Make the argument that earns your place.
Expert one-on-one coaching for the John Locke Essay Competition — from your first thesis to the shortlist, across all ten disciplines.
What the John Locke Essay Competition is
Run by the John Locke Institute in Oxford, the Global Essay Prize invites students under 19 — from more than one hundred countries — to answer a single demanding question in the discipline of their choice. Entry is free, essays run to no more than 2,000 words, and the strongest writing is judged by academics from leading universities. It is widely regarded as the gold standard among pre-university humanities competitions.
We are an independent coaching service built around that challenge: we help ambitious students choose the right question, build a genuinely original argument, and prepare for every stage through to the shortlist.
More about the competition & who we are →
Ten subjects — one question, your argument
Each candidate answers one of the set questions in a single subject. Students under 15 may enter the Junior category, judged separately.
From question to shortlist
- 1Pick a question
Choose one set question in a single discipline. Range matters less than depth — the best essays go deep on one idea.
- 2Write the argument
A clear thesis, disciplined evidence, original thought — in no more than 2,000 words. Entry is free.
- 3Shortlist & interview
Strong essays are shortlisted; some candidates are invited to a short online interview about their own work, used to verify academic integrity.
- RegistrationOpens early in the year
- DeadlineEnd of May (late entries to late June)
- ShortlistNotified in July
- Best to startNow — early drafts win
One of the most respected challenges in the field
Run from Oxford by the John Locke Institute and judged by academics from leading universities, the Global Essay Prize draws tens of thousands of entries from over one hundred countries each year. Among pre-university humanities competitions, it is widely regarded as the gold standard.
More about the institute & the prize →
Why it strengthens your application
Beyond the prize itself, a serious John Locke essay is one of the clearest signals a humanities applicant can send to a selective university.
See how we help you get there →- 01Evidence of independent thought
Framing a question, building an original argument and sustaining it is exactly the intellectual habit selective admissions look for.
- 02Material you can talk about
A finished, ambitious essay gives you something substantial for personal statements, supplements and admissions interviews.
- 03A credential that sets you apart
Among tens of thousands of entrants from over one hundred countries, a strong showing distinguishes you in a crowded field.
Built around the written argument
Matched mentors
One specialist for your discipline, matched to the exact question you choose to answer.
The craft judges reward
A clear thesis, disciplined evidence and original thought — coached line by line, draft by draft.
Through the interview
Preparation across the shortlist and the online interview, so you can defend every claim with confidence.
Read what a winning essay looks like
The clearest way to understand the standard is to study essays that have already succeeded. We break down structure, argument and evidence so you can see what excellence on the page actually requires.
“Own every claim you make. If you cannot defend a sentence aloud, it does not belong in your essay.”
Browse past winning essays →