In-Person

Our programmes provide a unique insight into what it’s like to study a subject at university level. Each subject follows a specifically designed syllabus that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Architecture Architecture & Design Artificial Intelligence Banking & Finance Biology Biotechnology Business Management Chemistry Coding Computer Science
Creative Writing Criminology Earth Sciences Economics Engineering English Literature Entrepreneurship Fashion & Design Female Future Leaders Film & Animation
Film Studies Fine Art Global Leadership Environment & Sustainability History International Relations Law Marketing & Entertainment Mathematics Media & Journalism Medicine
Nanotechnology Natural Sciences Philosophy Philosophy, Politics & Economics Physics Psychology Software Development & AI Software Development & Gaming Veterinary Studies Download a Subject Syllabus Overview

Our programmes run in a variety of historic and inspiring university locations that give students a true insight into living and studying like an undergraduate at world-leading institutions.

Cambridge Oxford London Sydney New York Toronto San Francisco Singapore Boston Tokyo
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Our options for ages 13 to 15 are designed to ignite students’ interest, and help them better understand which subjects to pursue at a higher level. Our programmes for 16 to 18 year olds provide a unique insight into what it’s like to study a subject at university level.

13-15 years old 16-18 years old

Our programmes provide a unique insight into what it’s like to study a subject at university level. Each subject follows a specifically designed syllabus that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Academic Insights
Academic Insights
Our flagship summer programme provides ambitious high-school students globally with an unrivalled experience studying undergraduate-level subjects at leading Oxbridge institutions
 Career Insights
Career Insights
Our immersive learning summer programme, empowers students with practical skills, industry exposure, and mentorship, fostering future-ready professionals.
Online

Our online programmes provide a virtual learning experience offering exceptional opportunities for academic enrichment to engaged students around the world.

Architecture Artificial Intelligence Biology Business Management Chemistry
Coding Computer Science Creative Writing Economics Encryption & Cybersecurity
Engineering English Literature History International Relations Law
Mathematics Medicine Philosophy Psychology

Our programmes provide a unique insight into what it’s like to study a subject at university level. Each subject follows a specifically designed syllabus that combines theoretical knowledge with practical application.

Online Research Programme
Online Research Programme
This online programme sees students work 1-1 with tutors from renowned institutions like Cambridge, Oxford, and Ivy League schools.
 Group Online Research Programme
Group Online Research Programme
Our Group Online Research Programme allows students to develop their research skills alongside peers from all over the world, and with the same expert support as our classic ORP.

Our options for ages 13 to 15 are designed to ignite students’ interest, and help them better understand which subjects to pursue at a higher level. Our programmes for 16 to 18 year olds provide a unique insight into what it’s like to study a subject at university level.

13-18 years old
Locations

Our programmes run in a variety of historic and inspiring university locations that give students a true insight into living and studying like an undergraduate at world-leading institutions.

Cambridge Oxford London Sydney New York Toronto San Francisco Singapore Boston Tokyo
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Enter the Immerse Education Essay Competition

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Participate in the Immerse Education Essay Competition to join a prestigious global contest that recognises ambitious students for their originality, depth of thought, and academic excellence. Since 2020, we’ve celebrated outstanding essays with awards that combine prestige, opportunity, and academic growth – from publication and verified credentials to exclusive academic workshops and full or partial scholarships for our university and career preparation programmes.

Competition open

  • The competition is currently open and will close on 18th September 2025
  • Submit your entry via Succeed
150+ Scholarships Yearly

  • Free for 13-18 year old students worldwide
Register Interest
Submit Entry
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10,000+

Alumni globally

97%

Participants would recommend Immerse

Find out more
Register Interest
Submit Entry

What Is the Essay Competition?

The Immerse Education Essay Competition invites students aged 13–18 to write a 500-word essay on a topic of their choice from our list of over twenty subject questions or choose our open question to explore your own idea. Essays are blind-marked by experienced academics, and the very best earn Scholar’s Laureate status with a full or partial scholarship, publication opportunities, and priority programme choice. Other high-achieving entrants are recognised with Academic Distinction or inclusion on the Honours List, receiving tailored academic prizes such as tuition credits, verified credentials, and access to exclusive Scholars’ Salons. Every entrant is awarded a credential that showcases their ambition and provides pathways for further learning.

