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John Locke Essay Competition

The John Locke Essay Competition is an international academic writing competition organized by the John Locke Institute, an independent educational organization based in Oxford, UK. Essays are evaluated by a panel of academics from leading universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. The competition emphasizes independent thinking, critical analysis, clear reasoning, and persuasive academic writing.

Competition Overview

Dates are estimates based on previous competition cycles and may change. Check the John Locke Institute's official website for confirmed 2027 deadlines.

Eligibility

Students worldwide who are under 19 years old as of the regular submission deadline

Entry Fee

Free entry; late registration and submission extensions may incur fees.

Registration Timeline (expected)

Regular Registration Deadline: February 2027 – March 2027

Late Registration Deadline: April 2027 ($10 fee)

Submission Timeline (expected)

Regular Submission Timeline: April 2027 – May 2027

Late Entry Deadline (7-day extension): June 2027

Late Entry Deadline (21-day extension): June 2027

Shortlist Notifications

July 2027

Academic Conference

October 2027

Competition Details

1. Eligibility

The competition is open to students worldwide who are under 19 years old as of the regular submission deadline. There is no minimum age requirement.

Junior Category: Students under 15 years old.
Senior Category: Students aged 15–18.

Age categories are determined automatically based on the student’s age at the submission deadline. Junior contestants may answer questions from any of the ten subject categories and are judged separately from Senior contestants.

2. Subject categories

There are 10 subject categories: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, Law, Public Policy, Science & Technology, and International Relations.

3. Results

The strongest submissions are shortlisted for prizes, with winners announced at the John Locke Institute’s annual awards ceremony.

Shortlisted contestants are invited to an academic conference and awards dinner in London. Attendance is optional, and students can win prizes without attending in person.

Shortlisted contestants were also eligible to download electronic certificates recognizing their achievements. The academic conference and awards dinner required separate payment.

4. Prizes (in USD)

Winners of the subject categories will receive a $5000 scholarship for attending any John Locke Institute program.

The second-place winner will receive a $2000 scholarship, and the third-place winner will receive a $1000 scholarship.

The winner of the best essay overall will be awarded an honorary John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship, which comes with a $10,000 scholarship to attend one or more of John Locke’s summer schools and/or visiting scholars programmes.

Senior and Junior entries are judged separately, meaning each category awards six prizes total.

Need help preparing for this contest?

Connect with our team for personalized guidance on registration and preparation strategies tailored to your goals.

How to Win the John Locke Essay Competition?

Analyze the question and link them to John Locke’s philosophy

Take the time to understand the essay prompt and what the question is asking for. Students could approach questions in several ways, but it should always link to John Locke’s philosophy.

Clear reasoning with evidence drawn from extensive research

Once you decide on your stance about the question, it’s important to present your argument with logical reasoning and strong evidence from reputable sources. Students can utilize a variety of reputable sources, including academic journals, books, and scholarly articles, to gather relevant information and develop a well-informed argument.

Engage in critical analysis

In addition to providing reasoning and evidence that support students’ arguments, students can also examine alternative perspectives to show that they have the ability to evaluate evidence critically– specifically the strengths and weaknesses of different viewpoints.

2027 Questions by Category

History

Was American Independence worth the bloodshed?

Economics

What are the consequences of economic illiteracy among the general population?

International Relations

Starting from today, what policy ought the Israeli government to adopt with respect to Gaza?

Psychology

Do we choose what to believe?

Public Policy

What is the feminisation of politics doing to public policy?

Science & Technology

Can a machine be a coward?

Theology

Whatever view you hold, the majority of people alive today appear to disagree with your particular beliefs about God. Do you know something they don’t?

Law

Can you wrong someone without harming him?

Politics

Why are today’s politicians so mediocre compared with those of the past?

Philosophy

Sydney Sweeney is paid to be looked at. Is there anything wrong with her posing or us looking?

Above is the first announced question for each category in 2027. Additional questions will be released as the competition approaches.

John Locke Essay Competition Past Winning Essays

Submission Details

1. Essay Formatting

Word Limit: 2000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, endnotes, bibliography or authorship declaration).
Multiple Submission: Students may enter multiple subject categories, provided each essay answers an official question from the current competition year. Each essay must be written independently by a single contestant.

2. Filename format

FirstName-LastName-Category-QuestionNumber.pdf

Example: John-Doe-Psychology-1.pdf

3. Academic Reference

Each candidate will be required to provide the email address of an academic referee who is familiar with the candidate’s written academic work. This should be a school teacher, if possible, or another responsible adult who is not a relation of the candidate. The John Locke Institute will email referees to verify that the essays submitted are indeed the original work of the candidates.

4. AI Usage

The John Locke Institute permits limited use of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, to support research, explore ideas, and evaluate arguments.

However, the Institute strongly emphasizes original thinking and independent writing. Overreliance on AI-generated content may negatively affect an essay’s evaluation, and submissions are subject to academic integrity checks. Students should use AI as a supplementary learning tool, not as a substitute for their own analysis and writing.

FAQ About the John Locke Essay Competition

Can I submit more than one essay to the John Locke Essay Competition?

Yes. Students may submit essays across multiple subject categories. Each essay must address an official question from the current competition year and must be the student’s original work.

Can I use ChatGPT or other AI tools to write my John Locke essay?

The John Locke Institute allows AI tools to support research, brainstorming, and argument development. However, the competition prioritizes original thinking, independent analysis, and authentic writing. Overreliance on AI may negatively affect an essay’s evaluation.

Can my teacher or tutor help me with my essay?

Yes. Teachers, tutors, and mentors may discuss ideas, provide general feedback, and identify weaknesses in an essay. However, they cannot write or rewrite any part of the submission. Students must make all revisions themselves.

Do citations count toward the 2,000-word limit?

In-text citations, including those in APA format, count toward the word limit. Endnotes and bibliographies do not. Footnotes are not permitted.

Can I submit an essay based on a previous year's question?

No. All submissions must answer one of the official questions released for the current competition year.

Do I have to attend the awards ceremony to win a prize?

No. Attendance is optional. Students can receive prizes without attending the awards ceremony in person.

Will I receive a certificate for participating?

Certificates are awarded only to shortlisted contestants. Shortlisted students who do not attend the awards ceremony can download an electronic certificate.