international essay competition

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The RE:THINK Essay Competition

The 2021 Re:think Essay Competition invited high school students around the world to document, investigate, and to reflect upon the COVID-19 pandemic. In this culminating conference, our winning essayists are joined by our three distinguished Cambridge faculty judges—Dr. Tom McClelland (Cambridge, Philosophy), Dr. Hande Güzel (Cambridge, Sociology), and Dr. Daniele Casesse (Cambridge, Economics).

Watch the award-winning presentations here.

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The Yale International Relations Global Essay Competition 2024-2025

Registration Fee: USD 25

Registration is Open!

About the YIRA Global Essay Competition

The Yale International Relations Essay competition provides an exciting opportunity for students to show their talents and ideas to Yale students and receive feedback from students accomplished in International Relations.

This competition inspires students to push their boundaries and experiment with diverse writing styles, enhancing their overall writing proficiency., with participants from across the globe.

Why Should You Participate?

Enhance Writing Skills

Critical Thinking

Valuable Feedback

Prestigious Recognition

Main outcomes.

Valuable feedback to enhance your writing proficiency.

Opportunity to challenge and refine your academic capabilities.

Recognition and awards for the top 3 essays.

Designation as "Finalists" for the top 25% of participants, acknowledging their exceptional contributions.

Awards and Recognition

All Participants to receive certificates from Yale International Relations Association and Learn with Leaders

Grand Prizes for Top Winners

• 1 st Position USD 500
• 2 nd Position USD 400
• 3 rd Position  USD 300

The Yale International Relations Essay Competition Timeline

• Webinars on Essay Writing 11th Jan 2025: What global issues are important to you? Understanding how you see the world. 18th Jan 2025: What makes a competitive essay? 25th Jan 2025: How should we tackle global issues? 1st Feb 2025: Top Tips for editing your essays. Submission of the Essay 3rd-9th Feb, 2025
• Result and Topic Announcements The Top 50 Finalists will be announced, with 10 students selected from each grade (8-12). 9th March Final topics will be sent 10th March Webinars and Info Sessions Webinar on Global Essay Writing: 15th March Office Hour with the Finalists 16th March

Rules of the Competition

1. students must submit a 400-word essay on the given theme. the theme for the essay will be announced in january 2025., 2. top essays will justify their chosen issue and propose brief ideas for solutions., 3. finalists will undergo evaluation by yale students, who will select the top inspirational 3 essays., 4. winning essays will push our judges to reflect on the world around them and inspire action., judging criteria.

Exhibit good grammar and a coherent, strong structure.

Demonstrate an awareness of the world around them.

Clearly answer the question by explaining the significance of the issue.

Be bold and exciting to read.

Begin to explore potential solutions to the issue.

Be thought-provoking, leaving the reader with questions to ponder.

About Yale International Relations Association

The Yale International Relations Association is the largest student-run organizations at Yale College. After the political turbulence of the 1960s, a group of Yale students came together seeking to promote a better understanding of global affairs. As a result, the Yale International Relations Association (YIRA) was founded in 1969.

YIRA strives to foster conversation about international relations on campus and beyond through conferences, classes, travel, publications, and speaker and social events. We aim to create an inclusive, diverse, and accessible educational space for students, providing resources that enrich public speaking, leadership, critical analysis, and problem-solving abilities so members may best apply their passion for international relations and give back to the world.

Meet your Mentors

Shalina Effendi is a sophomore at Yale University from Houston, Texas majoring in Global Affairs. On campus, she serves as the secretary for the Yale International Relations Association, Director-General of Yale Model UN Dubai, and compete on the Model UN team at Yale.

Noah Killeen is a second-year student at Yale College, majoring in Ethics, Politics, & Economics, with plans to attend law school after graduation. He is actively involved in the Model UN Competitive Team, Yale Votes, and the Yale Undergraduate Law Journal. In addition to his extracurricular activities, he works as an Undergraduate Recruitment Coordinator for the Admissions Office, where he connects with prospective and incoming students and organizes events. Originally from Goodyear, Arizona, he enjoys playing tennis, hiking, and driving with friends during his free time.

Poppy is an international student from South Wales and is a Sophomore in Morse college. She has a passion for understanding the world and has pursued this through her double major in History and Politics and through extra curricular activities such as MUNTY (Yale's competitive MUN Team). Poppy is proudly Head Delegate of MUNTY. In addition to this, she has worked on MUN conferences in India and Singapore, volunteers with multiple social outreach groups on campus and is a passionate climate and social justice activist having launched the UK’s first Climate Refugee petition. Beyond this, Poppy loves Taylor Swift, horse riding and hanging out with her friends!