Commonwealth Essay Competition

Writing Competition » International Grants » Academic Funds

Commonwealth Essay Competition: Are you a writer? Are you interested in the world around you? Do you want your voice to be heard by others? If so, the Commonwealth Essay Competition is definitely for you.

We encourage you to be creative in your response to our topics. You can submit a poem, letter, article, story, essay or even a short play. The choice is yours. Just get writing!

Every year, the Commonwealth Essay Competition inspires thousands of young writers from all over the world.

Run by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883, it is the world's oldest and largest schools' international writing competition.

The Competition celebrates and nurtures the creative talents of young people across the Commonwealth, providing a platform for students to compete with their peers in each of the 54 nations which make up this unique association.

Entrants are judged in two age groups, Junior (under 14 years) and Senior (14-18 years).

• The Competition is open to nationals or residents of all Commonwealth  countries and territories.
  
• Special dispensation applies to entrants from Hong Kong, Fiji and Zimbabwe who are entitled to enter the Competition.
  
• Entrants must select a Senior or Junior topic depending on how old they are on 1st May .
  
• Entries must be written in English and be the original work of the writer.
  
• Entrants are judged in two age groups, Junior (under 14 years) and Senior (14-18 years).
  
• Entrants must submit an entry form alongside their entries and complete all the mandatory fields.
  
• The maximum word-counts are 1500 words for Senior entries and 750 words for Junior entries.
  
• Entries must be the original work of the writer. This does not rule out input
  
• or assistance from others. However an entry will be disregarded if there is any suggestion of plagiarism or undue help from the internet or another person.
  
• Entrants are encouraged to be creative in their response to a topic. Entries can be submitted in a number of different formats: for example, a poem, letter, article, story, essay or even a short play.
  
• Entries must respond to the topic. Each year a number of good entrants let themselves down because they do not fully answer, or reflect on, what the topic has asked them to do.
  
• Award-winning entrants are expected to show originality and flair, linked to sound academic standards and competent use of English as a written language. This includes a good standard of spelling and punctuation, neat presentation and clear hand-writing or word-processing.
  
• Illustrations are welcomed, particularly in Junior entries, but they must enhance the written text and add to the overall quality of the entry.
  
• Entrants should be aware that the care with which they present their work will be taken into account whether writing by hand or using a computer.
  
• Entries will be disqualified if they fail to meet these requirements.

For more scholarship information and application materials, please see; Commonwealth Essay Competition

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