Classics Essay Competition 2025
This competition is open to all students currently studying at a UK School or College in Year 12 (Lower Sixth) or equivalent, whether or not they are currently studying a Classical or Ancient subject. Each student may submit one essay (only) of up to 2,000 words on any of the following four questions:
1 Classical Literature: 'Does ancient literature equate might with right?'
2 Ancient History: ‘Why did monarchies succeed in Greek and/or Roman history?’
3 Ancient Philosophy: ‘Was Plato right that the best rulers are reluctant ones?’
4 Archaeology: ‘How important was the visual representation of women for expressing royal and/or imperial power in the ancient world? ’
Prizes Awarded
A £100 book token will be awarded to the best essay in each category and an additional £75 book token to the overall winner. A further £75 book token will be awarded to the best essay submitted by a pupil who has not previously studied a Classical or Ancient subject. All applicants will receive a certificate of entry.
Visit St John's - Subject Exploration Day
Students who submit an entry to the Classics Essay Competition are invited to apply to our Classics and Ancient History Subject Exploration Day on the 23rd April 2025. This is a chance to visit St John's College and sample lectures delivered by our resident tutors.
How Do I Apply?
All essays should:
- Be word-processed with double-spaced lines.
- Include ONLY your initials and date of birth in your header or footer
(to allow anonymous marking). - Attached as a PDF
- Be submitted by 4 pm on Monday 3rd March 2025 by email to access@sjc.ox.ac.uk, stating ‘Classics Essay Competition: [First Name] [Surname] Question [Number]’ in the subject line.
A virtual cover sheet should be completed here.
Advice and Guidance
The competition gives students currently studying any subjects at a UK School or College, in Year 12 or equivalent, an opportunity to write an essay on the classical world. The organizers are interested in providing an occasion for independent research, to encourage curiosity and reflection in those who have studied the ancient world before and those who have not.
The essay titles have been chosen to take account of research interests of our tutors and to encourage the widest possible approach to investigation of the ancient world.
All primary texts can be considered in translation or in the original language. Where either primary or secondary sources have been used they should be acknowledged with full references given.
All essays should:
- Be word-processed with double-spaced lines, and saved in a PDF format.
- Include ONLY your initials and date of birth in your header or footer (to allow anonymous marking).
- Be no more than 2000 words in length. The word limit includes footnotes, but not the bibliography.
- All primary texts can be considered in translation or in the original language.
- Where either primary or secondary sources have been used they should be acknowledged with full references given.
Need help getting started?
If you would like some suggestions on where to get started with your research, these resources may be a good place to start:
