Oxford Economics Society Sixth Form Essay Competition 2026

OES is excited to announce the launch of its new economics essay competition in collaboration with the Department for Economics at the University of Oxford

Participants are invited to submit an essay in response to one of three questions: one with a macroeconomic focus, one with a microeconomic focus, and one interdisciplinary question. The competition is designed to help students develop skills in independent research, economic reasoning, and clear, persuasive writing. It provides valuable preparation for those considering applying to competitive Economics courses at university.

We encourage candidates to go beyond their school curriculum and engage with a wide range of contemporary and historical sources, real-world examples, and relevant economic theory. Essays will be judged on the quality and persuasiveness of their argument, depth of knowledge and understanding, and originality of ideas.

Essay Questions (2026)

  • Why is the UK economy particularly exposed to oil shocks?

  • Should the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) be more lenient in its approach to clearing mergers?

  • Have we learnt the right lessons from the 2008 Financial Crisis?

Prizes

  • First Prize: £100

  • Two Finalist Prizes: £50 each

  • Commendations: Awarded to outstanding shortlisted entries

Submissions

Please submit your essay via the submission form:

Submit your essay here: https://forms.gle/98JB9EHxgCoYJawd8

The deadline for submissions is 23:59 (BST), Friday 14th August 2026. Essays must be submitted by this deadline to be considered.

Format Requirements

  • The maximum word count is 2,000 words, including footnotes and in-text references.

  • Candidates are encouraged to include references and a bibliography.

  • A bibliography is not counted towards the word limit.

  • Your name or contact details must not appear anywhere in the submission document (including headers, footers, or file metadata). Submissions containing identifying information will be rejected.

Eligibility

  • Open to students in Year 12 or Year 13 as of 1st July 2026.

  • Only one entry per candidate is permitted.

AI Use and Plagiarism Policy

All entries must be the candidate’s own original work. Submissions must be free from plagiarism and must not contain AI-generated content. Entries found to include material generated using AI tools will be disqualified.

For any enquiries, please contact events@oxfordeconsoc.org