9 Exciting Essay Competitions for College Students to Participate in 2025

Essay competitions are much more than just writing contests because they are gateways to recognition, personal growth, and even scholarships. College students who are looking to strengthen their intellect and improve their writing skills can participate in essay contests. It is a golden opportunity for them to enhance their resume.

In 2025, several prestigious and exciting competitions will be open globally and regionally, and they cater to various interests. Students from politics and philosophy to sustainability and science can equally participate in these essay competitions and gain attractive prizes.

In this article, we are going to explore 9 exciting essay competitions for college students that they can participate in 2025.

Let's dive deeper into the details.

Essay competitions are structured writing contests, as described by a Medium blog, where participants are expected to respond to a given theme or prompt in essay form. They can be organised by universities, foundations, government bodies, or private institutions. These contests usually assess the following:

• Quality of arguments
• Originality of thought
• Research depth
• Clarity and coherence

They are open to different age groups and education levels, and they range from high school students to undergraduates and beyond.

In the section given below, we shall view in detail the themes, deadlines, and organiser details of these essay competitions. College students must participate in these if they want to try their luck at winning the scholarships.

However, some students may struggle with fulfilling the requirements of writing excellent essays. In such cases, they can pair their hands with an essay writing service online. As these services are home to professional writers, they can offer helpful guidance to students.

Let us discuss the details of the top 9 essay competitions in 2025 now.

Organiser: The Royal Commonwealth Society
Deadline: June 30, 2025
Theme: Global challenges, cultural identity, and commonwealth values

It is one of the oldest international essay writing competitions that is open to students from Commonwealth countries. The competition offers two categories. One is senior, in which people from 14 to 18 years of age can participate, and in the junior category the people who are under 14 in age can participate. The winners can receive certificates, publication opportunities, and a trip to London for the award ceremony.

 Since this is a globally recognised essay competition and also offers a platform to speak on world issues, it is quite attractive for students to participate in this as a competition. They can also engage themselves; they can also engage with the network of young leaders.

Organiser: John Locke Institute, UK
Deadline: July 15, 2025
Categories: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Law, and Psychology

This is a highly intellectual essay writing competition that encourages students to write critically and persuasively on philosophical and academic topics. The winners get invited to Oxford University to receive their awards and dinner, and they also receive an internship or mentorship opportunity if they win this competition. This competition is perfect if students are aiming for top universities or careers in academia, law, or politics.

Organiser: The Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity
Deadline: March 31, 2025
Theme: Ethical challenges and dilemmas in today’s society

The best thing about this exciting essay competition for college students is that it is open to full-time undergraduate juniors and seniors in the U.S. Also, this competition honours essays that reflect ethical decision-making and moral reflection. The top prize is $5,000, and runner-up prizes are also available. This essay competition allows students to explore personal and societal ethics while also contributing to moral discourse.

Organiser: Goi Peace Foundation, Japan
Deadline: June 15, 2025
Theme (2025): “Empowering Youth for a Peaceful Future”

As this essay competition is open to youth under the age of 25 from any part of the world, it encourages global harmony through written expression. The winners are supposed to receive cash awards and a certificate, and the first-place winner is also invited to the awards ceremony in Tokyo. Students must be encouraged to participate in this essay competition since it is an inspiring platform for socially conscious students who are interested in peace, global development, and international cooperation.

Organiser: CollegeXpress
Deadline: Varies annually (usually October)
Theme: Changes yearly, often focused on education and personal development

As you may guess, this is a U.S.-based essay contest that awards scholarships up to $2,000. The essay prompt is usually kept short and engaging, which makes it an excellent opportunity for first-time competitors. Since it is a low-barrier entry competition, and students can easily win scholarship money and build their writing confidence, they must participate in this competition.

Organiser: UNESCO
Deadline: September 1, 2025
Theme: Exploring and preserving world heritage sites

As you might have guessed already, this essay competition has invited students to write essays that explore the cultural, historical, or ecological importance of World Heritage sites. The winners who are selected receive cash prizes, publication opportunities, and sometimes they also get invitations to youth summits. It is ideal for students who are passionate about travel, culture, history, and sustainability.

