Essay Competition

We would like to express our gratitude to everyone for their participation in the Oxford Royale Essay Competition. It was truly inspiring to read through the diverse perspectives and insights you shared in your submissions.

We understand that not everyone can emerge as a winner, and we want to take this opportunity to commend each and every one of you for your hard work, dedication, and passion in crafting your essays. The quality of submissions we received this year was exceptional, making the selection process incredibly challenging for our judging panel.

You can find the winners below.

This competition is now closed. Thank you to everyone who participated. Please direct any questions or comments to [email protected]

First Place: Aabir, India
Mirror mirror, on the wall: AI, and the Reflection of Human Bias

Second Place: Viriya, Cambodia
What is a “climate refugee”, and how should countries respond to the growing issue of climate-induced migration?

Third Place: Sabina, Slovakia
What is a “climate refugee”, and how should countries respond to the growing issue of climate-induced migration?

First Runner-Up: Deborah, Canada
The Hidden Bias of Artificially Intelligent Systems

Second Runner-Up: Yasika, India
Mind Over Machine: An Exploration of AI’s Impact on the Global Society

First Place: Jimena, Panama
Antibiotics: The Double-Edged Sword in our Fragile World

Second Place: Eddy, Dominican Republic
Which scientific discovery of the 20th Century has had the greatest impact on life today?

Third Place: Anna, Ukraine
The Quietest Catastrophe

First Runner-Up: Selin, Turkey
The Internet’s Impact on the World

Second Runner-Up: Yash, India
Influencer for President

Please choose only one of the following

Which scientific discovery of the 20th Century has had the greatest impact on life today?

Should the voting age be lowered as a global standard to the age of 13?

What would be the impact on society if the internet disappeared tomorrow?

There is a 600 word limit for students in this age category. This is your chance to think creatively and showcase your own thoughts and perspectives, so make sure that every word counts!

Please choose only one of the following

To what extent does social media influence political movements and elections?

Can artificial intelligence be biased, and if so, what threats does this pose in a global society?

What is a “climate refugee”, and how should countries respond to the growing issue of climate-induced migration?

There is a 1000 word limit for students in this age category. As students in this category are further along in their academic journey, we would love to see submissions that truly tackle the questions with a unique viewpoint, and we welcome ideas that think outside of the box.

This competition is now closed. Thank you for your participation. Winners will have now been announced.

Full terms and conditions can be found here. If you have further questions, please contact [email protected]

All entries will be judged by a panel of academic experts, from university lecturers and industry professionals. This is a fantastic opportunity to receive feedback on your work from our expert tutors, allowing you to showcase your talents.

What do I win?

All winners and runners up will receive a fully funded place on an Oxford Royale course of their choosing. Winners can choose the course, location and start date for their prize (subject to availability).

Winners and runners up will also receive a certificate, to be awarded at their Oxford Royale Graduation Ceremony, and personal feedback from the judge.

Please be advised, the prize covers the cost of the programme only, this includes all tuition, excursions and meals (only breakfast and dinner for 16-18s). Competition winners must be prepared to cover the cost of transportation, visas and insurance during their stay, which includes the cost of flights if international travel is required. If the competition winner is unable to obtain a visa to join the programme, the prize will be withdrawn and offer to a student on the reserve list.

What happens if I go over the word limit?

Essays that exceed the word limit will not be considered. This is an opportunity for students to hone their research and writing skills, presenting an answer to the question in an efficient and concise manner. Please note, footnotes are included in the word count.

English is not my first language, can I still submit an essay?

Everyone, regardless of their English ability, is welcome to enter, and you will be able to specify whether English is your first language when you submit. This is your chance to show off your critical thinking and analysis, and your English language skills to the very best of your ability.

Please bear in mind that only essays written in English will be eligible to enter. 

What is the marking criteria?

Our academic development team will mark essays according to a carefully considered marking scheme. Key aspects include originality, creativity, accuracy, and the level of background research undertaken.

How will I know if I have won?

You will be contacted by our team using the email you provide when you submit your essay. Please ensure that your contact details are accurate. You may also leave your contact phone number, in case we cannot reach you via email. If after 30 days of the announcement we cannot contact the winner, the prize will be forfeited to the judge’s next choice. 

Who is marking my essay?

Oxford Royale are extremely proud of the teaching staff that make our summer programmes possible. A select team of expert teachers, lecturers and experts in their field will be marking all essays submitted. 

What happens if I win but have already enrolled on a programme?

If you are already enrolled on one of our programmes, you will have the opportunity to study for a further two weeks, on any subject and at a location of your choosing!

How do I know the submissions will be marked fairly?

All submissions will be monitored, and submissions that have been plagiarised, made using generative AI tools such as Chat GPT, or exceed the word limit will be disqualified. Our judges will be using a set marking criteria to ensure submissions are marked fairly.