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Essay Competition:
Win a 100% Scholarship With Immerse Education

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Participate in the Immerse Education Essay Competition for a chance to win a full or partial scholarship to our university and career preparation programmes. Since 2020, the competition has offered ambitious students the opportunity to win a full or partial scholarship on our award-winning programmes.

Competition Opens Soon

  • The next competition will be announced shortly
  • Join our Awards Ceremony, where we'll announce this round's winners, on October 17th
150+ Scholarships Yearly

  • Free for 13-18 year old students worldwide
  • Including 10 full and additional
    50-75% Immerse Education scholarships to any location
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What Is the Essay Competition?

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a question of their choice relating to a subject of interest. Immerse annually updates its questions to inspire students to delve deeper into their favourite subjects. There are over twenty questions to choose from which can be found in our full Essay Competition Guide. 10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship to study with us at a world-leading university of their choosing. Outstanding runners-up also receive partial scholarships.

Prizes

  • Runners-Up
40 runners-up will be awarded partial scholarships of 75% to study their chosen subject with Immerse.
  • 1st Place
10 winners will receive a 100% scholarship for their exceptional work. Take a look at previous essay competition winners.
  • Runners-Up
The last category of 150 entrants receive partial scholarships worth 50%.
Merit Awards

Any student who submits a full-length essay, but doesn’t receive a scholarship, will be eligible for the option of a £1000 award for our residential programmes, a £500 award for our Online Research Programmes, or a £250 award for our Group Online Research Programme.

And Many Other Benefits...

Academic Recognition

Enhance your academic profile for university applications. Partial winners receive completion certificates – and those who write outstanding essays also receive comments from our remarkable guest judges.

Interview Preparation

University interviewers want you to discuss the subject you’re applying for with genuine enthusiasm. They look for depth of understanding and the ability to articulate your thoughts clearly. Writing an essay deepens your knowledge and improves your ability to present complex ideas.

Skill Development

Our essays are assessed against a mark scheme designed by academic experts. Completing an essay allows you to experience academic writing, promoting related skills like research, critical thinking and editing. Immerse provides support every step of the way.

Competition Details

You’re not on your own. To help your essay shine, Immerse Eduction provides guides, tips and support.

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Open to 13-18 year old students

Students can submit an essay if they will be 13-18 years old when the programmes for which the scholarships are valid begin.

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500-word academic essay

Register interest to access the Essay Competition Guide with all the questions, tips and guidance on plagiarism, AI & referencing. You can also attend one of our regular essay writing webinars to level-up your writing.

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Graded by experts and guest judges

Expert judges assess the essays based on their content, quality of research and critical analysis. Elements like word choice and structure, evidence and inference, as well as vocabulary spelling, grammar and punctuation are also assessed. Student age groups are also taken into consideration.

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A chance to win a scholarship for any programme you like

If you win a scholarship, you can use it toward one of our renowned online programmes or one of our award-winning residential courses in any of our locations including Oxford Cambridge, London, Sydney and New York to name a few.

Programmes Our Scholarship Can Be Redeemed Against

Cambridge

Participants will learn to explore the world around them with an architect’s eye, analysing their environment and identifying how each building, structure, and feature influenced by Britain’s long history with urban design.
Oxford

Choose from a range of subjects to study in the historic city of Oxford. Embrace each college’s unique atmosphere and stunning surroundings, enjoy the vibrant cultural offerings, and feel your subject mastery blossom. Whilst the sun’s out, explore the city’s winding river on a punt.
London

Choose from a number of industries to explore in this densely packed capital. Experience the pulse of sectors like finance, fashion, and media, immersing yourself in key London hubs, from Canary Wharf’s financial centre to the West End’s theatre scene. Learn directly from industry professionals and get a sense of your future career.
Sydney

Study in the vibrant city of Sydney, where modern skyscrapers meet iconic landmarks like the Sydney Opera House. Dive into one of many  subjects, explore the bustling markets, and relax on the world-renowned beaches whilst supercharging your subject mastery.
New York

