At Debate Institute Africa, we believe that writing essays is a powerful way for students to sharpen their critical thinking, enhance their civic competence, and develop strong oratory skills. Through essay writing, students engage deeply with complex ideas, articulate their thoughts effectively, and build confidence in presenting arguments. As part of our mission to provide African students with resources to excel, we are proud to share the 2025 Essay Competitions Calendar with our learning network.
John Locke Institute (JLI) Essay Competition
- Link: JLI Essay Competition
- Registration starts: April 1, 2025, via John Locke Registration
- Deadline: May 31, 2025
- Fees: Free
- Prizes: Scholarships up to $10,000 and an honorary Junior Fellowship
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2025
- Deadline: May 23, 2025
- Instructions: Competition Page
- Prizes: Winners attend a week-long educational tour in London
Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) Essay Contest
- Deadline: June 2, 2025
- Submission Guidelines: JASNA Guidelines
- Prizes: Scholarships up to $1,000 and publication
The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC)
- Opens: October 2024
- Closes: January 31, 2025
- Details: Hosted by Harvard Crimson, offering global recognition for high school students
- Competition Website.
Columbia Undergraduate Law Review (CULR) Essay Contest
- Eligibility: High school students worldwide
- Deadline: Mid-June 2025
- Submission Portal: CULR Submission
- Prizes: Invitation to a speaker event on free speech and social media
Bennington College Young Writers Awards
- Eligibility: High school students
- Deadline: Early November 2025
- Prizes: Up to $1,000 and scholarships up to $60,000
- Submission: Bennington Submission
Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize
- Eligibility: 11th-grade students
- Prizes: $500-$1,500
- Website: Princeton High School Contests
Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition
- Opens: January 15, 2025
- Submission Deadline: May 10, 2025
- Prizes: Award ceremony at the University of Cambridge
- Essay Topics: Cambridge Essay Prompts
Immerse Education Essay Competition
- Opens: June 1, 2025
- Closes: September 18, 2025
- Eligibility: Students aged 13-18 worldwide
- Prizes: 10 full and 50-75% Immerse Education scholarships
- Website: Immerse Essay Competition
New York Times Open Letter Contest
- Dates: March 12 – April 16, 2025
- Details: Write an open letter on an issue that matters to you
- Prizes: Winning letters published on The Learning Network
- Website: NYT Open Letter Contest
Ocean Awareness Writing Contest
- Deadline: June 9, 2025
- Eligibility: Ages 11-18
- Categories: Poetry, essays, creative nonfiction, multimedia
- Website: Ocean Awareness Contest
Earth4All Stories of the Future Creative Challenge
- Deadline: June 30, 2025
- Categories: Ages 15-21
- Submission Types: Written stories (max 800 words), videos (max 1.5 minutes)
- Prizes: Book vouchers, publication, and a copy of Earth for All
- Website: Earth4All Creative Challenge
World Historian Student Essay Competition
- Eligibility: Students in grades K–12
- Prize: $500 and a one-year membership in the World History Association
- Topics: Personal connections to historical events
- Competition Website
This list highlights some of the most prestigious essay competitions in 2025, offering African students the opportunity to enhance their writing, gain global recognition, and win scholarships. We encourage our learning network to take advantage of these opportunities and continue developing their analytical and expressive abilities through essay writing.
Stay tuned for more updates and best of luck to all participants!
Debate Institute Africa