The Marshall Society Essay Competition 2026 is a free, single-round essay competition run by the Marshall Society, the official economics society of the University of Cambridge, with support from Cambridge Global Connect. It invites pre-university students to research and argue a position on a real economic question, then submit their essay entirely online.

Whether you're deep into A-Level Economics or just curious about how economic ideas apply to the real world, this competition gives you the chance to develop a serious piece of analytical writing, engage with topics debated by professional economists, and get your work read by a Cambridge-based society with a century-long track record.

Who can participate:

• Any student who has not yet begun their university studies

• Students studying Economics, or related subjects like Politics, History, or Business

• Anyone with a strong interest in economic policy, history, or theory

• Both first-time essay writers and experienced competition entrants

Competition structure:

• Choose one of six set questions, spanning trade policy, monetary economics, and economic history

• Research and write your essay independently, in your own time

• Submit your completed essay through the official online entry form

• No live presentation or interview stage — this is a single written submission

Awards & recognition:

• Winning essays: cash/certificate prizes (exact prize tiers set by the Marshall Society)

• Standout entries: publication in The Dismal Scientist, the Marshall Society's official magazine

• All entrants: the experience of writing a full-length, judged economics essay

Why participate:

• Sharpen your economic analysis and argumentative writing

• Explore real, current debates in trade, monetary policy, and economic history

• Get a shot at being published in a Cambridge economics society's magazine

• Build a strong addition to a university application or personal statement

• Enter for free, from anywhere, with no live component required

The Marshall Society Essay Competition 2026 is a strong pick for any pre-university student who wants to test their economic reasoning against a real question and get recognized for it by one of Cambridge's oldest subject societies. Submit before the deadline on August 30, 2026 to take part.