In New York, the city that never sleeps, engage with an industry-led programme —embracing iconic industry hotspots, from Wall Street finance to Broadway entertainment. Gain hands-on experience and network with professionals in the Big Apple, all while taking in the unmatched skyline and culture.
Toronto

Study in the cosmopolitan city of Toronto, offering a rich tapestry of cultures, explore one of our career-led programmes. Experience the buzz of city life, skyscrapers, and historic districts. In your downtime, escape to nearby natural wonders like Niagara Falls whilst you accelerate your subject expertise.
San Francisco

In San Francisco, delve into the world of tech and innovation to explore one of our industry-focused programmes. Work alongside startups in Silicon Valley, or explore the sustainable practices of the city’s green businesses. The city offers a window into cutting-edge industries, all set against a backdrop of scenic natural beauty.
Singapore

Singapore is a great summer programme destination for its vibrant multicultural atmosphere, cutting-edge educational institutions, and its status as a global hub for innovation and technology. With its blend of academic excellence, cultural richness, and modern amenities.
Tokyo

Tokyo offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity, providing students with a rich cultural experience and endless opportunities for learning and exploration, making it a great summer school destination. A summer programme in Tokyo means diving into the heart of Japanese culture and innovation.
Boston

Boston is an ideal summer programme destination due to its rich historical significance, vibrant cultural scene. Home to top-ranked universities, and offering an array of activities ranging from exploring Freedom Trail to enjoying performances at renowned theatres.
Online Research Programme

This online programme sees students work in a 1-1 or a group session with tutors from renowned institutions like Cambridge, Oxford, and Ivy League schools. Each student undertakes advanced research in a topic of their interest, culminating in a full-length academic research paper.

Our Guest Judges

Who Judges Your Essays?

Our guest judges and markers are chosen for their exceptional subject matter knowledge and the prominence of their organisation in industries aligned with our essay topics. Many of them come from a teaching or academic background with advanced degrees in political science, English, business, physics, medicine, creative writing and more. This diverse expertise ensures that our judging process is both rigorous and insightful. 

Judging Criteria

The essay competition assessment criteria look at academic writing qualities like research and evidence, word choice and critical analysis, in addition to spelling, grammar & punctuation. Student age groups and are also considered in this assessment.

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Adi Sen

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Business & Economics Judge

Adi Sen is the Head Of Outreach for UniAdmissions – the world’s first preparation school that focuses exclusively on helping students with their applications to higher education. As someone deeply entrenched in the admissions industry for the last 7+ years, he is always ensuring that UniAdmissions are able to make the biggest impact they can on the 50,000 students that apply to Oxbridge each year.
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Pamela O’Brien

Supporting events logo for MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières).

Humanities Judge

Pamela O’Brien is the Public Engagement Manager for Médecins Sans Frontières UK. She has been working at MSF UK since 2014 to raise awareness and support for their medical care services and opportunities for curious students looking for a career in charity or medical aid.
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Christina Bunce

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Humanities Judge

Christina Bunce is a founder-director of the Professional Writing Academy (PWA), the UK’s first online writing school. An online education expert, she has experience in publishing, academia, journalism and developing online communities. PWA offers an accessible place online for new writers across the globe to develop their creative talent and skills, regardless of background, level of experience or location.
Eabha Lynn, a guest judge, posing for a portrait with a warm and welcoming smile.

Eabha Lynn

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Medicine Judge

Éabha Lynn is this year’s Editorial Scholar at The BMJ, looking after all the content BMJ Student produces. She runs a blog and podcast at BMJ student, and has extensive writing, editorial and curative experience in the world of medicine.
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Arnold Longboy

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Business Management Judge

Arnold Longboy has worked amongst the top business schools in the world, and is currently the Executive Director of the Recruitment & Admissions Team at London Business School.
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Tom Ireland

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Biology Judge, Editor of The Biologist

Tom Ireland is an editor at The Biologist, an award-winning magazine of the Royal Society of Biology. He is a regular contributor to the monthly magazine BBC Science Focus and has also written for The Guardian, New Scientist, and BBC News.

