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 3,000 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.
