Oxford Economics Society Sixth Form Essay Competition 2026

The Oxford Economics Society Sixth Form Essay Competition 2026 invites students to submit an economics essay in response to one of three questions: a macroeconomic prompt, a microeconomic prompt, or an interdisciplinary question. The competition is run in collaboration with the Department for Economics at the University of Oxford and is designed to stretch students beyond the school curriculum.

It aims to build independent research skills, economic reasoning, and clear persuasive writing. Entrants are encouraged to use contemporary and historical sources, real-world examples, and relevant economic theory, while essays are judged on the quality of the argument, depth of understanding, and originality of ideas.

This is a strong opportunity for ambitious sixth form students considering competitive economics degrees at university. In addition to cash prizes for the top entries, the competition recognises highly commended work and requires entries to be the candidate’s own original work, free from plagiarism and AI-generated content.