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Round up of Competitions for Students

  • 14 hours ago
  • 5 min read

Updated: 2 hours ago


The weeks after exams can be a bit of a nightmare with trips, events and open days. If you end up with half a class for a lesson, getting students working on an essay competition is a genuinely productive use of the time. It's also worth flagging to Year 12s that competition entries are useful for adding into UCAS. The ones marked with a deadline are open now.

 

Econ-Specific Competitions

 Young Economist of the Year (Discover Economics / RES / KPMG)

The biggie! Students don't have to write a traditional essay; they can submit a blog, presentation, podcast or video on one of five contemporary economic issues set by the organisers. Finalists present to a panel of industry experts at KPMG offices, which is great experience in itself. It's open to Years 10–13, requires no economics background, and allows groups of up to five, which makes it a nice option for a collaborative post-exam project. The deadline is listed as TBC but typically falls mid-year, so worth checking the website now.

Deadline: TBC – check website

Eligibility: Years 10–13, individuals or groups of up to 5


John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize

Students pick one of ten subject categories and write up to 2,000 words. There are a few good options for Economics questions: one on cashless societies, one on personalised pricing, and one on whether Jeff Bezos got rich at his customers' or employees' expense. That last one is particularly good for prompting students to think carefully before they assume they know the answer. There's no entry fee and it's open globally.

Deadline: 31 May 2026

Eligibility: Under 19 as of 31 May 2026

 

FCDO Next Generation Economics Competition

This one is run by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, so good if students are interested in development economics, international relations or public policy careers. Students write about a big economic challenge facing the world. No prior economics study is required, which makes it a nice option for any engaged student, not just those studying the subject. The deadline is late June so there's a decent run-up.

Deadline: 28 June 2026

Eligibility: UK secondary school students including sixth form

 

IEA Student Essay Competition

The IEA essay competition asks students to write 1,200–2,000 words on a set question about economics and public policy. Questions tend to sit in the territory of economic freedom and government intervention, which maps nicely onto the evaluation skills A-level students are developing anyway. International students are welcome, A-level Economics isn't required, and Harvard referencing is preferred. The deadline isn't confirmed yet.

Deadline: TBC – check website

Eligibility: Years 12–13 or equivalent, international students welcome

More info: iea.org.uk

 

IEA Monetary Policy Essay Prize

A separate competition from the IEA's main essay prize, this one focuses specifically on monetary policy and comes with some decent prize money: £1,500 for first place and £750 each for two runners-up in the sixth form category. Again, the deadline isn't confirmed, so check the website.

Deadline: TBC – check website

Eligibility: Sixth form students

More info: iea.org.uk

 

Marshall Society Essay Competition (Cambridge)

Run by the Cambridge University Economics Society, this one asks students to write around 1,250 words on one of several set questions covering economics, finance and political economy. Winning essays are published in The Dismal Scientist. Open to pre-university students globally. The deadline is typically in August, so it's a good summer holiday project to set ambitious Year 12s.

Deadline: TBC – typically August, check website

Eligibility: Pre-university students globally


ISA Essay Competition

This one has a very close deadline! It's restricted to students at ISA member schools only, so if you are in an independent school, check whether your Head is an ISA member. The competition runs across multiple year groups and categories, with topics set each year.

Deadline: 7 May 2026 (2025–26 round now closed – note for next year)

Eligibility: ISA member schools only

 

Broader Academic Competitions

 

Cambridge Re:think Essay Competition

An open-topic competition from the Cambridge Centre for International Research, which accepts essays across humanities, social sciences and STEM. Students in the Senior Division (ages 14–18) can write up to 2,000 words on any academic topic, making it ideal for an economics student who wants to write something a little more ambitious or original than a set-question competition allows. Take note of the reasonably close deadline!

Deadline: 10 May 2026

Eligibility: Ages 14–18, global

 

Sidgwick Prize

Students choose from three questions in one of eight disciplines including Economics, Politics, Philosophy, History and Law. Essays are up to 2,000 words. There is a £12 entry fee, which is worth flagging to students but entry receives substantive written feedback from Cambridge academics.

Deadline: 30 June 2026

Eligibility: High-school aged students, global; £12 entry fee; registration closes 15 June 2026

 

King's Entrepreneurship Lab Essay Competition (King's College Cambridge)

This one is for UK-based sixth formers and focuses on entrepreneurship and business challenges, so worth flagging to your Business colleaguges. Students choose from four essay questions, and essays must not include any personally identifiable information. The prize is substantial: £1,500 for first place and £750 each for two runners-up. Teacher permission is required to enter.

Deadline: 5 August 2026

Eligibility: UK-based sixth form students, all subject backgrounds welcome

More info: kingselab.org

 

Julia Wood History Essay Competition (St Hugh's, Oxford)

Technically a history competition, but worth flagging for students who have an interest in economic history or who are applying to history, PPE or related courses. The brief is genuinely open: students write a historical essay on any subject of their choice, 2,000–4,000 words, with a prize worth up to £600. An essay on, say, the history of trade policy or the economics of the British Empire would sit perfectly well here. Open to any UK sixth form student.

Deadline: 22 July 2026

Eligibility: Years 12–13, any UK school


Looking ahead

Just to note that the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition from UPenn is expected to open in June. The deadline for entries is usually very early in September when things are chaotic, so you might want to get students signed up before the summer (even though the competition doesn't start until Sept/Oct).

Teams of students manage a simulated investment portfolio and submit a written investment report. It's a bit more involved than the old Student Investor Challenge but that's also what makes it good: students genuinely have to justify their decisions in writing. A teacher advisor is required.

Next cycle: Registration expected to open ~June 2026

Eligibility: High school students globally ages 14–18, teams from the same school

 

In addition, the Economics Olympiad registration for next year opens in May. This one involves teams of pupils competing at regional rounds, so you will want to get the dates into your school calendar, especially if your school has a long trip-approval process.


Next cycle: Registration expected to open ~May 2026

Eligibility: Ages 14–19, currently enrolled in school or college.


If you know of any currently open competitions I've missed, or if any of this info is wrong, drop me an email at isobel@econosaurus.co.uk and I'll update the list. I'll add any new ones here as I find them.

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