The Journal

Essays by young philosophers.

Our student-led journal is new, and submissions for the first issue are open until 15 December 2026. It runs as an open essay competition with no set theme.

✎  Essays are accepted in English
Submission guidelines →

New to submitting? Please read the Journal FAQ before you enter.

How it works

An open essay competition

Here’s how to take part:

1 · Choose your question

There is no set theme. Pick a philosophical question you actually want to argue about, whether that sits in epistemology, metaphysics or anywhere else. Not sure where to begin? Our introductory resources are a good place to find an idea.

2 · Write your essay

Between 1,000 and 2,500 words in English, cited in APA, saved as a PDF. Read the full guidelines before you start.

3 · Enter

Send it to us by 15 December 2026. Every entry is read by a panel that includes Oxford PPE graduates, and the strongest essays go into issue one.

Ready to enter?

Open to high school students worldwide, Grade 9 to Grade 12. Read the guidelines, then send us your essay.

Read the guidelines →

Writers’ FAQ

Everything you might be wondering

Who is eligible to enter?
Students anywhere in the world who will be in high school on 15 December 2026, from Grade 9 (Year 10) to Grade 12 (Year 13). You do not need to have studied philosophy before.
Which language can I write in?
English. We can only judge entries written in English at the moment.
How long should my essay be?
Between 1,000 and 2,500 words, excluding your reference list. Essays outside that range may not be considered.
Is there a theme?
No. Write on any philosophical idea you like. What we ask for is an argument you develop and defend yourself, rather than a summary of what other people have already said.
Which citation style should I use?
APA, with a full list of references at the end of your paper.
What format should I submit in?
PDF only.
Can I use AI to write my essay?
Only for early research, like finding sources or checking what a term means. AI-written text is disqualified automatically, and that includes AI text run through a humaniser. We check every entry.
Who judges the entries?
A panel of experts, including Oxford PPE graduates. They look at the quality of the writing and at whether the ideas hold up.
When is the deadline?
15 December 2026. Essays must reach us by then to be considered for the first issue.
What happens after I submit?
Our panel reads every entry, and the strongest essays go into our first issue under your name. We will email you either way.

Still have a question? Email us at logosyouthphilosophy@gmail.com.

Saint Jerome Writing by Caravaggio

“It is the mark of an educated mind to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

Aristotle

Interested in entering?

Tell us your name, grade and school. It takes seconds and helps us plan the first issue.

Register your interest →