Field
Humanities
Participating in the John Locke Institute Essay Prize is one of the world’s leading opportunities for high school and early-college students to showcase original academic writing across the humanities and social sciences.
As the competition highlights rigorous reasoning, originality, and clarity of written expression, it can feel demanding and highly competitive. This guide breaks the process down simply, helping you understand what JLI looks for and how to prepare a strong submission.
What Kind of Work Can You Submit?
The competition accepts individual essays across seven subject categories:
Philosophy
Politics
Economics
History
Psychology
Theology
Law
Each category offers three essay questions, and participants must choose one. Questions typically explore moral dilemmas, analytical reasoning, historical interpretation, or theoretical principles in social science and the humanities.
Submissions must demonstrate:
A precise and well-framed argument
Clear reasoning supported by evidence
Engagement with relevant thinkers or debates
Original perspectives or insights
Strong writing quality and coherent structure
Eligibility
The competition is open to all students 18 or under on the submission deadline, regardless of country, curriculum, or school type. Essays must be written individually; co-authored entries are not accepted.
Participants may enter from any academic system (A-Levels, IB, CBSE, etc.), submit one essay per subject category, and enter multiple categories.
All submissions must be original and comply with the Institute’s academic integrity policies. Referees may be contacted to verify authorship.
Prizes
The John Locke Institute awards generous scholarships to top entries:
Subject Category Prizes
1st Place: US $5,000 scholarship
2nd Place: US $2,000 scholarship
3rd Place: US $1,000 scholarship
Overall Best Essay
Honorary John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship
US $10,000 scholarship to attend JLI summer schools or visiting scholar programmes
Winners also receive recognition at the Institute’s annual academic conference and awards dinner.
Submission Process
Entry is free. Late submissions may request an extension:
£25 for a 7-day extension
£75 for a 21-day extension
Extension fees must be paid within 24 hours of missing the deadline.
Each candidate must provide the email of an academic referee such as a school teacher or another responsible adult (not a relative). The Institute will contact referees to confirm that the essay is the student’s own work.
Review Timeline
The 2025 edition is now closed. The timeline was as follows:
Registration opens: 1 April 2025
Registration deadline: 31 May 2025
Submissions open: 1 June 2025
Submission deadline: 30 June 2025
Shortlisted candidates announced: 14 August 2025
Academic conference: 3–5 October 2025
Awards dinner: 4 October 2025
RISE Tips for Getting Accepted
Based on award-winning submissions reviewed by RISE, competitive JLI essays typically demonstrate:
Direct engagement with the question, without drifting off-topic
Original thinking and unique insight
Clear use of philosophical, historical, or empirical evidence
Logical structure with well-developed arguments
Consideration of counterarguments and alternative views
A scholarly yet readable tone
Intellectual humility and acknowledgment of nuance
Top-performing essays are precise, well-reasoned, and argumentative rather than descriptive.
Application Deadline
JLI follows an annual cycle. The 2025 deadline was in June. Students should monitor the John Locke Institute website for updates regarding the 2026 competition, registration deadlines, and submission portal links.
Past Essays
Past winning essays, shortlisted entries, and examples of high-quality work are available here. Reviewing these provides insight into the level of rigour, originality, and argumentation expected of top submissions.
RISE Research Program
If you’re a high school student aiming for competitive journals, RISE Research gives you the chance to work one-on-one with mentors from leading universities worldwide. With individualised guidance and support in building independent research projects, students often produce high-quality work suitable for top publications, while also developing a strong academic profile. The program is flexible, accessible globally, and open for applications throughout the year. To explore eligibility, pricing, and how to begin, visit the RISE Research website and take the next step in your academic journey!
Check out more guides
