Yep This is a list of geography competitions that you may want to enter with your students. There is also a further section at the end of this document for opportunities for writing from students that is not a competition. Current competitions highlighted in yellow.
Name of competition
Description of competition
Age range
UK (or wider)
ENTRY DEADLINE
Link
The solstice prize 2022
The Solstice Prize is our annual showcase for young writers, seeking imaginative short stories and provocative poems, with prizes on offer for winners in three age groups: 7-11, 12-14, and 15-17. The 2022 theme of the Solstice Prize for Young Writers, Fight for Flight, can be interpreted in any number of ways.
7-17 year olds
UK residents living in the UK
31/2022
https://writingeastmidlands.co.uk/young-writers-groups/solstice-prize/
Immerse education
Different age categories available. A range of essay titles
13-18
international
4/01/23
https://www.immerse.education/essay-competition/
Trust for sustainable living
“How can young people be better supported to thrive in green jobs?”
Range of ages
international
11/01/2022
https://trustforsustainableliving.org/take-part/international-schools-essay-competition-and-debate
National poetry day competition
wRITE AN ACROSTIC POEM
7-12
Uk ONLY
4/11/2022
https://nationalpoetryday.co.uk/the-lost-words-competition/
Northeastern University London Essay Competition
Our selection of essay titles engages across a broad range of humanities and social sciences topics and we look forward to receiving entries from talented and intellectually curious students who show passion and academic potential in the humanities and social sciences.
Year 12
International
16/01/2023
https://www.nchlondon.ac.uk/pre-university-programmes/essay/
RGS2022 Essay Competition, organised in partnership with the Financial Times
What are the environmental costs of current consumer trends, behaviours and purchasing decisions?
There are three sub-themes. Choose 1 of the themes only
A level or equivalent
International
3rd October 2022
https://www.rgs.org/schools/competitions/school-essay-competition/
Where, how and why
RGS
For this year’s Young Geographer of the Year competition we are asking young people where might they want to travel to, how would they get there and why there.
All key stages
International
3rd October 2022
https://www.rgs.org/schools/competitions/young-geographer-of-the-year/2022-competition/
StationHall Hearne Hill
The theme for our fourth Stepping Into Stories Story-Making Competition is 'ALL ABOARD!' - whatever that might mean to you! A new departure? A journey of discovery? A daydream that takes you somewhere imaginary? A camel ride? A piggy back? A steam train at the fairground? A baby duckling perching on its mum? The possibilities are endless!
4-16
International
6th Jan 2023
https://www.stationhallhernehill.org/stepping-into-stories-competition
Anything!
Young Muslim writer’s Award
5-16
UK
7th August
https://ymwa.org.uk/2022-competition-now-open/
The Geospatial Scholarship fund - Black geographers
Undergraduate Award of £30,000 to study geography or geoscience (£10,000/yr). The award can be spent on fees or maintenance.
Upper sixth - year 13
UK
6th April
https://geospatialscholarshipfund.com/scholarships/esri-uk-and-black-geographers/
The National Competition in Food, Farming and Natural Environment 2023
'Farming is about working with the natural environment'
Years 9-11
UK
Opens December 2022
https://leaf.eco/education/the-national-food-farming-and-environment-competition
BBC Young reporter competition
Submit an idea for a news story
UK
27nd March
https://www.bbc.co.uk/send/u97931309
Student blog competition
“UK Parliament doesn’t look or sound like the rest of the country: should this change and, if so, how?”
16-19
International
25th March
https://www.psa.ac.uk/student-blog-competition-2022
Christ Church Oxford
This is Geography - submit a short video entry (2 – 5 minutes at most) on a geographical issue or phenomenon that is local to you.
Years -10
UK State Schools
1/4/22
https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/admissions/geography-0?fbclid=IwAR16XNMh8w9yol4zqJaXRnKRwWzKTjyGLCX16eBo-VW_x36fKemTC9yBElo
Orwell Youth Prize
COMING UP FOR AIR: WRITING THE CLIMATE CRISIS
This year, we want you to think and write critically and creatively about how the climate crisis affects the people, places, and things around you. How will our impact on the environment affect the places you know? What will the impact be on human beings around the world?
Years 8-13
UK
22nd April 2022
https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-youth-prize/2018-youth-prize/introduction/
Geography Essay Competition.
