The Marshall Society Essay Competition is a great opportunity for all students interested in Economics who have not begun their university studies to demonstrate the ability to write a convincing and well-structured essay answering one of several Economics-related prompts. Submissions are typically around 1,250 words, and are judged based on the logic and persuasiveness of the arguments discussed, the quality of the evidence used, and the originality of the ideas presented. Prizes for the contest are as follows:
- First place: £100
- Finalists: £50
- Commendation: No monetary prize, awarded to excellent submissions shortlisted for finalist
Selected winning essays are also featured in the Marshall Society’s annual publication, The Dismal Scientist.
Location(s)
- Remote
Schedule
- Between July and August
Cost/Compensation
- Free
Eligibility Requirements
- Only students who have not started an undergraduate degree can enter
- Participants do not have to be studying in the UK to enter
Deadline
- August
Application or Entry Requirements
- The essay that is entered may not be entered into any other competition
- Students should use the submission form on the Marshall Society's website to submit their work
- Before submitting, students should convert their file to a PDF and change the file name to “[your name] Q[question number].pdf”
- Files should be no larger than 10 MB in size
Notifications of Decisions
- Results are published on the Marshall Society website by late-August
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
- Contest launches in early July
Have other questions?
The Marshall Society is the Economics Society of the University of Cambridge. Established in 1927 in memory of Alfred Marshall, the Society has since upheld the tradition of its founders in furthering the discussion of economics. Former members of the Marshall Society include John Maynard Keynes, Nicholas Kaldor, Joan Robinson, and Manmohan Singh. The Society hosts writing contests and events ranging from student panels and debates to talks with leading economists, politicians, and academics, corporate events, and socials.
