however, endnotes and a bibliography are allowed.
Technology requirements
- A computer with a stable internet connection for registration and submission.
- Word processing software to write the essay.
- Ability to convert the final document to PDF format for submission.
About this opportunity
The John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize is a prestigious international competition that encourages young people to cultivate the skills of great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, and persuasive style. The Theology category invites students to explore complex questions beyond the standard school curriculum, focusing on the philosophical and ethical dimensions of theology.
This competition is open to students globally who are eighteen years old or younger, with a separate Junior Prize for those fourteen or younger. It offers a unique chance to have work assessed by senior academics from leading universities like Oxford and Princeton and to gain international recognition for outstanding writing and argumentation.
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 those which could change someone's mind and address strong counter-arguments.
Selection process
A shortlist is created from all entries based on the judging criteria. From the shortlist, judges select a first, second, and third prize winner for each subject category. A Grand Prize winner is then chosen from the subject winners.
Academic details
Difficulty: Advanced
What's covered
The competition is not based on a specific curriculum but requires a deep knowledge of theology.
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