Competition provides students with an opportunity to engage in university-level research, hone their writing skills and contribute to the climate discussion. Entrants must choose one question to answer.
Aimed at Year 12 but will accept younger submissions (from 14 years old)
International
Submission Deadline: 31 March 2022.
https://www.mindsunderground.com/geography-competition
British Science week
Poster competition - this year’s theme is ‘growth’
3-18
UK based
5pm on the 15 April 2022
https://www.britishscienceweek.org/plan-your-activities/poster-competition/
Primary Awards for Green Education in Schools
Various opportunities
Primary Schools
UK
Ongoing but closing date 4th May 2022
https://primaryawards4greeneducation.org.uk/
Maggie Bowden Award
This year’s theme: ‘make the world better’
essay competition
under 12-25
UK
5th April
www.liberation.org
Oxford University
Various competitions throughout the year
https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/undergraduate/applying-to-oxford/teachers/academic-competitions-schools-and-colleges
David W. Smith Memorial Prize
Lower 6th
TBA
https://www.rgs.org/schools/competitions/
Young geographer of the year 2022
The Young Geographer of the Year is the Society’s annual competition which recognises the outstanding work of the next generation of geographers. With its age ranges spanning the primary years to A Level, the competition encourages thoughtful and creative answers to the competition’s theme which is set each year.
Primary up
International
TBA
https://www.rgs.org/schools/competitions
Geographical Association photography competition
Annual photo competition
Secondary and post 16
TBA
https://www.geography.org.uk/Get-Involved-1/Student-activities
RGS and FT Schools essay competition
Different theme each year
Secondary and post 16
International
TBA
https://www.rgs.org/schools/competitions/school-essay-competition/
GA WorldWise International competition
Held in a different country each year
International
TBA
https://www.geography.org.uk/GA-WorldWise-international-competition
Robinson College
Essay competition
Post 16
International
TBA - Register interest here: https://cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5AXJQ8EuxUphLNA
https://www.robinson.cam.ac.uk/prospective-students/essay-prize
Warwick University
Essay competition
Year 11 and 12
International
TBA annually
https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/schoolforcross-facultystudies/gsd/engagement/gsdcompetition/
Institute of Economic Affairs Dorian Fisher Memorial Prize
Essay competition
A level and IB
International
Usually announced in April
https://iea.org.uk/essay-competition/
YES competition
YES! is a competition for secondary school students dealing with global problems in the realm of economy, policy, society and environment. Your task is to identify and work on a core problem important to you. Look at all possible issues on this topic and develop a solution that has the potential to solve the problem. You can present your solution in a one-page essay or be creative with a video, podcast or something else .
This year we're asking teams of 5 students to create a solution to any of the following problems:
* Facing the challenges of discrimination and migrant integration
* How can we set Taxes, instead of Lockdowns, in order to Reduce Deaths during Pandemics?
* Paris climate targets–how can negative emissions and climate engineering help limiting temperature rise?
* Project 100% – How Can We Make the COVID Vaccination Campaign Successful?
* Sharing the Future – Growing Sustainable Communities: How can Local Networks help Exchange Information and Support Sustainable Living
* The future of aviation – Sustainable flight with hydrogen?
Year 10-13
UK but competition to be held in Germany
18th February 2022
https://www.young-economic-summit.org/en/bridge/
Oxford University
Essay writing
Years 7-13
Wales, Cornwall, and the South West of England.
16th February 2022
https://outreachonlineblog.wordpress.com/2022/01/06/the-big-oxplore-essay-competition-returns/
UN GLobal Social Leaders
start a social action project that contributes towards addressing the United Nations’ Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
Secondary schools
International
register your school and team by Monday 31 January 2022 to take part in this year's competition.
https://www.globalsocialleaders.com/ggcompetition/
Young writers Competition
Various writing competitions you can tailor to geographical ideas e.g. secondary is ‘empowered’
3 years up
International
Various dates some the 11th Feb
https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/competitions
Ron Cooke Award
A level best NEA
Sixth form
UK
Friday 26 February 2022.
https://www.rgs.org/geography/news/ron-cooke-award-2022-for-the-a-level-independent-i/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo
Life after conflict
Share your thoughts on how people, c