Essay Competition

Make your university application stand out by entering the ‘Future Laureates Essay Competition 2025’ hosted by The Cambridge Tutor! 

Submit your essay using the following link

Submit Here!

Choose an essay to explore from a range of subjects below:

Economics Essay Competition

  1. How has globalisation shaped income inequality in the 21st century?

  2. Examine the economic consequences of artificial intelligence on employment.

  3. Should central banks prioritise economic growth or price stability? Justify your position.

  4. Can economic growth and environmental sustainability coexist?

  5. To what extent do monopolies harm or benefit consumers in modern economies?

Geography Essay Competition

  1. To what extent is climate change a geopolitical issue as much as an environmental one?

  2. Assess the role of water scarcity in shaping global migration patterns.

  3. How do natural resource discoveries affect the development trajectories of countries?

  4. Are national borders becoming more or less significant in the 21st century?

  5. What role does geography play in shaping patterns of global inequality?

History Essay Competition

  1. “Empires fall more from within than from without.” Discuss with reference to at least one empire.

  2. Was the 20th century a century of progress?

  3. How revolutionary was the Industrial Revolution?

  4. Evaluate the impact of youth movements on political and social change in the 1960s.

  5. To what extent should historians prioritise objectivity over narrative in interpreting the past?

Land Economy Essay Competition

  1. Could the introduction of a Land Value Tax help to reduce inequality?

  2. Does the Paris Agreement on Climate Change help or hinder the European Union’s effort to address climate change?

  3. More and wider roads need to be built to tackle traffic congestion. Discuss.

Law Essay Competition

  1. Should the law reflect morality, or remain neutral? Discuss with reference to a specific legal system.

  2. To what extent should the judiciary be able to strike down legislation passed by Parliament? (Consider this in the context of constitutional supremacy vs. parliamentary sovereignty.)

  3. How should courts balance individual rights with public safety?
    (Constitutional/Tort Law overlap)

  4. Is the rule of law under threat in democratic societies?

  5. How far should freedom of speech be protected in the digital age?

Philosophy Essay Competition

  1. Can there be objective moral truths, or is all morality relative?

  2. “I think, therefore I am” – is Descartes’ claim still convincing today?

  3. Are humans truly free, or are we determined by causes beyond our control?

  4. Can artificial intelligence possess consciousness or moral responsibility?

  5. Do we have a moral duty to future generations?

Politics Essay Competition

  1. To what extent is democracy the best form of government?

  2. How has social media changed the nature of political debate?

  3. Can global challenges like climate change be solved through national politics alone?

  4. To what extent does populism threaten liberal democracy?

  5. Is the separation of powers still effective in modern governments?

Psychology Essay Competition

  1. Are humans more shaped by nature or nurture?

  2. To what extent can memory be trusted as a reliable source of information?

  3. Is mental health best understood through biological, psychological, or social factors?

  4. How do cognitive biases influence decision-making?

  5. What does psychological research reveal about the roots of prejudice?

Choose Your Own Title

If you none of the essays above take your fancy or if you can’t find the subject that you want to write about above, we have now introduced the option for you to create you own title and provide an essay on any subject and any title!

Submit your essay using the following link

Submit Here!

FAQ

Who Can Enter?

The essay competition is aimed at students between the ages of 15 and 19 who are pre-university. 

Rules

  • There is a 1500-word limit on all essays 

  • All essays must be referenced (the style of referencing is up to the discretion of the student)

  • Students must only submit one essay

  • Work must not be plagiarised or written by AI. 

Any violations of the following rules will lead to submissions not being considered.  

Deadline

The Deadline for all essays is 24th August 2025 at 23:59. 

The essay competition is free to enter (unless the student is submitting an entry after the deadline). 

If, for any reason, you miss the 24th August deadline, you will have an opportunity to make a late entry under two conditions:

  1. A late entry fee of £20 must be paid alongside your submission.

    You can do so by clicking the following link and purchasing the ‘Late Entry Essay Competition’  HERE

  2. Your essay must be submitted before 31st August 2025 at 23:59 using the same form!

Why Enter?

This competition not only enhances your profile for university applications, especially appealing to Oxbridge prospects, but also hones your writing and critical thinking skills. You will have the ability to explore a topic in your subject of interest and engage in an area of academia in a qualitative manner. The essay competition is a great example of a super-curricular activity that you can then include in your personal statement. Winners will gain recognition for their intellectual talents, and it is a fantastic way to impress university admission panels. Winners will receive a certificate of merit, with many past winners sharing news of this achievement with their schools!

Past Essay Competition Winners