Prizes

  • Scholar's Laureate
  • 50–100% scholarship
  • Eligible for publication
  • Verified Entrant Credential (Certificate), shareable for CVs/LinkedIn
  • Academic Distinction
  • £500 award in recognition of achievement: towards Immerse in-person programmes or £250 towards our online programmes.
  • Access to exclusive masterclass series
  • 3 Free Months of Succeed Achiever (worth £90)
  • Verified Entrant Credential
  • Honour's List
  • Access to exclusive masterclass series (Scholar’s Salon)
  • 3 Free Months of Succeed Achiever (worth £90)
  • Verified Entrant Credential
Certified Entrant
  • Free Scholar’s Sprint micro-course
  • Verified Entrant Credential
Why Participate?

The Immerse Education Essay Competition is highly selective, receiving thousands of entries each year. Whether you achieve Scholar’s Laureate, Academic Distinction, or Honours List recognition, your award comes with exclusive academic opportunities through our Scholars’ Salons — invite-only online events led by world-class tutors and guest speakers to help you refine your skills, explore new ideas, and connect with ambitious peers from around the globe.

  • All recognised entrants can:

    Take part in live Scholars’ Salons or a Scholar’s Sprint with Oxbridge-educated mentors and global peers 

    Use their award credentials to strengthen university applications and showcase ambition

 

And Many Other Benefits...

Academic Recognition

Award tiers provide verified digital credentials and certificates to showcase your achievement on UCAS, the Common App, and LinkedIn. Laureate and Distinction winners have their essays featured in our publications, while all Honours List students are eligible for publication consideration.

Interview Preparation

Scholars’ Salons often include Q&A sessions with experienced academics and industry experts, giving you the confidence and language to speak persuasively about your chosen subject in interviews.

Skill Development

From your first login on Succeed to your final Salon session, you’ll strengthen your research, writing, and critical thinking skills. The competition’s mark scheme ensures rigorous assessment, and our enrichment activities ensure you leave with more than just an award, you leave with skills that last.

Runners Up Gain Access to Scholar’s Salon

High-performing entrants are invited to the Scholars’ Salon – an exclusive series of academic workshops led by experts from across disciplines. Each programme blends timely academic guidance with thought-provoking insight on global themes, designed to help you excel in your immediate goals and broaden your perspective for the future.
Depending on the time of year, seasonal topics might include preparing for exams, refining revision strategies, transitioning to university-level learning, crafting standout applications, or developing confident interview skills.


Alongside this seasonal focus, all Scholars’ Salon members take part in a shared programme of curiosity and career-driven themes: Leadership & Influence, Global Challenges & Policy, Public Speaking for Influence, AI & the Future of Work, and Interdisciplinarity. You can attend sessions live or access on-demand recordings, curating your own unique programme to suit your interests and schedule – making the Scholars’ Salon a truly personalised pathway to growth.

Competition Details

2026 Competition Details and Sample Questions

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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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Sample questions

75-100% scholarship-winning scholarships in the 2025 open question category:
Engineering Is sustainable hydrogen power the key to the decarbonisation of the automotive sector?

Psychology Are we ever truly objective?

Law ‘The case of Williams v Roffey Bros should be overruled.’ Discuss
Philosophy
To what extent does mortality salience define the human search for meaning?

Film studies How does German expressionist cinema influence contemporary filmmakers?

Writing contest winners can travel to any of our locations

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.

Need financial support? If you need financial support to attend a programme, check out our bursary programme.

Bursary Programme

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.

Man in nature

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.
Guest judge photo

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.
Essay Competition Guest Judge Head Shot

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.
Image of Tom Ireland in an educational context.

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.

Past Winning Essays (Download PDF)

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Essays include judge commentary, writers’ tips, and reading lists.

Download 2024 winning essays 

Download 2025 winning essays

Check out individual winners 

Register Interest to Receive This Year's Essay Guidance

  • How to enter

    Step-by-step entry process and writing tips

  • Essay questions

    Complete list of essay questions across all topics and age groups

  • Submission guidelines and referencing guide

    Details on word count and deadlines.

  • Judging criteria

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

  • FAQs

    Answers to common questions about the competition.

  • 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 2026 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 2025/2026 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 September and early January each year. The deadline for the current round is 18 September 2025.

To submit your essay, create an account or login to Succeed.

Visit the Competitions section and complete the submission form.

Your essay is automatically saved if you are connected to the internet but you must click ‘submit’ to finalise your entry.

Your essay’s word count should be 500 characters; there is a 10% allowance, meaning that your essay can be between 450 and 550 words. Captions, bibliographies and references are not including in your word count.

For Laureate, Distinction, and Honours List winners, these are live, interactive sessions with Oxbridge-educated mentors and global peers, designed to deepen subject expertise and build new skills.

Scholar’s Laureate essays are published on our website and in our academic showcase. Other tiers may be eligible for publication depending on quality and space.

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
Register Interest