In today’s highly competitive applications to the world’s best universities, standing out from the crowd is a must. Students often do this through work experience, volunteering or research projects, but engaging in academic competitions or Olympiads is a powerful way to demonstrate academic ambition, curiosity, and excellence. These competitions provide a unique platform for students to challenge themselves, delve deeper into subjects they are passionate about, and exhibit their critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills outside the traditional classroom environment.
Applicants to Oxbridge or a top UK university that interviews, competition questions can be similar to interview-style questions. Working on a submission allows students to increase their super-curricular knowledge for personal statements or interview and many institutions provide feedback from top academics in their field. The benefits of taking part in these competitions are numerous, even without winning.
As entering a competition requires a lot of time and effort, it is advisable to do proper research and choose a competition that is well recognised and thus a worthwhile endeavour. We are passionate about mentoring students to discover more about their academic interests and choose the best fit of university course.
Here is our list of recommended and internationally-renowned competitions in 2024. Feel free to reach out to us here if you’re looking for personalised advice about your choices. Good luck!
STEM Subjects
The RSCU Science Challenge by Imperial College, London
Deadline: 26th April 2024
Age: Students in their last 4 years of secondary school
Topics: Click here
Expected Length: Short pieces of science communication either written (max 1000 words) or video (maxi 3 minutes 30 seconds)
Website: www.imperial.ac.uk/natural-sciences/about-us/outreach/rcsu-science-challenge/
Tom Rocks Maths Essay Competition 2024 by Oxford University, Department for Continuing Education Deadline: 1st April 2024
Age: Under 18 category or Over 18 category
Topics: Any Maths topic of your choice
Expected Length: 1000-2000 words
Website: www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/tom-rocks-maths-essay-competition
Unsung Heroes of Science by Hertford College, Oxford University
Deadline: 16th April 2024
Age: 16 to 18 years old
Topics: Who is your unsung hero of science? Why did you choose them?
Expected Length: Two videos of 2 minutes each
Website: www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/unsungscience
Social Sciences
Robert Walker Prize for Essays in Law by Trinity College, Cambridge University
Deadline: 8th April 8 2024
Topic: Legal issues from prohibiting tobacco sales to those born after 2008
Age: Final or penultimate year of secondary school
Expected Length: No more than 2000 words
Website: www.trin.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/essay-prizes/law/
R.A. Butler Prize for Essays in Politics by Trinity College, Cambridge University
Deadline: 1st August 2024
Topic: Click here
Age: Final or penultimate year of secondary school
Expected Length: No more than 3000 words
Website: www.trin.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/essay-prizes/politics/
Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition 2024 by Cambridge Centre for International Research
Deadline: 10th May 2024
Age: 14 to 18 year olds
Expected Length: Not more than 2000 words
Topics: Societal issues in the nine key areas of Religion and Politics, Political Science and Law, Linguistics, Environment, Sociology and Philosophy, Business and Investment Public Health and Sustainability, Genetics, Biotechonology, Artificial Intelligence, Neuroengineering
Website: cambridge-research.org/essay-competition-2024/
The Julia Wood Prize by St Hugh’s College, Oxford University
Deadline: 26th July 2024
Age: Final or penultimate year of secondary school
Expected Length: Between 2000 to 4000 words
Topics: Your choice of historical subject
Information Brochure here
Creative or Critical Writing
The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition by Royal Commonwealth Society
Deadline: 15th May 2024
Age: Under 14 (Junior category) and 14 to 18 years (Senior category)
Expected Length: 750 words (Junior), 1500 words (Senior)
Website: www.royalcwsociety.org/essay-competition
2024 Global Essay Prize by The John Locke Institute
Registration Deadline: 31st May 2024
Submission Deadline: 30th June 2024
Age: Under 18 (Senior category); Under 14 years (Junior prize)
Expected Length: Under 2000 words
Topics: Includes philosophy, politics, economics, history, law, psychology and theology
Website: www.johnlockeinstitute.com/essay-competition
The Philosophy Essay Prize by Trinity College, Cambridge University
Deadline: 31st May 2024
Topics: Click here
Expected Length: Up to 2000 words
Age Group: Year 12 in a UK school
The Woolf Essay Prize by Newham College, Cambridge University
Deadline: 8th July 2024
Age Group: Women in Year 12 in a UK school (or equivalent)
Topics: Questions about women in literature, history, society and culture
Expected Length: 1500 to 2500 words
Website: newn.cam.ac.uk/admissions/access-and-outreach/woolf-essay-prize-2024/
The Gould Prize in English Literature by Trinity College, Cambridge University
Deadline: 1st August 2024
Topics: Click here
Expected Length: 1500 to 2500 words
Age Group: Year 12 in a UK school
Website: www.trin.cam.ac.uk/undergraduate/essay-prizes/english-literature/
The Languages and Cultures Essay Prize by Trinity College, Cambridge University
Deadline: 1st August 2024
Topics: Click here
Expected Length: 1500 to 2500 words
Age Group: Year 12 in a UK school