St John's College Classics Essay Competition 2026

The St John's College Classics and Ancient History Essay Competition 2026 is open to students currently studying at a UK school or college in Year 12 (Lower Sixth) or equivalent. Entrants may submit one essay of up to 2,000 words on one of four questions covering Literature, History, Art and Archaeology, and Philosophy.

Essays may use primary texts in translation or the original language and must acknowledge any primary or secondary sources with full references.

Prizes include a £100 book token for the best essay in each category, a £75 book token for the overall winner, and an additional £75 book token for the best essay by a pupil who has not previously studied a Classical or Ancient subject; all applicants receive a certificate of entry. Students who submit an entry are invited to apply to the College's Classics and Ancient History Subject Exploration Day on 22 April 2026.

Essays should be double-spaced, word-processed, saved as a PDF, include only initials and date of birth in the header/footer for anonymous marking, and must be no more than 2,000 words (footnotes counted, bibliography excluded).