Hear From Our Previous Winners

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Register Interest for these Essay-Writing Resources

  • How to enter

    Step-by-step guide on the entry process.

  • Essay questions

    List of available essay topics to choose from.

  • Writing tips

    Advice on how to structure and write a compelling essay, including common pitfalls to avoid.

  • Referencing guide

    Instructions on proper citation practices, such as the Oxford referencing style.

  • Submission guidelines

    Details on word count, format, and deadlines.

  • Judging criteria

    Information on how essays will be evaluated, including a full mark scheme

  • FAQs

    Answers to common questions about the competition.

  • Webinars

    Links to webinars and additional resources for essay writing guidance.

  • Winning essays

    Read and be inspired by the winning essays from the previous years’ competitions.

FAQs

Who can enter the Immerse Essay Competition?

The Immerse Education Essay Competition is open to entries from young people aged 13-18 interested in all subjects, from Architecture to Medicine, Creative Writing to Film Studies. However, students aged 18 should only submit an essay if they will still be 18 when the programmes the scholarships are valid for begin.

Any scholarships or vouchers awarded during the current round of the essay competition will only be valid for 2025 Immerse Education Programmes

Immerse provides a full essay-writing guide which is sent to your email address once you register your interest in the competition. This guide includes a full list of essay questions, our essay specification, top tips for writing an academic essay, referencing guidance, our terms and conditions and guidance on plagiarism! Registering interest also ensures that you’re on track to submitting your essay on time, through a series of helpful reminder prompts.

To support further you can register for our webinars, which offer top tips and guidance with essay writing from our experts. You are also welcome to explore our creative writing resources.

Funded scholarship to study abroad: Our essay competition offers students like you the chance to win a full or partial scholarship to one of our Online Programmes or residential programmes in locations such as Oxford, Cambridge, Sydney, London and more.

 

Ongoing support from Immerse while you write: Full support from our team as you write your essay, with free guides and top tips to help you along the way. Sign up to receive our full Essay competition Guide and free tips and tricks as you write. You can also follow us on Instagram and Tik Tok to get more useful essay writing tips.

 

Demonstrate what you know: The competition is a chance for you to demonstrate your content knowledge by answering advanced university-style questions.

 

Build your skills and knowledge: The opportunity to apply and advance your essay writing skills. You will likely learn something new in the process!

 

Develop your self-discipline: A chance to strengthen your self-discipline as you commit to a challenging project and complete it from start to finish.

Essays are graded by expert markers and guest judges who assess the essays across the following criteria:

  • – Content
  • – Research & Critical analysis
  • – Word choice & structure
  • – Evidence and inference
  • – Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation
  •  

Scholarship offers depend on the grades that students achieve. The higher the grade a student receives, the higher the likelihood of achieving a 100% or high partial scholarship. 

The essay competition receives thousands of entries each year, and with the vast number of high-standard entries, we acknowledge the efforts of all participants who have dedicated their time to completing an essay. As such, beyond our full and high-partial scholarships we provide further offers to entrants to facilitate access to our transformative programmes.

If you win a scholarship via the Essay Competition 2024/2025 you can use it toward any residential course in any of our locations. Use your scholarship to enrol on one of our renowned online programmes or enriching in-person/residential summer school programmes in cultural melting pots such as Cambridge, Oxford, London, New York, Toronto, Sydney and more.

No, there is no entry fee and you do not need to have already enrolled onto any of our programmes to take part in the essay competition.

The deadline for the Immerse Essay Competition falls in early September and early January each year. The deadline for the next round will be announced soon.

Register to receive free Essay Competition guidance

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a pre-set question relating to their chosen subject. Register interest to receive your guide with the comprehensive list of questions including:

  • A list of all topics and questions
  • Essay Specifications
  • Top Tips for Writing an Academic Essay
  • Referencing Guide

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