How the John Locke essay prize works
Eligibility, the 2026 calendar, format requirements and judging — the essentials every entrant should read before they start. Always confirm the current rules on the official competition page.
Open to students worldwide, under 19
Senior division
Open to candidates from any country who are 18 or younger on the submission date (must not turn 19 before 30 June of the competition year).
Junior division
For candidates 14 or younger on the submission date (must not turn 15 before 30 June). Juniors answer the same questions but are judged separately.
Ten disciplines — answer one set question
Each year the Institute publishes a set of questions per subject. You choose one question in one discipline and make your argument.
Key dates — 2026 season
The cycle runs from registration in February to the awards dinner in Oxford in October.
- Feb 1Registration opens
- Mar 31Registration closes
- Apr 1Essay submissions begin
- May 31Regular submission deadline
- Jun 7 / 21Late submission deadlines
- Jul 7Shortlist announced
- Oct 2–4Academic conference, Oxford
- Oct 3Awards dinner, Oxford
What the rules require
≤ 2,000 words
One essay answering a single set question. Footnotes, references and bibliography do not count toward the limit; in-text citations do.
Free to enter
There is no entry fee for on-time submissions. Late submissions carry a fee (recently £25, rising for the final window).
Your own work
Collaboration is not allowed and AI-generated essays are disqualified. Shortlisted candidates sit a short online interview on their own essay.
Judging
Essays are assessed by academics for the quality of argument, evidence and original thought; the strongest are shortlisted.
Awards
There are prizes in each subject and an overall prize. Shortlisted candidates are invited to the Oxford conference and awards dinner.
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What the judges reward
A real thesis
One clear, arguable claim — not a survey of the topic. The essay exists to defend it.
Argument & evidence
Reasoning that builds step by step, supported by relevant, well-chosen evidence rather than assertion.
Original thought
A genuine contribution — your own angle, engaging honestly with the strongest objections.
Clarity & concision
Precise prose within 2,000 words, properly referenced. Every sentence earns its place.
Common pitfalls
- 01Answering too broadly
Trying to cover everything instead of going deep on one defensible point.
- 02Summarising, not arguing
Describing what others think without taking — and defending — a position of your own.
- 03Weak or missing references
Factual claims that aren’t sourced, or citations that push you over the word limit.
- 04Leaving it too late
A first draft a week before the deadline rarely becomes a shortlisted essay. Start early, revise often.