The Harvard International Review is a quarterly magazine offering insight on international affairs from the perspectives of scholars, leaders, and policymakers. Since our founding in 1979, we've set out to bridge the worlds of academia and policy through outstanding writing and editorial selection.
Inspired by our growing high school readership around the world, we have run the Harvard International Review Academic Writing Contest since 2020 to encourage and highlight outstanding high school writing on topics related to international affairs.
Participants in the contest submit a short-form article on a topic in international affairs. Each submission will be read and scored by the Harvard International Review.
A number of contestants will be selected as finalists, who are invited to participate in a virtual HIR Defense Day. At the Defense Day, students will have the opportunity to give a 15-minute presentation and oral defense to Harvard International Review judges.
Location(s)
- Remote
Schedule
- Spring, Summer, and Fall/Winter submission cycles
- Spring cycle HIR: June
- Summer cycle HIR: October
- Fall/Winter cycle HIR: February
Cost/Compensation
Eligibility Requirements
- Students are eligible if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or if they are U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.
- Students in countries outside of the United States (grades 9-12) are also welcome to submit. Submissions are expected to be written in English and with traditional American spelling. For more information on submissions in your country, please contact contest@hir.harvard.edu
Deadline
- Spring submission cycle: May 31st
- Summer submission cycle: August 31st
- Fall/Winter submission cycle: January 2nd
Application or Entry Requirements
- Participants will have a choice of two different themes and must note which prompt they have chosen at the top of their submissions.
- Your articles should analyze one of these themes through the lens of any potential category, including Agriculture, Business, Cybersecurity, Defense, Education, Employment & Immigration, Energy & Environment, Finance & Economy, Public Health, Science & Technology, Space, Trade, and Transportation. Please note that your article should examine the theme from a global perspective rather than focusing on the United States.
- Length: Articles should be at least 800 words but not exceed 1,200 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, or authorship declaration).
- Writing Style: Submissions should present an analytically backed perspective on an under-appreciated global topic.
- AI Policy: The usage of ChatGPT is prohibited. Judges will be running all articles through multiple AI checkers, and articles that receive high AI generation scores across multiple checkers will be disqualified.
Notifications of Decisions
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
Have other questions?
The Harvard International Review (HIR) is a leading international affairs journal published quarterly by undergraduate students at Harvard University. Founded in 1979, HIR features articles, essays, and interviews from scholars, policymakers, and experts, addressing a wide range of global issues such as geopolitics, economics, security, and diplomacy. Known for its rigorous analysis and thoughtful commentary, HIR provides valuable insights into contemporary global affairs and serves as a platform for discussing pressing international challenges and policy solutions.
