Submissions for 2026 are now closed.
We are looking for essays of no more than 1,200 words, engaging with one of the following questions:
- To what extent is knowledge of God possible?
- If we live in a physically determined universe, is anyone ever morally responsible for what they do?
- To what extent can science threaten religious and theistic belief?
- Could a machine think and feel?
- Under what circumstances is the State justified in restricting what we can say?
- Is time travel logically possible?
The winning essay submission will be published in the Think journal, alongside articles from leading philosophers from across the world. Think is our publication designed to be fully accessible to all audiences, while still challenging its readers.
The shortlisted candidates will win a year’s free subscription to the journal, and other prizes will be awarded to all those who make the longlist.
Your essay submission will be assessed for academic merit and rigour. We look forward to receiving your submission by email to ThinkEssay@royalinstitutephilosophy.org.
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Rules of Entry & Eligibility Criteria
1. Word documents should be submitted to the Royal Institute of Philosophy (TRIP) up to and including the deadline date of midnight on the closing date. Submissions after this date will not be accepted.
2. In order for us to consider your essay, please email ThinkEssay@royalinstitutephilosophy.org and answer the following questions:
1. First and Last Name
2. Email
3. What is the name of your school and college?
4. What is the postcode of your school or college?
5. Does your school offer A-Level philosophy? Yes/ No
6. What essay does your question respond to? (1-6)
7. Why have you chosen to submit your work into this competition? This could include your motivations behind writing your essay, your interest in philosophy or the competition itself. Maximum 100 words.
8. Where did you hear about the prize?
9. I can confirm that I have not used the assistance of Artificial Intelligence to write my essay.
10. I have read and understood the rules of entry and eligibility criteria as stated on The Royal Institute of Philosophy Website
3. Authors can be of any nationality and based anywhere in the world. They must be aged between 15-18 years old by the closing date of the competition.
4. Essays must be an original work and submitted in English, using 12 pt font, double line spaced, Calibri font or similar. You must not use the assistance of Artificial Intelligence to write your essay. If used, your essay will be disqualified.
5. The essay must not exceed 1,200 words.
6. Please avoid all notes and references in your submission. They are not required. You can refer to an article or book by an author if you wish, but just give the author’s name and then the title in the main text, if that seems appropriate. Nothing else is required. The style of your essay should be non-academic, like that adopted by, for example, Aeon online magazine, which can be viewed here: https://aeon.co
7. Use one line breaks no indentations to mark new paragraphs.
8. In order for us to consider your essay, you must title your Word document with your surname followed by your first name.
9. Multiple submissions are accepted, although only one submission per topic will be considered. If multiple submissions for the same topic are received, the first to be submitted will be the only one considered.
10. As part of the submission process an explanation from the author explaining why the work should be considered can be included.
11. Whilst there will be one overall prize winner, the Royal Institute will look to create age group categories that recognise high quality entries by age range.
12. The administration team and the judge has the final decision as to whether an essay is eligible. No correspondence will be entered into.
13. Should the work be accepted to the longlist those authors will be advised. Those submissions not accepted to the longlist will not be receive any correspondence from the Royal Institute.
14. The author accepts by submitting their essay to abide by the rules of the prize.
15. General enquiries about the prize should be sent to ThinkEssay@royalinstitutephilosophy.org