The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world’s oldest schools’ international writing competition that managed by The Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. It provides a platform for young people to compete with their peers in a truly global environment.

The competition is open to all citizens and residents of the Commonwealth countries (aged 18 and under). All entrants receive a Certificate of Participation and one Winner and Runner-up from both the senior and junior categories will be invited to attend Winners’ Week in London.

Who May Eligible:

To eligible, the candidates must meet all the following eligibility criteria:

• The competition is open to nationals or residents of all Commonwealth countries and territories, as well as residents of The Gambia, the Maldives, and
• Residents of non-Commonwealth countries whose entries are submitted through their local RCS branch are also eligible.
• Entrants must select a senior or junior topic depending on their age on 1st May 2017.
• Senior entrants must be born between 2nd June 1999 and 1st June 2004 (14-18) and junior entrants must be born after 31st May 2004 (under 14 years of age).

How to Apply & Competitions Rules

In order to submit your essay, the candidate can apply either online by register or offline by download an entry form through the given link: https://thercs.org/youth-and-education/the-queens-commonwealth-essay-competition/how-to-enter/

Rules & Submitting Details:

• The maximum word counts are 1,500 words for senior entries and 750 words for junior entries. These word limits apply to all topics and all formats (essay, poem, letter, etc). Exceeding the word count will result in automatic disqualification.
• Entries must be written in English.
• Essays can only be uploaded as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) or in PDF format (.pdf). The online platform does not accept Google Docs (.gdoc), Pages documents (.pages) or other word processor formats.
• Only one entry per participant is allowed. Carefully check and improve your writing before submitting the final copy, and also ensure that all supplementary information is filled in correctly (name, contact details, topic number, etc.)
• By entering the competition, you agree that your name, email, school, and essay may be sent to your local RCS branch and any Essay Competition partners.
• All individuals and schools are encouraged to enter online if possible.
• Plagiarism is not accepted in the competition. Every year a number of students are disqualified because they are suspected of plagiarism.
• The final copy submitted for the competition must be the entrant’s own work, and cannot be excessively corrected or improved by another person. This does not rule out input or assistance from others but does exclude group entries.

Submitting Details:

If you are submitting your entry by post, complete an entry form in block capitals and attach it to the front of your essay. Entries should be sent to your nearest postal hub, details of which are listed below.

• Europe: The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, The Royal Commonwealth Society, Commonwealth House, 55-58 Pall Mall, London, SW1Y 5JH, UK
• Africa: The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, British High Commission, Julius Nyerere Links, PO Box 296, Accra, Ghana
• Americas and the Caribbean: The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, The Royal Commonwealth Society, P.O. Box 878, Bridgetown, Barbados
• Asia: The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, Education Department, British Council, 30 Napier Road, Singapore 258509
• Pacific: The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, PO Box 10-741, Wellington 6143, New Zealand

Benefits:

• All entrants receive a Certificate of Participation and one Winner and Runner-up from both the senior and junior categories will be invited to attend Winners’ Week in London.
• Winners and runners-up of the pan-Commonwealth competition will have their full names, schools, essays and photographs displayed on the RCS website and social media channels.

Application Deadline:

All online entries must be submitted before midnight (GMT) on 1st June 2018, any offline entries must arrive at RCS London by 1st May 2018

Original Website

Having trouble submitting your essay? Contact competitions-at-thercs.org