Past Essays | John Locke Institute


Entering the John Locke Essay competition means that you can show as well as absorbing knowledge from books and articles you can synthesise information and make your own unique arguments.


The John Locke Essay competition can prove a great way of doing this as it allows you to dig deep into one area and develop your own ‘hot take’ on it.

However, the winner across all seven subject categories receives a 10,000 US$ reward, but again this can only be used towards the cost of a John Locke institute programme.

John Locke Essay Competition: Guide & Overview 2024

Open to participants from various educational levels, the competition encourages critical thinking and eloquent writing. Students are encouraged to submit essays which address contemporary issues through the lens of Locke’s principles of liberty, democracy, and human rights. Winners receive recognition for their intellectual achievements and the opportunity to contribute to meaningful discourse on fundamental societal questions.

In the summer term, several Year 12 students entered the John Locke Institute Essay Competition. Subject areas included Politics, Philosophy, Psychology, Economics, History and Law.

The John Locke Global Essay Competition is an exciting opportunity for young scholars to dive deep into philosophy, refine their writing skills, and gain international recognition for their intellectual efforts. By challenging students to think critically and engage with important philosophical questions, the competition not only celebrates the legacy of John Locke but also fosters the next generation of thinkers and leaders. We’re so proud to have been represented at this event and are excited for our students’ participation in John Locke 2025!

Each year, the John Locke Global Essay Competition covers several philosophical and political categories, with topics designed to stretch the imagination and test students’ reasoning abilities. Previous years have included topics such as:


2024 John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize event in London, UK

We are thrilled to announce that two of our Sixth Form students were shortlisted in the prestigious John Locke Global Essay Competition, hosted by Oxford and Princeton Universities!

Ultimate Guide to the John Locke Institute Essay Competition

She also made the short list for the History Category of the John Locke Institute Global Essay Prize, earning a commendation and merit award after multiple rounds of review.

John Locke 2024 Global Essay Prize

The John Locke Global Essay Competition is an international academic competition that encourages young minds to engage in critical thinking, philosophical debate, and the art of clear expression. Named after John Locke, the influential 17th-century English philosopher and political theorist, the prize aims to inspire students to explore challenging intellectual concepts and present their ideas in an articulate and persuasive manner.

A Complete Guide To The John Locke Essay Competition

Three sixth form students have triumphed in the John Locke Institute Global Essay Competition at Oxford, which this year saw 19,000 candidates enter the seven categories.

Introduction to the John Locke Global Essay Competition

Suyeon was honored to be recognized by this international organization. She said, “When I first got the email that I got into the finalist stage, I was just so happy. As soon as I started writing the essay, I knew that this would become my favorite essay of all time. To win an award for this big competition was, of course, important for me, but the genuine meaning of submitting this essay was to prove that my experiences made me braver and more mature. Now that I have been recognized by the John Locke Institute and from this publication, I feel so grateful to have this meaningful time in my high school. I want to especially thank Mr. Glenn Ehrean, who helped to review my works before the submission and who is also my first history teacher at St. Johnsbury Academy.”

John Locke Essay Competition Prep

Jamie Whyte, Chairman of Examiners for the John Locke Institute, congratulated Suyeon on the Institute’s behalf: “It is my very great pleasure to congratulate you on being awarded a Commendation in the Theology category of the John Locke Institute’s 2023 Global Essay Competition. You can be proud of this achievement. I hope the experience of researching and writing this essay will confer on you lasting benefits.”