Organiser: Northeastern University London (formerly New College of the Humanities)
Deadline: March 1, 2025
Categories: Art History, Economics, Law, Politics, Philosophy, and more

NCH London Essay Competition is open to international students who are aged between 16 to 18, and it is judged by expert academics. The prizes that students can win include cash awards and the opportunity to publish the essay on the platform of university. Since this essay competition is aimed at academically driven students, it helps them in the preparation for higher-level academic writing and university admission essays.

Organiser: Immerse Education
Deadline: January 15, 2025
Subjects: Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences

Through this essay competition, students can win up to 100% scholarships for immersive academic summer programs and also can experience life at world-renowned universities. Not only that, but this offers scholarships for summer courses at Cambridge, Oxford, and other prestigious institutions. Through this competition, students can also choose from a wide range of subjects and submit essays that are based on said questions.

Organiser: College of Europe
Deadline: April 15, 2025
Theme: European integration, democracy, and global leadership

As it is open to students across Europe, this competition aims to stimulate critical thinking on the role of the European Union in global affairs. The winners are invited to Brussels or Bruges for conferences and mentorship opportunities. It is considered a brilliant platform for aspiring diplomats, political scientists, and international relations students.

Participating is only half the journey; you must know that winning requires strategy. Some of the few tried-and-tested tips are mentioned here:

• Understand the Theme: You must stick closely to the theme or prompt. Judges look for relevance and originality.
• Research Thoroughly: It is better for you to use credible sources to back up your arguments. Remember to structure your essay with clarity.
• Tell a Story: Even in academic essays, storytelling will make your writing more engaging.
• Edit Ruthlessly: Spelling, grammar, and flow matter. Therefore, you must proofread multiple times or use editing tools.
• Stay Authentic: Judges always appreciate genuine voices. That is why you must not try to mimic someone else’s style.

The John Locke Institute essay competition is widely considered one of the most prestigious essay competitions around the globe. It has attracted high-achieving students from around the world, and it is also known for its academic rigour across subjects like philosophy, politics, economics, history, law, and psychology. The winners often get invited to Oxford, and they are also recognised by top universities.

The L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future Contest offers a grand prize of $10,000 to new and mature writers of science fiction or fantasy. It is one of the most lucrative writing competitions worldwide. Although it is more about fiction-based than academic in nature, regardless of the fact, it provides a major opportunity for creative writers.

For non-fiction/essay-specific contests, the Elie Wiesel Prize in Ethics Essay Contest awards up to $5,000, and other high-tier contests like the Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition offer prestigious global recognition, though not always with large cash prizes.

Yes, essay contests are worth it for many reasons:

• Academic Recognition: Winning or even being shortlisted adds weight to college or scholarship applications.
• Skill Development: Improves writing, research, and critical thinking skills.
• Networking: Some competitions include conferences, mentorships, or awards ceremonies.
• Financial Rewards: Some offer scholarships or cash prizes.
• Portfolio Building: Great for students pursuing careers in writing, law, journalism, or academia.

We have explored the details of nine exciting essay competitions that college students can participate in 2025 and win exciting prizes. Participating in these competitions not only can hone the writing and research skills of students, but can also open up doors to scholarships, global networks, and economic recognition for them.

If students need any kind of assistance with the preparation of their essays for these competitions, they can consult top-tier essay writing agencies in the UK. The professional essay writers are more skilled to help students fulfil the requirements of such papers.

It does not matter if their interests lie in philosophy, peacebuilding, politics, or heritage; 2025 has come with a wealth of opportunities to shine. You can choose one or more of these competitions based on your interest and goals, and let your ideas take flight on paper. None of us knows that your essay might be just the one to leave a lasting impression on the world, and you may win this scholarship money.

Emily Jane is a passionate education essay writer who has specialised in student career guidance and digital tools for improving writing skills. She has a background in literary studies, and she has helped students unlock their potential through writing, creativity, and scholarship opportunities. When she is not working on creating student-focused guides, you can find her enjoying the exploration of historic cities and promoting youth development initiatives to global platforms.