OLIVER MITCHELL MEMORIAL ESSAY PRIZE
Overview
This competition is open to sixth form students and first-year undergraduates. It offers a unique opportunity for young people with an interest in politics to engage with some of the most pressing questions facing policymakers today.
Students entering the competition should submit an essay on the theme of 'The Future of European Security'. Entries might consider questions of defence, diplomacy, trade, alliances, or other threats Europe faces. Any approach to the theme is welcome.
The competition is named the Oliver Mitchell Memorial Essay Prize in memory of a member of the Group who died before commissioning into the Royal Navy.
Winners will be invited to a prestigious awards dinner in Westminster, offering a chance to meet and network with professionals working in politics, government, and strategic advisory. Last year's ceremony was held in the House of Commons with Alicia Kearns MP, then Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, and winning entrants received a paid internship at a political strategy advisory. This year's prizes and venue will be announced in due course.
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Entry Details
Theme: The Future of European Security (entries may approach this from any angle)
Eligibility: Sixth form students and first-year undergraduates
Word count: 1,500 words (±10%)
Deadline: Midnight, 15th April 2026
Submission: Email your essay to wssg.essay.contest@gmail.com. In your email, include your name, school or university, and year of study. Your essay should not include your name or any identifying details, as entries will be marked anonymously.
Judging criteria: Essays will be judged on strength of argument, clarity and structure, and engagement with relevant ideas or evidence. We particularly value originality of perspective; entries that offer a distinctive or unexpected angle will stand out!
Academic integrity: All submissions will be screened using advanced AI detection software. The use of artificial intelligence in the preparation of your essay will result in disqualification.
For any queries, please contact wssg.essay.contest@gmail.com
Past Winners
Overall Winner: Ryan Modarres
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Ryan is a PPE student at the London School of Economics. He wrote his essay on a foreign policy strategy for Britain to become a global leader in environmental protection. As Lead Organiser of this year's competition, he is responsible for shaping the competition's direction, coordinating the judging panel, and overseeing the entire adjudication process from initial review through to the final award
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Finalists: Roxsolana G, Will H