Royal Geographical Society School Essay Competition
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
Write a 1,000-word essay or build an ArcGIS StoryMap answering a current geographical question in a free contest run with the Financial Times. Support your argument with referenced sources; entries are judged anonymously, with a £50 Amazon voucher for the winner and publication opportunities.
The Royal Geographical Society School Essay Competition is a free annual writing contest run in partnership with the Financial Times. It invites students aged 16-18 to respond to a current geographical question, producing a well-evidenced essay of up to 1,000 words or an alternative ArcGIS StoryMap format.
The competition is open worldwide to students studying geography as a separate subject, such as A Level, IB, Scottish Higher, or an equivalent final two years of secondary education. Entries must be original, written in English, include referenced sources, and are judged anonymously by a panel from the Royal Geographical Society and the Financial Times.
Prizes include a £50 Amazon voucher or local currency equivalent for the winner, along with publication and wider recognition opportunities. It is designed for young geographers who want to develop research, argument-building, and academic writing skills around a topical issue.
9 November 2026
Entries must be received by Monday 9 November 2026 at 5.00pm GMT; no late entries will be accepted.
2026 competition
Location
- Students aged 16-18
- Studying geography as a separate subject
- A Level Geography, IB Geography, Scottish Higher Geography, or equivalent final two years of secondary education
- International students are eligible
- Students from international schools are eligible
- Entries must be original student work
- Entries must be submitted anonymously
- Entries must be written in English
- Open to schools in the UK and overseas
Free to enter.
Checked 25 October 2026
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